Review of my 2014 Naish Mana 9'5 GS

[supthecreek]

I owned last years 9’5 Mana GS
I never reviewed it because it is a well know model that’s been around for years.

I had a chance to upgrade to the 2014 model
I’m glad I did.

Many changes in the New 9’5 Mana

1 inch wider
Pulled in nose
Pulled in tail
Slight concave, nose to mid section
More foiled rails
Improved handle

Initial impressions:
The nose did not look as thin as the promo shots…
they must use a nose shot of the 8’5…Boo!

It is HEAVY. Heavier than my 2013 model…. Darn heavy.

I weighed it on a digital shipping scale - with fins  = 28’2 lbs…. that’s a LOT of beef!
Naish site says:
24.5 = or – 6%

it is more than a pound over the 6% max plus 1.5 lbs for fins
Mine is well over the stated weight… Boo!

After you lug it to the beach… the weight disappears. The board surfs amazingly well for a recreational board.

It is agile and snappy…. And it will go vertical, which I wasn’t urged to try on my previous 9’5.
It rail turns better than many “Performance” boards I have ridden.
It feels solid and gives confidence and a stable platform. I will use this board way more than I had originally planned.

The add

I bought it as my flat-water board… and for small mushy days.

Now…. I would absolutely take this board out on big winter days, when some stability is desired… but performance is still the prime objective. I am surprised by this… and thrilled by my new addition.

Here's my video review:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R6byoddAuAc

[supthecreek]

I started to write... and got sidetracked

The addition of a slight concave to the nose really puts noseriding back in the mix on the new Mana's

[coldsup]

Taking reviews to another lever STC....enjoyed that one and some nice surfing too. Liked the mooooooooooo in particular 

[Muskoka SUP]

^^^^^^

What coldsup said.  Great review Creek.  Thanks for taking the time to put that together. 

[SUPcheat]

One of the best video reviews ever.

Covewater in Santa Cruz has a Mana their rental quiver, I will probably be trying it out. Don't know whether they have the 2013 or 14, but I guess the handle position will tell.

[Ichabod Spoonbill]

Great review.!I should try doing some of these, if I only had a GoPro...


The Peekskill Paddler
www.peekskillpaddler.blogspot.com

[DavidJohn]

Mine is also the new 2014 9'5" Mana GS (Alana paint)

It's an awesome board.. This was a couple of days ago.

[lopezwill]

   Great review STC!  How does the Mana compare to the Fanatic Allwave 8'11"?

Can't wait for your comparison of the Mana and the 9'6" Fanatic Prowave. 

[supthecreek]

Hey lopezwill
Thanks for the kind words...

Tough to do a head to head comparison between my 8'10 Allwave and my 9'5 Mana...
All boards have a place, and the key is to cover all the bases.... so each has to do things a bit differently. (the whole point of a quiver )

The fair test would be the 8'11 Allwave (150 liters) and the 8'10 Mana (133 liters).... but the Allwave will always have the edge with it's intended market....
newbies looking for stability, or accomplished bigger surfers who want  a board that will allow them to go shorter and still rip.
The Allwave is more durable IMO
But I bet the 8'10 Mana rips 

The Mana is a very comfortable board to hang out on for long sessions. It is a great winter board, when you add on pounds of gear. Easy in chop.
Because it is longer than my Allwave, it glides into waves more easily, which helps in winter wave size.


My 8'10 Allwave was a very different board. It was, of course, much shorter, so turning arcs were tighter and snaps around quicker. The Allwave is very capable in good waves, which is why I chose to follow it up with the Prowave.

The Mana was much easier to put up on a rail than I would have guessed... every wave I would lay on it a bit more... till I found it's limits. Meaning, the board was not able to follow me and I had to ease off the turn and wait for the board.

That's what happened on ALL SUPs before my 8'11 RAW... I would drive my body out over the rail on a frontside turn, and the board is supposed to follow...
but all boards that I could ride, would fail to keep up at some point. The 8'11 RAW was the first board that I was able to ride, that would drive a turn like a shortboard. All others, would drop me on my face in the wave. The RAW changed all that, and I have been looking for the winter answer


What the 9'5 Mana has done, is reaffirm my theory that the 9'6 Prowave should be a step UP from my 8'10 Allwave.... sort of odd to think going 8" longer, would be a step toward more performance surfing... but I am looking for paddling power and solid turns in winter OH surf .... I needed to go longer to accommodate my wetsuit and rough storm conditions.

The larger 9'5 Mana proved to me, that the added inches did not become a burden  and the excess weight was not a huge factor in powerful waves.
The Prowave should be a considerable jump in performance from the Allwave and the Mana... so I am pretty psyched to get my hands on one.

[Ake G]

Excellent review Creek!

So which Allwave would compare (if any) to the 9'5" Mana?

Re: the Prowave, There's no question that this board needs a better, more powerful wave to get it moving. I'm missing the Allwave for this Springtime crap for sure. 

[supthecreek]

Thanks Ake G... it's been so long, and I've ridden so many boards since since I rode a 9'6 Allwave,   that I can't make any direct comparison between them.

The 9'6 Allwave is a more stable platform for a big guy or newbie, with more float plus the volume is out at the rails as well as the nose carrying more width. They have similar tail rocker, so turning both is easy... and my 9'6 Allwave was my go to board in ALL conditions for a year of great waves.

It is well known that I have huge faith in the Allwave's HRS construction.... I live in the land of folding boards... so it is a primary consideration in selecting a board.

Speaking of that... I may have to make a run "Down East" to see your HRS Prowave in person

[nachoSUP]

Creek, after i made my review i found yours!!

jajaja Well done!""""

[desfluranesup]

Thanks for the review, yours and DJs reviews/videos are the main reason I bought this board.
My GS weighs 26.2 lbs. With fins.
Just need the waves to cooperate with my time off ;-)
Cheers

[NorthJerzSurfer]

you killed that carve @ 3:18 !! Nice!

[supthecreek]

Thanks Jerz!

desflura... where are you surfing... Oz? (cheers is a good hint)
Let us know how you like it. It really is a good board.