Has anybody ridden both
Have checked out both in the store and by the looks of it the 9'0 has a wider tail boxier rails which sort of means it would be harder to turn
I notice they don't make the 9'3 anymore
They may look similar but they are very different boards with the new 9.0 being both faster and looser as well as having a slight concave deck, new handle and quad fin option.
DJ
Take the 9'0.
The 9'3 is a 3 year old shape with vee nose to tail making it less stable than its dimensions indicate. It's also slow compared to newer Iggy shapes.
My vote is on the 9'0''...like they said the 9'0'' is the new shape, which in this sport actually means a lot...and you'd get all the advantages that brings with it...I actually think the 9'0'' is more stable board.
I have ridden both boards back to back and they both have their pros and cons. The new 9'0 has the new trick handle, concave deck and some concave in the bottom whereas the 9'3 has more pronounced rocker and slightly thinner rails.
Stability wise it really is much of a muchness, 9'0 perhaps settles itself a little quicker but after 10 seconds you are as stable on 9'3 and then you don't even think about it. The 9'3 is wider which evens out the advantage of the concaves imo.
9'0 I found a little more drivey off the bottom with a smidgen more hold, off the top they are equally loose with the 9'3's more pronounced nose rocker and being slightly lighter encouraging more radical re-entry.
Both are sensitive to foot-positioning and definately have quite defined sweet-spots - I found the 9'0 having a more distinct sweet-spot which is great when you find it, and not so much when you don't...
In steeper hollow waves I'd take the 9'3 and it waves where you'd need to generate speed of the bottom I'd take the 9'0 - but there really isn't much in it.
I think it goes to show that the 9'3 was a very good design to start with.
I sell Naish boards and have had some guys prefer new 9'0 and others prefer 9'3 - a few have swopped out and others haven't felt it was worth it so it's not a clear cut case of newer is better per se.
I think that is the beauty of good board-designs - they all have their own traits, but the individual rider will have his own set of personal preferences - so try them both if you can and make up your mind.