Just looking for some impressions from someone who may have paddled one of these 3 boards. I've paddled the Falcon 14' x 26.5 briefly and my initial reaction = very stable, rides over bumps really well, speed seemed adequate (not as fast as my 404 V3) but I could see the potential for downwind speed. I'm looking for a winter, downwind board (keeping my 404) something with more volume than my V3 which I use in calmer water.
Well, the Falcon and Bullet are very different boards. They don't really belong in the same category IMO. The Bullet (either V1 or V2) is a full-on downwind board that doubles up as an all-rounder whereas the Falcon is a hybrid race board you can also downwind. The Bullet surfs well, but I doubt that the Falcon does because of the very forward fin position (but haven't tried one yet so this is a guess: the Mistral Equinox has a narrow tail and fin forward like the Falcon, and surfing is it's least good quality).
You might want to try the Jimmy Lewis Sidewinder too.
Select to expand quoteArea10 said..
Well, the Falcon and Bullet are very different boards. They don't really belong in the same category IMO. The Bullet (either V1 or V2) is a full-on downwind board that doubles up as an all-rounder whereas the Falcon is a hybrid race board you can also downwind. The Bullet surfs well, but I doubt that the Falcon does because of the very forward fin position (but haven't tried one yet so this is a guess: the Mistral Equinox has a narrow tail and fin forward like the Falcon, and surfing is it's least good quality).
You might want to try the Jimmy Lewis Sidewinder too.
Thanks, that's a good analogy... I appreciate the perspective... I guess I would compare the Falcon to something like the Starboard Allstar. I love my 404 V3 for flat water to moderate chop so as a second board more like the Bullet V2 could be the board. My other option is the 404 Joy, the SIC has more volume but there are some similarities in the shapes. I limited my choices to boards carried by a local dealer, (I'm a shop rider) and Jimmy Lewis isn't an option.... but thanks for the suggestion.
That's the 1st time I've ever heard the Falcon described as a "hybrid". The focus the last 2 years has been on making the Falcon a board that excels downwind. We modelled the nose off the clubbie paddle boards here in Australia as they were the design that works well in our Australian conditions. They are very different to the paddle board noses found in the US. The clubbie boards run downwind and slip into the bumps and that is what we were after. We tried 4 different round noses last year, and the 2017 nose is a slight evolution of the 2016 nose. This year we added volume to the nose to aid the boards downwind ability and straightened the rail line to provide more stability.
As far as surfing goes, the Falcon surfs well. 4 of us were riding shoulder to head high swells and waves this morning out on our local reef without a problem. A variety of fin placements were trialled on the Protos and the optimum position is where it is on the 2017 production boards.
The Falcon is more of a downwind board this year than ever before and this has certainly been reflected in the comments from people who have purchased it here in Australia. It's certainly not a board I'd be using in a Flatwater race, however, with its ability to pick up little bumps it would be a good choice for a lumpy offshore race.
I always advice to demo if you can before buying as this will give you a true indication of what suits you.
From the Fanatic website:
"The 2017 Falcon is the weapon of choice for all-round SUP racing. From flat water to extreme open ocean conditions, the Falcon will get you there first."
Sounds like a hybrid to me.
From the SIC website:
"The Bullet 14.0 V2 is the ultimate downwind racing machine. This board is offered with and without the SIC F.A.S.T. Steering. The outline’s widest point has been shifted slightly forward and the rocker flattened, which provides the rider with better stability when powering up in lower wind ranges and smaller chop. You would think that straighter rocker would cause the board to pearl easily, however, the narrowed tail brings the nose up, mitigating purling and unlocking top end speed by reducing wetted surface area. The board has slightly lower volume than the Bullet 14 TWC, but maintains its iconic full volume rails and gradual tuck to promote stability, which incidentally also reduces paddler fatigue over long races or touring distances."
Sounds like a downwind board to me.
Select to expand quoteNNSUP said..
That's the 1st time I've ever heard the Falcon described as a "hybrid". The focus the last 2 years has been on making the Falcon a board that excels downwind. We modelled the nose off the clubbie paddle boards here in Australia as they were the design that works well in our Australian conditions. They are very different to the paddle board noses found in the US. The clubbie boards run downwind and slip into the bumps and that is what we were after. We tried 4 different round noses last year, and the 2017 nose is a slight evolution of the 2016 nose. This year we added volume to the nose to aid the boards downwind ability and straightened the rail line to provide more stability.
