I see it did okay in the flatwater 14' board comparison tests....and is placed in the racing/touring catagory by the people who are marketing it. Anyone had a splash around on it? Looks like a good mellow board for flatwater fitness. Does it handle okay in more open waters I wonder?
Hey Gizzie - I considered the 14 myself and actually sought input from an experienced paddler with a lot of knowledge about these boards. He told me that for flatwater and calmer open water the 14 is unbeatable BUT in rougher offshore conditions and downwinders in bigger seas the 12.6 is way better. I am 75 kg and paddle in open water and surf conditions and I am happy I went with the 12.6 - very fast and so so forgiving in really crap conditions.
Thanks for the info (the seabreeze search machine does not seem to treat me well ) The squarer tail of the 12'6 would be a factor I suppose.There is a breeze topic on the 12 with vid by DJ :) www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/Review/NSP-12/
I never got to take the 14 on a real down-winder but I did take the new 12'er one day and it went great.. It was stable and easy to get back and surf it on a runner.. It was surprisingly loose and earshot surf left or right.. The nose pushes water a bit compared to the new 12'6" and 14' NSP.
Thanks for the info DJ...took much googling for me to work out that the 12' one is the "tourer" with the square tail & greater width & the 12'6 still has the pintail & looks wobblier :)
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