Messages

1

Gear Talk / Re: Hokua GSX 9'6" and Alana GSX 9'6" - Same board?

« on: May 27, 2019, 11:57:48 AM »

Thanks for the info, guys! I'll try to ride one for a test, let's see how it goes...

2

Gear Talk / Hokua GSX 9'6" and Alana GSX 9'6" - Same board?

« on: May 24, 2019, 06:58:15 AM »

Hi, everyone.

I had a closer look to the boards specs in the Naish 2019 line, and noticed that the Hokua GSX 9'6" and the Alana GSX 9'6" have exactly the sam specs in terms of length, width, volume, etc.

Is there any difference in construction, materials, or even the shapes (like a different bottom, for example)? Or Are they basically the same board with different colours and names for two different publics? I'm asking because I've looking for a Hokua and found an Alana for a good deal. If it's the same board, I have no problem it being a "girl's board".

Thanks!

3

Gear Talk / Re: Loving this fin setup

« on: November 17, 2016, 01:42:13 PM »

I already was really enjoying the quad setup with the original fins. My brother brought the knubster as a gift from a trip to Hawaii this year. To me, it feels like it adds a bit more stability in turns, making rail transition smoother, but it doesn't kill the quad feel. I've been using it for a couple of months now, and last week we had three good days in chest to head high, reef break surf. It worked great!

4

Gear Talk / Loving this fin setup

« on: November 16, 2016, 07:19:17 AM »

I think I found my perfect fin setup for my Laird/Pearson 10'6". Nice balance of drive, speed and tail looseness. I'm loving it, so I thought I might share the stoke.

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SUP General / Re: Gooru vest saved me today

« on: March 17, 2016, 12:19:49 PM »

My experience was a couple of years ago. I was surfing a break a bit far from the shore, just me in the water. Waves were head high, I got one and tried to connect a snap in a closing session, but the board slipped from my feet and the rail hit me right in the chin (still don't know how that happened, but anyway...)

I wasn't knocked out, but I saw stars from the pain and got real dizzy for a minute or so. If I wasn't wearing a vest (mine is made by O'neill) that helped me stay afloat, maybe I could get in a difficult situation. I always use it since then, even in the brazilian summer hot days (just have to jump in the water from time to time to refresh myself).

6

SUP General / Re: Desert Island Board

« on: September 30, 2015, 12:56:32 PM »

Assuming I'd stay in the island and there's some surf, Laird / Pearson 10'6".
Great board for almost every surf condition and also does very well in flat water.

7

SUP General / Re: What is the most important thing for you to have a good SUP surf session?

« on: September 25, 2015, 01:20:15 PM »

Like Pono Bill said, clean overhead waves, not too big and not too small, and some light winds. That is a gift from mother nature, for sure! It's sad it doesn't happen every day.

But in terms of SUP, whenever I manage to pick the right board for the given conditions, it's almost certain I'll have a good (or sometimes, very good session), even if the waves are ankle high and the wind is messing up the faces. It just feels right, everything seems to flow the right way. SUP seems to work right in a much broader range of conditions. Not the same thing when it comes to prone surfing, thought (at least for me). That's why these days I'll pick the shorties only when it's really, really good.

8

Gear Talk / Re: SIC Maui Bully 10'6"

« on: August 31, 2015, 09:34:29 AM »

Thanks for the input, Paddlestandingup!

Unfortunatelly, I called the store after reading your review just to find they already sold the board. It was a Recon 10'6" actually, just like yours! The store guy said they will have the new Bully in a near future, but with the US Dollar sky rocketing against the Brazilian Real (right now, US$ 1,00 = R$3,7), I doubt it will be a deal as good as the Recon. Missed it because of 2 days!

9

Gear Talk / SIC Maui Bully 10'6"

« on: August 26, 2015, 08:48:22 AM »

Hello, everyone!

Does anybody here rides a SIC Maui Bully 10'6"? If so, what are your thoughts, how does it behave in the waves? I've been offered a good deal on this board, but the store is in Sao Paulo and as I live a long way up north, testing before buying it is not an option.
 
I'm a heavy guy (around 230 pounds), quite experienced in wave SUP. Don't really like shorter boards (by that, I mean anything below 8'8", 8'5"), something around 9' and 10'5" always seemed to work better for me. I'm looking for a surfing board mostly, but one that can also handle some heavy chop in windy days and has a good glide, since I need to paddle about 1mile (most of times against the wind) to reach the reef breaks where I usually surf. The 180 litters and 34" width in a "performance" kind of shape caught my attention, but I'd like to hear from other users before I decide to buy it or not.

Any input will be much appreciated, thanks!

