Naish 2012 range

9'5 Hokua or 9' mana??? how much difference is there, same volume different lengths, how much difference in performance/handling?

HI TJR

You will find there is a fair difference in performance. The Mana has a rounder nose and not as much rocker. The Hokua is made for absolute performance. The new 9'5" is a blown up copy of the 9'0. The Hokua is like surfing short board style. Great Board. They went for it as the 9'0" is a great board but a little light on volume for the heavier set surfer. If you can surf go the Hokua.

Do the 2012 Hokua come with a board cover?
Can't wait to demo the new 9'5" i think it will be just right for my 100kg frame

It does suck as the bamboo fins are very pretty and help make the boards look like a premium product, I can't use that as a selling point any more. They are also charging more for the fancy graphics on the ladies boards which will really encourage the ladies to buy them.

In UK Mana's are the most expensive boards so if they are cheaper to make there is something wrong there, although the Nalu seems to have caught up on price for 2012

Just laid 9' Mana on top of 9'5 Hokua , the tail on the Mana is narrower than the Hokua which surprised me.
Somebody mentioned they were looking forward to the new handles? The new handles on the 9'5 and Nalu 10'6 are both shallower than the 2011 boards and don't feel as comfortable. seems to me price is up and quality down a bit?

Haven't managed a proper surf on the 9' 5 yet, went out last Sunday on quads (the supplied G7 on the front and a G3 on the rear, the waves were pretty weak but i struggled to turn the board, I actually found I had more fun on 10' Mana.

Havent paddled again as now got golfers elbow and need to rest it before going Hossegor way in a week.

Could it be the handles are just a little different between the Chinese and Thailand boards and not a 2011 to 2012 design change?

I still cant decide whether mana 9 or kokua 9´5. Unfortunately there is no chance to demo. Here the waves are mushy and pretty small and powerless most of the time, better waves only in holidays and a few long weekends. What pulls me about the hokua is the shortboardfeeling that many describe. But, with the conditions at hand, I suppose the mana would be the better choice, right? Supposedly a little more stable in choppy conditions and easier to have fun with in small waves with little power? Besides, I would use it for flat water paddeling, too. But here, speed is not a big factor for me.

80kg by 5´11

now i´m riding the 10´6 nsp. the 9´5 mana doesn´t seem like a big step forword to me from that board.

I had a demo on the 9' Hokua. Very versatile board, the length means you can catch waves easily but the rails aren't that thick so it's not that voluminous and it spins and surfs really well. I liked the concave deck and the really grippy deckpad.
My one grizzle is that I was hoping they would be cheaper this year with the exchange rate in our favour but it looks like it's not to be.

New Naish Sup site up and live so check out all that's new. I had a ride on the Hokua 9'5" last week and it's a great little board.