These beasts would be awesome for some down wind fun.
Has anyone had a D/W run on one of these??....I have only had the chance to paddle the 14'er on flat water.
Might be lucky enough to get the opportunity to have another run on it in the Mad Mad Paddle.....fingers crossed!!
The bottom contours look like they have been taken straight from a high performance short board and scaled up to suit.....single into double concaves.
Would love to add the 14'er to the quiver....but my better half would probably strangle me!!





I think there might be some better images on the WOW Facebook page.
I'm Facebook iliterate.....here's the link for anyone keen to check it out.

http://www.facebook.com/people/Walkonwater-Sup/100001188815087

Enjoy.

I know how you feel.
Imagine having the dilema of picking between the two.
They are both really nice shapes.
I couldn't decide so I went for the 12'6" BOP race rig instead
Lovin' it

Yes, nice boards... The 14 looks to be more of a dedicated DW board. Sort of has that S.I.C. 14 smell about it actually. A good thing!

From the pics on the other thread, the 12'6 has a hint of a certain specific design feature that the 404 12'6ers have. I like it.

Both of these boards look extremely user friendly.... I will bet that the 12'6 is equally as fast as most, for most riders. And I would also bet that the 14 goes like a freaking rocket in blasting DW conditions !

Send one of each down to us on the Surf Coast, and we'll get back to you with some glowing reviews !!

here is a couple of shots of the boards, playing on the lake

Looks like the 14'er is doing the Mad Paddle.
Hopefully we get a honking tail wind

HE HAD LOTS OF BEERS THIS LAST WEEK WITH A CREW OF FIRIES FROM NARRABEEN, SURFING DOWN THE FAR SOUTH COAST, SO HE IS NOW ABOUT 74Kegs

probably not the quickest way to get around.....good laugh though!!
Event organisers idea....not ours.

Recent Makai cup:

The board was awsome, glided like a speedboat. A pity that
the conditions didnt come good but was great fun..

all this new teen paddlers have machine gun stroke rates. how do they keep it up

An OFB's take on this board:

I spent an hour and a bit on the 14 x 29" DW version (298 litres) on Wallaga lake and on some little runners in the lake mouth this morning (thanks Brian!). This board is very very stable. I found it comfortable to move around on (Melb paddlers will know how nimble I am...not) with excellent glide for a rockered board. It also felt very stiff and positive in chop with no noticeable flex (carbon strip in the rails prob helping) and very well mannered in side chop too. The nose isn't bulky so it'd probably be fairly tractable in a side wind. Underneath is a single concave through the middle transitioning through a light double to a V in the tail (nice JM fin back there). Fairly firm rails through the middle to a hard rail in the last couple of feet. Plenty of volume through the middle where a big bloke wants it with nice, positive feedback from the rails. At first look I thought it might need a tad more volume in the tail to keep me up but it didn't seem so stepping back to turn. The overall finish is excellent. An interesting second fin box at about the mid-point in the example I rode is there for big water tracking, not sure I'd use it on my local waters but a small skeg in there would probably help stability for the severely balance-challenged.

IMO upper-middle-to-big sized paddlers should seriously consider this one for an open water/rough water/DW board. Two thumbs up I reckon .

HumanCartoon said...
An interesting second fin box at about the mid-point in the example I rode is there for big water tracking, not sure I'd use it on my local waters but a small skeg in there would probably help stability for the severely balance-challenged.

Why didn't DJ try that on his Jav?

Hi Guys

I love reading all your posts to try and understand all the different facets to this sport including technical aspects of gear as I have not yet made the switch regarding owning a board, or ridden many for that matter. I have a few questions that I need answering but I thought I would give you a bit of info about myself to get where i'm coming from. I am 37yrs, around 70kg and reasonably fit with longboard surf experience (and a season of OC6 racing under the belt but too long ago to matter, but it all helps). I would like to get into SUP in the Sydney area and have the idea of getting into open ocean and bay down winding, as well as paddling in the flats. Mostly recreational but with a view in the future to have a go at the odd paddle race more for the experience and fun (thinking 20 beaches paddle would be unreal but challenging, and smaller races). Would also be a bonus to put the wife (60kg), and daughter when she gets old enough, on the board on the odd occasion to paddle in the flats for fun. Was thinking a 14' would be ideal but thinking a planing hull design that is user friendly would be the go that could be ridden in small surf as well as on some decent swells just wide of those reef bombies. Am i being realistic?

I have been trying to read between the lines in may posts about technical aspects of the different styles of SUP (and their corresponding boards) but I have a few questions that I hoped could be answered by anyone with some decent experience and history of boards in this sport (DJ, other), and the WOW 14' (HumanCartoon, other).

I really like the concept, shape (and look) of the WOW 14' GSR but noticed that comments have been made about tail volume (or a possible lack of it). Can someone please explain how volume distribution in all areas (nose, middle, and tail) of a board like this will effect the way it performs? (with all bodyweights, and my fairly light 70kgs).

What would be the main difference be between a board like the WOW 14' DW, JL M14 and similar boards to say the Naish (2012) 14' Glide (and similar boards, Coreban Dart 14' ?) which seems to have more volume distributed to the tail area?
(I'm thinking it be looser in the tail so will be able to turn it easier while planing during DWers, surfing.)

Is it reasonable to ask for demos on boards like these in conditions where you will be using it most e.g. in moderate DW conditions and paddling up wind and in sidechop.(testing these boards in the flats seems to me that little will be revealed about the true potential of such boards, so how do we know what to buy?).

