Hey ":)

I'm after some good old school advice please.

Being new to SUP & I'm after a good all round board to take me into DW season and beyond.

My Size - 192cm @ 96Kg (strong & lean)

My Experience - Surfer all my life, raced competitively in DW Surf Ski for a number of years but have now given up kayak/surfski paddling due to lumbar injury (SUP does not affect this)

I've picked up a 2nd hand 2013 Starboard Allstar 21'6 x 25 3 recently and have been getting my technique and fitness up - comfortably now doing some solid kms on flatwater. But then there's the bumps! This 25" Allstar is way to narrow for me in getting the downwind groove happening!

As a downwind ski paddler I'm well versed in how to read the ocean and catch the runs but I also I know that SPEED = STABILITY + COMFORT! So I'm fully aware I need a stable board to learn how to catch and get into bumps on a SUP.

I want - A board that I can train and go hard & fast on for fitness on the flat & a board that can take me out into the bumps - I'm aiming for this year's KOTC (since I've been surf skiing this course for the last 8 years!)

So currently I'm looking at:

2015 Naish Javelin 14' x 28" (carbon)
2016 Starboard Hybrid Allstar 14' x 28"
2015 Starboard Allstar 14' x 28" (carbon)

Any others that I should consider?

Thanks in advance for the advice.
Cheers

Fanatic Falcon 26.75 is another one to consider as is the DC/NSP 26 or 29 on the big end of the scale OR DC Dr Chaser at 26.

Most important thing is to demo and see what you feel most comfortable on as even though the widths might be the same the shapes will drastically change the feel of the boards.

The other thing to consider is price. Big difference between the 3 boards mentioned above.

DavidJohn said..
I'm your height and weight and paddled most boards (and most brands) and I'd be choosing between the 2015 Naish 14x28 GX Jav or 14x29 GTW Glide... IMO.

Thanks David

Yes I've had a very quick paddle on a Javelin 12.6x26 and liked the glide of the thing - I am very swayed towards the 14x28.
Cheers

I would drop the 2015 all star from that list its nothing special in ocean conditions, wrong nose for it.

2016 all star 28 I reckon be good in the bumps and the easier of the two to learn to down wind on. but the naish 28 would be quicker in the flats and DJ an others rate it in the bumps still and his videos show it works well.

I reckon for your first season of ocean down winders a 28 is a good choice you will be stable and therefore quicker.
Sounds like with your ocean experiance though you will be dropping width in no time.

I guess i'm late here but, if you were considering a 28" Javelin, you should go with the 27" 2016 AllStar. The board is really really stable, it has the new AllStar allround racing nose and not the "easy downwind" nose of the 28", it's a really fast board in any condition. It connects bumps better than the 28" version and it's faster in flat water too.

Again, you need to try the new AllStars to feel how stable and fast they are!

UPDATE.....


Unfortunately I now have a serious case of board buyers regret.....

At first I loved the Javelin....

I took to it well, loving the speed and stability and its ability to pick up little bumps in the Mandurah Estuary.

I even raced in a 20km flatwater marathon event and did my anticipated time - and loved paddling it!

The thing is....

I'm a downwind type of guy, live for chasing wind and bumps, and this board is not made for it! Pure and simple it's a pig in solid runs....
The nose just buries.....

I did a downwinder today, (1/2 The King Of Cut Course - my backyard) the conditions were all time classic West Aus Freo Doctor kind of stuff and it just boggs down the nose, which then throws me forward as I come to an extreme stop! It was so frustrating! If I went too far back towards the tail, the whole dynamic of the board changes and I just couldn't buy a run! I just cant find the sweet spot on this board in solid conditions....

Has anyone else had the same experience?

So I've come to the conclusion at 97kg and 6'3 this board should not be ridden in solid downwind conditions - FOR ME!
For those that weigh considerably less and are not as top heavy as myself, well this story may be a little different!

I'm now on the lookout for a more suitable board for DW here in Perth.

I have a few on the list....
Sic Bullet v2 14 with AS
Some custom DC's
and toying with the idea of trying an unlimited!

Wish me luck!

my 2c...
your on your way to a respectable quiver!
traditional race boards ARE NOT dw boards (by & large) & the naish javs are all race boards (maliko may break the mould but still "race weight" construction).
dw you want stability, rocker, strength is important & ding resistance crucial, we don't mind a little xtra weight. racing you want the other stuff.
with your stats you do yourself a disservice not to at least look at unlimiteds.
second hand naish glide v2 in 27.5"wide gs construction, coreban dart (pure construction), sic bullets (can't speak for v3). the dw dc's look nice but I don't have experience with their construction.
good luck with your search.

Just have a look at what all the local crew are riding for you conditions, i would say the boards that suit that run are boards like last years Fanatic maybe this years but have not spent enough time on it to make a fair call the NSP boards will also work but you have to get used to the roll that the boards have but ince you get the hang of it they seem to go pretty good. The Ace from Starboard is a good board for that run as well but a lot harder to ride for most and being a bigger guy might be hard work!!
Pitty the KOTC is so close as there is a new DW board coming to Australian shores just after xmas that is proven to be one the fastest DW 14ft boards ever made and will now be available for sale in Australia.

If i was your size and just wanted to get out and have some DW fun i would get a 2015 fanatic as they are just to easy for DW.

get onto stimo mate, he is your local downwind guru.

This may interest you also.

