Paddle Surf Hawaii 9'1" Roundpin (Balsa)

[Bob from Brazil]

Aloha Stewart,

That was a great input... thanks for your time & thanks for sharing your experience. After seeing (videos & pics) of so many riders ripping those PSH boards, I conviced myself that was my ticket. Couldn't be happier... I love my 9'3RIP but I'm having a hard time to ride it the way I'd like to. I've played with fins a lot but haven't get there yet...

With the 9'3 I feel that by the time I left the wave pocket the board starts to loose speed. I particularly note this with cutbacks at the shoulder. Of course hawaiian waves are much more powerful than brazilian waves (beach breakes @ Rio de Janeiro) and I've never surfed the 9'3 in overhead conditions, so maybe this little detail (or bigger detail if you will, afterall size matters ) is driving me nuts.

The day before yesterday I tried the 9'3 along with my brand new 8'11 Terry Chung and noticed that maybe it's in the rail. The 8'11 has less boxier rails and I felt it got more drive when I pushed the rails hard. Waves were pretty small (waist high) and with the 9'3 I felt that everytime I left the pocket speed was lost. Both boards were in 2+1 config (sidebites + 6.5" cutaway).

The other thing I noticed, or that I like is that the "spray is back".  For the last two years I have not been able to throw around any spray due to the length of these boards.  But . lately the off the tops and cutbacks are throwing water again, Hallelujah!!

I noticed that too in my 8'11: spray was much more pronounced without loosing too much speed. Maybe it's because of the rounded tail too... Maybe it's something about the bottom (the 8'11 has a slightly concave at the has a light concave in the nose area and a spiral V in the tail through the fins)... I may be wrong but I think it's something about rails too because the 8'11 really accelerates throughout turns (8'11 is 4-3/4" thick but you can feel the domed deck that ends in a thinner rail; the 9'3 is 4-1/4" but it looks boxier).

Anyway, it was great to hear your impressions about the 9'1 Roundpin. I hope that board enters the production line. Please, feel free to comment anything I wrote for the bad or good.

Mahalo do Brazil,
Bob.

Last thing.