Author Topic: Mana paddle downwinder  (Read 1823 times)

PonoBill

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Mana paddle downwinder
« on: July 25, 2016, 01:42:19 PM »
The first paddle I did with the new Mana blade I thought "eh, it's nice and smooth, catches great, but I think I like my Konihi 95 a lot better." Today I'm thinking the Konihi 95 just got retired. I took it on a pretty strong downwinder. Probably 20-28 with gusts above 30. First half of the run was fine, though I keep forgetting to wax my pad. It's so worn that when the board tips 45 my feet go right off the edge. Fell twice just getting situated. Just after the spit rock there was an endless field of bumps, all good sized, all moving fast. Hard to catch. I cleaned up my stroke, reached way out and started doing three quick hard taps instead of a hard pull.

Un-fu%@ing-believable.

The paddle is made for that. I pretty much caught every bump that I made even a half-hearted shot at, and for connecting, one sharp tap, maybe two, and I was in. This might be a great blade for surfing as well because the acceleration is so nuts, but for staying powered up on a downwinder, I've never felt anything like it. My second half run was blazing fast (for me). Not just in every bump, but connecting everything--three, four, five swells hooked together. And it braces better too. More bracing power than a normal blade, but completely controllable. Konihis brace great once you get used to them, but they can over-brace and yank you off the board. The mana is silky smooth but very powerful.

I think the extreme catch of the reflex tip and the super-straight pull from the little wings comes together in a perfect storm of a bump-catching paddle. This is my second time using it, and the first go was, as I said, not world-shaking. This run was. I didn't have my speedcoach on, which is a real shame. I'm pretty sure I had a record run--at least the second half was. Should be good runs tomorrow, I'll bring the speed coach and do the long reach/tap thing from the start.
« Last Edit: July 25, 2016, 01:44:21 PM by PonoBill »
Foote 10'4X34", SIC 17.5 V1 hollow and an EPS one in Hood River. Foote 9'0" x 31", L41 8'8", 18' Speedboard, etc. etc.

Luc Benac

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Re: Mana paddle downwinder
« Reply #1 on: July 25, 2016, 02:16:22 PM »
I had a very good light downwinder yesterday using the Mana 90 so glad to see confirmed that it works :-)
Looking forward to see your GPS comparison.
I am also getting the Mana 82 to compare with the Konihi 84.
Sunova Allwater 14'x25.5" 303L Viento 520
Sunova Torpedo 14'x27" 286L Salish 500
Naish Nalu 11'4" x 30" 180L Andaman 520
Sunova Steeze 10' x 31" 150L
Blackfish Paddles

Bulky

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Re: Mana paddle downwinder
« Reply #2 on: July 25, 2016, 04:32:41 PM »
What size Mana, Pono?
Santa Barbara, CA

SIC RS 14x24.5
Infinity Blackfish 14'
Naish Glide 14' (2012)
SupSports Hammer 8'11
Starboard WidePoint 10'5
Ke Nalu Mana, Konihi, Maliko

PonoBill

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Re: Mana paddle downwinder
« Reply #3 on: July 25, 2016, 09:27:38 PM »
90
Foote 10'4X34", SIC 17.5 V1 hollow and an EPS one in Hood River. Foote 9'0" x 31", L41 8'8", 18' Speedboard, etc. etc.

stoneaxe

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Re: Mana paddle downwinder
« Reply #4 on: July 26, 2016, 07:53:44 AM »
I think its time for a new paddle.
Bob

8-4 Vec, 9-0 SouthCounty, 9-8 Starboard, 10-4 Foote Triton, 10-6 C4, 12-6 Starboard, 14-0 Vec (babysitting the 18-0 Speedboard) Ke Nalu Molokai, Ke Nalu Maliko, Ke Nalu Wiki Ke Nalu Konihi

TN_SUP

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Re: Mana paddle downwinder
« Reply #5 on: July 26, 2016, 08:15:44 AM »
The aspect I noticed most about the Mana 82 after switching from my Konihi 84 is the release, my cadence is much higher due to the easier / faster release and seems easier on my shoulders.
'13 SB Sprint, '15 SIC X-14 ProLite, RH Coastal Cruiser, Think EZE Ski, Kenalu Konihi 84  & Mana

PonoBill

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Re: Mana paddle downwinder
« Reply #6 on: July 26, 2016, 08:20:18 AM »
Bob, You'll love the bracing. It's strangely smooth, smoother than a standard Ke Nalu, you can put it in the water at any angle and it won't catch except in a kind of positive, firm way, but I actually levered myself back onto the board when I was halfway off the board. I've never done that before, never, ever, never, and I did it twice yesterday.  I got a little cocky and fell again, counting on the brace to save me from a really low-probability carve across a wave face that was mostly whitewater, but otherwise it saved my bacon a dozen times or more, including the two totally goofball hail marys that I wish I had on video.

TN, yeah, it pops like the original wiki does. I think it's the tip reflex. Start the feather in the water and it screws itself up and out on autopilot.
« Last Edit: July 26, 2016, 08:22:38 AM by PonoBill »
Foote 10'4X34", SIC 17.5 V1 hollow and an EPS one in Hood River. Foote 9'0" x 31", L41 8'8", 18' Speedboard, etc. etc.

 


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