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/SUP/DC-custom-board-or-NSP-DC-ocean-race-elite/?SearchTerms=bayrunner

I was fortunate enough last year to watch the event from a boat - and being a media boat we did get to work through the entire field so I was able to see almost every board in play.

From my perspective the Ace's, DC's, NSP's and Falcons looked the best, and all those boards were at the pointy end. The Javs didn't seem to be rewarding guys as much as the others but a few still went the distance and saw a couple get some great runners. Boards like the Jimmy's, SIC's etc might not have been up the front but they looked absolutely at ease out there, you could downwind from Busso to Bunbury on those things and get off at the end for beach sprints.

I'd also throw in the mix a YOB Bathurst, I own one (14x27) and rate it as being up there with the other production boards - definitely put that in your demo list. I'm at 90+ and have no dramas on water, it jumps on runners no worries and the way the rocker is, you only need to work a small section of the board to trim yourself into a runner. WA born and bred to.

Before I forget, although there weren't allot of unlimited boards out there last year, they looked great running down from Dawsville. There was a 17 ace and that thing was cooking along like a ski.

Hopefully will see you on the water for a Bunno/Mandurah bogan meld.

Off topic but can someone tell me if this 2012 Naish Javelin 14 x 26 would be suitable for a 6-3 x 95 keg bloke for downwind. Looking at it for a mate it's only $900.

Piros said..
Off topic but can someone tell me if this 2012 Naish Javelin 14 x 26 would be suitable for a 6-3 x 95 keg bloke for downwind. Looking at it for a mate it's only $900.

I guess it depends how much you like the bloke.

***UPDATE***

Well its been a little while now and I thought I'd post an update on my DW board my progression!

Having discovered the hard way that the Naish Javelin LE does not suit our West Coast DW conditions I trialed a few boards over the last few weeks - and even took the plunge of entering and finishing the KOC a few weekends ago. (#stoked !!)

Thanks to the Perth DW guru Stimo I took a DC Unlimited for a spin, briefly jumped on his DC14 and also took another DC14 x 27 (pin tail) for a run - all in solid DW conditions, and on all I failed the balance test!! This progression from ski paddling to SUP is harder on my balance skills than I 1st thought!

Of all the DC boards I loved the unlimited the best, even though it still was a little too narrow for me and my size. (at this point I was thinking Unlimited was definitely the future choice)

Then after having a good chat to Cam at Stand Up Paddle Shop Freo I got my hands on his demo 2016 Starboard Allstar 14x28.

First run on the AS, which happened to be my home turf on The Cut, I could finally surf some runs!! YEEEEOOOOOW!!
- and keep a pretty good pace - almost a dry run if it wasn't for some serious leg fatigue after doing a few DW runs earlier during the week. (and being only my 6/7th DW run in total!)

I was then thinking KOC might just be possible!!
So I secured the AS from Stand Up Paddle Shop as a hire boat for the KOC and prayed I would get some sea legs developed FAST!!

I was liking the AS a lot, it seemed to be a good choice, but I felt due to my size, I could still get a better suited DW board.
The unlimited was still playing mind tricks on me and the urge to get one was too much - and a new SIC Unlimited will be arriving for me shortly!!

But I also wanted my cake and eat it too!!

So after my amazement of finishing the KOC in under my estimated time on the Allstar - I still wanted to have a 14 footer in my shed to add to the growing quiver! Luckily for me I had the opportunity to have several good chats regarding board design with Dale & Allaine from DC Paddle Boards. So a decision was made, if I wanted a 14 footer I'd need to go custom. Well its been the case all my life for surfing, so why should it be any different for SUP!

So the DC 14 is in the beginning stages of design which will add to the;
SIC Unlimited,
2015 Naish Javelin LE 14x28 (FOR SALE if anyone wants it?!)
& 2013 Starboard Allstar 12'6" x 25 (1st purchase & with no idea!!)

I have to thank Stimo, Dale, Allaine and especially Cam from Stand Up paddle Shop for all their wisdom and help along the way.

Next year the KOC will be a lot more enjoyable!!

cantSUPenough said...

KetoFireFighter said..
***UPDATE***


Having discovered the hard way that the Naish Javelin LE does not suit our West Coast DW conditions I trialed a few boards over the last few weeks - and even took the plunge of entering and finishing the KOC a few weekends ago. (#stoked !!)

Just curious - why not? I have a Jav LE 14'x26" but I have not tried a downwind yet.

Look, this guy is on the same learning path we have all been on with downwinding. So I wouldn't pay much attention to this observation. Because he's experienced at sitting down downwinding he has assumed that he'd be instantly good at stand up downwinding. So when he goes out and can't do it well, he's making the same mistake that most of us do when we are newbies - blame the board.

It is certainly true that certain boards suit certain conditions, IMO. But it is equally true that when people start out downwinding they usually overestimate their own abilities, and that, combined with vanity, tends to lead them to get a board that is too advanced for them. It's the same with surfing - I'm always seeing guys on "Kelly Slater boards" who should be on something more appropriate, sitting there catching nothing, watching the more realistic have all the fun.

This bloke just needs a wide board with a load of rocker right now. But he's gonna bounce around for a while trying all manner of expensive solutions until he finally learns that there's no substitute for time on water. It's not his fault, it's just what most of us go through when we start downwinding. At least he's got the good sense to realise that for downwinding you need a DW board, rather than using a 23" wide flat water board and then saying that "downwinding is rubbish round here", like what sometimes happens when flat water racers try DWing for the first time. You get all manner of pronouncements when ego and reality clash.

HAHAHA ^^^^^^
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