Rider: 105kg advanced
Style: Surf
Build Quality: 10/10
Satisfaction: 10/10
Disclosure: owned Naish, Starboard, JL and PSH from 2007. Sponsored by the wife much to her disgust

My Comments:
Blane seems to have amalgamated my favorite surf sups in this board. Nose flip and stability from the 9 9 JL Mano, tail kick and quad setup from the JL Kwad, vacuum bagged heavy duty construction, sick outline of the PSH 9 2 ripper and the thin rails and tail of the PSH ripper series.

This thing absolutely rips for the larger gentleman. Had 6 sessions now the 7 hours on Saturday was really special. Lovely 100m right reef break with a few crawlers. To top it off two hater shortboarders after the usual stink eye and boat comments paddle up to me and complemented me on how good I was turning my boat. Even got a couple of kegs as they paddled out :). They finished by saying 'where can you get one of them?'

It is different to last years ripper as it has rocker front and back. Took me a little time to adjust to the buoyancy of the board I think it is more than the 131l stated. The rocker threw me a bit way less effort to turn than the 9 2. Nice on my shoulders paddling compared to the 9 2 ripper due to the extra float. The increased rocker makes it harder to catch waves which is good and bad, enter the wave a little later but you are in the critical part of the wave.

Sorry no surf pics but a long way out. These are worth a paddle.

wheels said...

Hi Hilly
Sounds like you have found the perfect board,when you reference it to the 9'2 are you talking about the 2012 9'2 or last year model,does it seem as tough as the JLs?
I am seriously looking at these boards but may have to sell a couple of other SUPS first.Have you tryed it as a thruster?

Feels just as tough as the JLs which is high praise as they are very well built. My Kwad took out my ribs last year without a scratch.

Talking the 2011 9 2 bamboo construction.

Thruster would work well may use them in bigger surf.

wheels said...

Thanks Hilly, I will have to ring Westoz as they only have the hull rippers on their website, couldnt find rippers.

The Hull Rippers are a curious beast, some people love them. For the lumpy bumpy offshore reefs I surf they were a handful stability wise and a very flat rocker. Not my cup of tea but also worth a paddle. They worked well in clean surf.

If in Perth welcome to have a look at the 9 7 ripper PM me.

JMD said...

Does anyone have an opinion of how this board would compare to an early model 9'6 naish hokua? (2009)
Im looking for an all round surf sup with more maneuverability but dont want to lose much the way of stability.
Im 189ccm and 86kg.
Cheers

The Naish is very flat the PSH will surf better in good surf. Stability would be similar.

DavidJohn said...

Very, very nice.. (the duke with the termignoni's)..

DJ