Well what can I say? And how can I say it in words? And where do I start?
I dont want to sound like a robot or make it like every other 9'8 review.

Seeing the forecast last night I thought it would be sweet conditions to get the 9'8 slotted for the late arvo sesh.
Light E winds 5-10kn. 2.3m Rotto and 0.8m Cott swell with 0.7m tide.
Went straight to Scabs to be greeted with chest to some head high sneakers.
This is the 3rd time Ive riden the 9'8 but not in a sucky beach break like this.

This board is sensational! Its 30" wide which is perfect IMO for SUP boards.
A board which is very stable in the surf. This makes so much difference when you are confronted with white water, backwash, chop and unbroken waves etc. Not much of this on the river For me I want to be SUPing not SPLashing

Having the FCS in it made it slow to turn around for a wave if you had the normal, facing forward SUPing stance. For quicker turns you had to step one foot back to get more pivot from the tail. This being also quite easy due to the wide fish tail.
FCS also made it easy to keep it in a straighter line while paddling for waves. It ment that I didnt have to change sides while paddling.

Believe it or not this board picks up waves with ease. The wave count did not drop just because I was on a smaller board. I always thought that it would. The speed gained while paddling onto the swell, carried through onto the wave and down the line. A fast board for sure.
Spoke to one bloke who was amazed at how many waves I was getting and how I managed to get it barreled

For the people who want to get away from the 11' SUP boards and get onto a smaller, yet just as stable, surfing a shortboard feel, then this is the board for you, without a doubt

Seriously, I was amazed at the drops I was getting and being able to trim and pump this board just like I could have done if I was on my 6' twin fish. Obviously the take off on a SUP happens alot sooner than a shortboard. But at a place like Scabs, getting onto the wave and setting yourself up for the throw over, is a piece of cake on the 9'8. Ha, that rhymes

Anywho... I dont know about you but I want more of that

More reviews and feedback on this board still to come