A very quick short early session today to finally get the 73 on the water. Here are my first impressions.

Conditions...Patchy Northerly at Green Point, Brighton...15-22 knots...choppy.
KA Race 2017 proto, Tribal Powermax 38

The board instantly felt very composed and compact for it's size....really does not feel like a 73 wide 118 liter board. Ride is engaging enough but not "thumpy" through the chop...I think the balance is just right. Rides flat with the nose staying low, does not feel super fast or overly lively, quite cruisy in it,s temperament.
Gybe is awesome, it carves a really smooth progressive arc, very easy to gybe even for a hack like me.
Stance is just right...out on the rails so you can really lock in yet it does not feel extreme due to the slightly narrower tail.
Speed.....well as I said it does not feel super fast..yet I managed a respectable speed for the conditions....especially as I have had the flu for 3 weeks and the mojo was non existent. Peak was a 30.5....OK for the bay on a big board...especially as I was not really pushing it. There is a lot more speed in this for sure when I get it dialed.

I am happy....need more time on it to dial it in.....I am not sure the powermax is the right fin for it I think it needs something more upright to coax the nose up a bit and loosen it up and certainly bigger for when I put an 8.0 on it. Tribal Slalom 42 coud be the ticket.

Next weekend?????? Lets hope.