10

Gear Talk / Re: 1st post looking for advice between Laird surfer and hybrid surfer.

« on: September 22, 2014, 02:22:54 PM »

Never had the chance to try the newer Surfers or Hybrids, but my 10'6" Laird made by Surftech (Pearson shape, basically an older version of the Surfer) is still my magic board.

I've been surfing anything from ankle high to six footers and even a little bigger. Just move the center fin a little towards the front and step on the tail. It will turn better than most SUP boards I've tried so far, even much smaller / shorter boards. And nose riding it is such a joy!

Aloha.

11

Gear Talk / Re: New 'big-boy' Hokua's from Naish.

« on: November 28, 2013, 05:47:03 AM »

Until now, the Manas were indicated as an entry level wave board and also as performance board for big guys in small and medium waves. I compared the measures of the new Hokuas X32 and the 2014 Manas and found this.

Mana 9'5" 2014 - Length: 9'5"; Width: 32"; Thickness: 4 3/4"; Volume: 163L; Max rider weight: 210 lbs / 95 Kg

Hokua X32 LE 9'1" - Length: 9'1"; Width: 32"; Thickness: 5"; Volume: 150L; Max rider weight: 240 lbs / 109 Kg

What I don't understand is that basically, both boards are aimed for the same kind of users and the same kind of wave condition (unexperienced lighter riders or experienced heavy riders in small to medium waves). So how come the Mana has more floatation than the Hokua X32 (163L x 150L) and yet, the Hokua is indicated for heavier surfers? Any ideas why is this so?

12

Gear Talk / Re: Naish Mana 9'5" - anybody tried?

« on: November 22, 2013, 11:09:18 AM »

Thanks, Peterp.

That's what I thought from the measures of the 2014 model. I have a 9'5" (older model, bought in 2012) and I really like it in real small and chest to head high conditions. I'm big and here there's strong wind and chopp for most of the year, so the added width and stability of the Mana is very useful. I've tried a Hokua 9'5" and once surfing the wave, that board rips!! But overall I just felt it would be great if there was something in between, with the stability and floatation of the Mana and more of the Hokua performance on the wave.  Looks like the new Mana models are going that way. Can't wait to try it!

Aloha.

13

Gear Talk / Naish Mana 9'5" - anybody tried?

« on: November 21, 2013, 05:57:01 AM »

I noticed some changes in the Naish Mana line for 2014. The noses have less area and   it looks like the tail rocker and width changed too. Seems to me the whole outline is a bit more surf performance oriented than in the previous models. Has anybody tried it? Can you point any difference between the 2014 model and the earlier ones in the surf?

Aloha!

14

SUP General / Re: Nazare - Laird stirs the pot

« on: November 01, 2013, 08:29:25 AM »

Hi guys,

I would like to add something to this discussion. First of all, I have all the respect for Laird, I think he's one of the most relevant athletes in the history of surf ever. Without him things just wouldn't be the same in this sport. I agree with him (and Slater, and others) about Maya not having all the skills necessary for extreme situations yet, despite being someone 100% committed to real big wave surfing. And I also think there's a consensus among surfers that one have to make the wave all the way to make it count.

But having said that, if we put everything in black or white like this (finish the wave, otherwise it's a failure), then what would we say about Greg Noll's legendary wave in Makaha back in 1969, or the footage of his insane Pipe wave coming from the third reef? In both cases, Noll didn't make those waves all the way, he dropped and surfed them up to a certain point, but eventually wiped out. So those waves shouldn't count, is that right?

In the other hand, Noll anda few others were definitely pushing things to another level at their time, just like Carlos, G Mac and Laird himself have been doing in the past few decades. I think that deserves some (or a lot) of recognition, regardless of being a successful attempt or a wipeout. So how do you guys see it once you put the "Noll factor" in this situation?

P.S.: Yes Bill, when someone speaks his mind with honesty and no filters, like Laird does, eventually there's polemic and then it's front page news, because the press just loves to see the circus on fire and it sells. If he tried to play polite in front of the camera and said something like "congratulations to Carlos, he deserves that, blah, blah...", I bet they wouldn't care about his opinion at CNN.

Aloha!
 

15

SUP General / Re: Off water training

« on: October 03, 2013, 01:00:30 PM »

Dirtsurfers are not as practical as Carvers and all skateboard options you guys mentioned. You need a hill, and MUST protect your knees, elbows and head. But it's  the best off water workout I've tried so far. Much closer to surfing than a 4 wheel skateboard and very good for improving balance and lower body strength. (I never tried that with a paddle.)

They started making these in Australia but I think they are made in China now. Not that easy to find (at least in Brazil), but it's a lot of fun!