We need to have another 14' board test for all the great DW/ocean specific boards coming on the market, and in those conditions where they will be ridden the most, i.e. a variety of conditions. (thanks to the VIC boys for the 14' flat water test, showed potential for the ocean boards in the flats).

What boards would you guys like to see in a 14' allround conditions test? (I do understand that this really belongs in a new post)

Just a start but I would like to see all the latest models of (but not limited to):

Walk on Water 14' GSR (DW)
Jimmy Lewis M-14'
Coreban 14' Dart
Naish 14' Glide
Starboard 14' Coast Runner
Starboard 14' Open Ocean
Fanatic Fly Race 14' Open
Sunny King 14' Ocean Elite
Sic Bullet 14'
Sic F-14'

Can we keep the list going? (Feel free to add as i've exhausted my limited knowledge)

Any answers to any or all my questions or any other input would be appreciated.

Thanks

Potty

PottyMullet said...


Is it reasonable to ask for demos on boards like these in conditions where you will be using it most e.g. in moderate DW conditions and paddling up wind and in sidechop.(testing these boards in the flats seems to me that little will be revealed about the true potential of such boards, so how do we know what to buy?).


Potty

Hi Nathan, also welcome to the breeze.

it is possible to test these boards in ideal conditions, its just a matter of knowing whens ideal and you have a chance to test!

There are a few good shops in and around Sydney that have demo boards you can go and "rent/try" local to you you have OzSup at Rose Bay, south EastcoastSUP in Barden Ridge, and CronullaSUP and north Dripping Wet and Balmoral Boards on the way to Manly and not forgetting Wind surf and Snow at Collaroy (sam has lots of bvoards) but also you have the little know Jamieson Park Paddle on Narabeen lakes where you can hire any number of boards, get some lessons and the have a whole warehouse full and they dont sell boards, they teach SUP and hire boards for use on the lake. Just pick your favourite windy day I reckon.

Good luck with it and when your ready come down to the Bay at Port Hacking, theres a good crew paddles down there most weekend, days around LT.

Greg

Deano72 said...

If you want to demo a WoW 14' GSR give the guys a call at the SUP shop in Mona Vale.....they are WoW.
Better do it soon though as they are relocating at the end on June!!

I've paddled this board a few times now in varied conditions.
I'm 80 kegs and had no trouble picking up little runners in light down wind conditions.....concave bottom works a treat.
Hangs in the face of a wave nicely too.
Very versatile 14' board IMO.
Give one a try, I'm sure you will be impressed.

What he said.

I've owned a 14' GSR for a few weeks and I'm a relative noob to DW but this board is by far the funnest, most well-mannered board I've been on in our local DW conditions (short period, usually a bit messy and unpredictable). I weigh about 40kegs more than Deano and my balance is crap - I find the GSR super stable and responsive with a nice big sweet spot around the middle of the board. It picks up and runs really easily even with me on it. I don't think apparent lack of tail volume compared to the boxy ones is a problem with this design - IMO it's a plus b/c it doesn't have that catchy on-off-on-off feel of other more boxy-tailed boards I've DW'd on. I also reckon it's the best behaved board I've ever been on in side shop, chined rails have something to do with that. It feels like it's no slouch on the flat but I haven't put the clock on it yet. Can't wait for a big DW day to see what it can really do, and I'm looking forward to DJ's ride report.

Two thumbs up for sure.

PottyMullet said...

Thanks guys, I really appreciate you taking the time to share your advice and opinions.
Does "chined rails" mean rounded, or something that I don't understand yet?

Through the front and middle of the board there's a slight bevelled edge to the rail - a sharp boxy rail tends to catch in side chop, a rounded or tucked under rail doesn't (so much) but tips more easily. I'm tall and heavy and awkward so boards generally are more sensitive to side-to-side input from me. The GSR's chined rail doesn't catch easily in side chop but between the chine and the concave bottom the rail bites hard in a roll, it's very hard to tip this board.

PottyMullet said...

What is this "on-off" feel with boxy arse end boards?

Hard to describe unless you have felt it but I'll have a bat. I'm either on the runner, the board accelerates sharply and I have to place my weight 'just so' to trim or I'm off the runner. Feels a bit like an on-off switch to me. Again, I'm a lot heavier than most paddlers so maybe trim is more critical for me. This one seems less subject to that, most of the volume is through the middle with thinner nose & tail - feels more progressive on takeoff and less sensitive to trim. Works for me anyway.

PottyMullet said...


Do you have any details on the construction of this board and a weight?

Glass/carbon cocktail. It's pretty stiff, I don't feel any noticeable flexing, it pokes through chop pretty well but it's not a displacement nose so still pushes a little water. Mine weighs 14kg. Finish is excellent all over.

Thanks Deano

I don't want to speak too soon but I think the SUP gods are smiling today as I have contacted the shop and put a deposit down on 3 boards without seeing them (I know, it seems outrageous) but due to really really good price (and people's positive comments) I just could not resist. Boards are:

WOW 14' GSR
Luke Short Designs 8'10" SW
Simon Anderson Stand Sure 12' Combo (This one is for a mate who is over 100kgs)

According to the guy at the store the 12' Combo is the first one that was made (original prototype) that all the production ones were based off. He said it is a little dinged up but was a bargain.

I am imploding with anticipation and excitement.

Inspection will reveal the final outcome.

Potty