As far as surfing goes, the Falcon surfs well. 4 of us were riding shoulder to head high swells and waves this morning out on our local reef without a problem. A variety of fin placements were trialled on the Protos and the optimum position is where it is on the 2017 production boards.
The Falcon is more of a downwind board this year than ever before and this has certainly been reflected in the comments from people who have purchased it here in Australia. It's certainly not a board I'd be using in a Flatwater race, however, with its ability to pick up little bumps it would be a good choice for a lumpy offshore race.
I always advice to demo if you can before buying as this will give you a true indication of what suits you.
Thanks NNSUP, don't worry I'm not stuck on semantics ... more interested in feel vs what I have and from the brief paddle on the Falcon it's a very different board that still might suit my needs. I like the extra volume overall for winter paddling here in the NW US, the construction is outstanding and very light and the distributor is 50 miles away. I hope to paddle a couple other boards next week. It's funny, I remember Sebastian Wenzel the designer from my WS days long ago.... the guy is ageless. 
Appreciate the input.
Select to expand quoteArea10 said...
From the Fanatic website:
"The 2017 Falcon is the weapon of choice for all-round SUP racing. From flat water to extreme open ocean conditions, the Falcon will get you there first."
Sounds like a hybrid to me.
Yes, it might say that on the website, however, I was commenting on the Falcon knowing a little about the design brief, team feedback and recent retailer and customer interaction and sales. I stand by my comments having now ridden it extensively and listened to feedback from our customers, most of whom are looking at it against the SIC V2, JP Downwind Race, ACE and new NSP DC downwind boards. (All great boards) Most are buying the Falcon as their pure downwind or ocean board and are looking at something else for Flatwater racing.
Yardsale, I always recommend to try as many boards as you can as we all ride in different areas with different abilities. Talk to other local paddlers and the staff at your good local shop. What works in one area might not work in another. Find out what other paddlers are using and doing well on and you'll probably find that's a good basis to start your search. I could give a couple of examples where boards that are written up on the Breeze as being a great downwinder or a poor downwinder have in fact been the opposite for our local conditions.
Good luck - I think testing all of the boards is the best bit about it.
Yard sale, don't overlook the NSP Sonic as an option also. Depending on ability it is faster than the Puma. I spent a good day testing these with Alain Teurqetil from NSP and loved both boards. Just another board to throw in the mix.
Select to expand quoteNNSUP said..
Yard sale, don't overlook the NSP Sonic as an option also. Depending on ability it is faster than the Puma. I spent a good day testing these with Alain Teurqetil from NSP and loved both boards. Just another board to throw in the mix.
Thanks, I've tried a lot of boards... more than anyone at the local shop and I'm not nearly as experienced a paddler, I'm just OCD LOL! I already own 4 paddles because of my stupid brain. I'm not a gifted athlete so I use Danny Ching's advice... "if you wanna get better just go out more than anyone else" or something to that effect. Also I'm older and this sport feels better to me than anything I've done in years- I get better every time I go out. Thanks for the feedback, I plan to make a decision next week.
NNSUP - it's interesting what you say because that accords better with what I've found paddling the Falcon than what the marketing blurb has claimed. I've always found the Falcons pretty effective downwind boards, from the first model. But that board was slow in flat water, and when I tried the 2016 model I was surprised that it still wasn't much faster. In fact, in terms of the tippiness/speed ratio in flat water it didn't seem good value to me, which excludes it for me as a general "all-round" board. However, downwind it seemed to be fast, as they all have been. So, maybe you might recommend to whoever writes the Falcon marketing blurb that they leave out the claims about flat water?
Select to expand quoteArea10 said..
4 paddles? Don't worry, that's normal. I've got 21 paddles. That's not normal.
Cool cuz I'm about to have 5 at 2 months in. There's one thing being OCD... feel is everything and little flaws in technique or feel will drive me insane LOL. I think shops should focus most of their energy on getting customers on the right paddle because to me, initially at least, it makes the most difference in the experience. I figure by next spring I'll be able to start my own used paddle store.... maybe we could start an eBay shop together. Ha ha!
You'll know when you've found the right one for your activity (and the right length) when you find yourself having gone the whole session without once thinking about your paddle. It's funny -all that trouble and expense just to find something you won't notice...
But then the problem is that that paddle doesn't feel right for some other activity (surfing, downwinding, flat water racing, touring, whitewater etc), and the whole process starts all over again.
with so many boards I'm looking forward to the Kite Republic demo day on the Fanatic Falcon & Strike!
