colas forum posts in last 60 days

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thegreatsup said..
Are those sides less keely, and more height? I do think that a twin fin with a bit more height / rake and less base would go even better!

It depends on the wave.Keels work well at low speed, where you can push on them without sliding.

Fins with a higher aspect ratio work better at higher speeds, you get grip but without the tail becoming too stiff and having you struggle against the fin power.

I used to put keels on small waves (less than waist/chest high) on my Simmons, and switching to AM twins for bigger waves.

The C-Drive is a nice compromise: a wide base for power, but a thinner head to shed power. I ended up using only them on my Simmons.(But then I discovered the Quobba, and never got back on twin fin setups)

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thegreatsup said..
As opposed to sup + crowded big break? lol

In my (limited) experience, the bigger waves acts as a natural filter, meaning less trouble.Granted good surfers or SUPers can also be assholes. But competent big wave surfers and SUPers understand each other, and non-competents (like me) are humbled by the conditions. So in practice it degenerates less than in small waves.

To be honest, SUP + crowded small break = looking for trouble everywhere...

Dutch company: Kubus sports.

clement-morandiere.medium.com/kubus-sports-grabs-naish-but-can-it-rescue-the-sinking-brand-456216ecd3df

Extracts:

4.Outdated distribution model worsened financial struggles
Naish's troubles also reflect larger industry shifts away from traditional distribution. Insiders suggest Naish had been burdened by an outdated reliance on retailers instead of direct connections with users.This led to massive excess inventory - with rumors of thousands of unsold wingfoil units stockpiled at their factory in China. With slowing cash flow from declining hard goods sales, shrinking margins from retailer markups, and wasted capital on inventory, informed sources say Naish's business fundamentals were crumbling.The pandemic and economic volatility only exacerbated systemic issues like bloated inventories, inefficient distribution, and negative working capital. With retailers unable to absorb inflated stock, acquisition became Naish's only viable path forward.We've recently seen many Naish products dump into the European market with sales pricess off up to 60%, even Naish Foil sold under 200?

5.Can Kubus transform Naish's business model for the digital age?
While Kubus provides a financial lifeline, it remains uncertain whether a European parent company can help Naish overhaul its business model to better serve today's watersports enthusiasts.Beyond funding, Naish requires a digital-first direct connection to customers and agile, demand-driven manufacturing. Time will tell if Kubus can bring not just capital, but the strategic vision to transform Naish for the modern era.

6.Naish recognized trends, but failed to dominate them While Naish has showcased impressive foresight by moving early into rising disciplines like kiteboarding, stand up paddleboarding, and wing foiling, the brand has consistently failed to convert its first-mover advantage into sustained market leadership.Despite having the vision to identify and embrace new sports with growth potential ahead of rivals, Naish has struggled to scale rapidly enough to defend its competitive position once bigger mass market players inevitably enter the space.Rather than leveraging disruptive innovations to reshape industries under the Naish banner, the brand repeatedly surrendered dominance to followers with greater resources and distribution prowess. This longstanding failure to capitalize on identified opportunities adds further urgency for major strategic changes under Kubus' stewardship.The watersports world watches eagerly as this iconic brand navigates unknown waters, balancing tradition and innovation under new leadership. Naish's next chapter will either cement its status as a timeless legend, or confirm its outdated irrelevance. The stakes could not be higher for the pioneer brand."

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ockanui said..
Interesting comments for those that have been in the sport for a long time

I don't think the comments were against the 9' limit.They were about the judgment criteria.

From what I understand, you could enter a 9'+ comp with a 10' (or a 11', 12') and still be competitive if the rules rewarded styling and flow more than aggressiveness.

In truth, you all seem to agree.

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Sideshore said..
Another doubt for Colas. I don't understand why Gong says in their complete website the mob 7'6" or 7'11" need bigger waves than the NFA 8'0".

In my experience, the flatter rocker makes a lot of difference for taking off by mere paddling power, "gliding" (or some people call it "motorboating") into the waves. Single fins help also by reducing drag while paddling.

Boards with more rocker paddle noticeably slower, but it is not a problem for taking off if you can feel the "bump" of the wave lifting the board and push on it with your legs with a good timing.

So, if the waves are too soft to provide a well-defined "bump", or if the rider does not have the experience to exploit it, lower rockered boards like the "short longboard" shapes will help a lot.

Also, bigger waves travel faster, so for big and soft waves, boards with a high paddling speed will have a noticeable advantage if you cannot use their "bump".

Let's start a subject to collect the interesting SUP / Surf foil videos.

I'll start with Alex Aguera I find this video really interesting because it shows having smooth arcs in crappy onshore waves, and even zips along broken sections (which is definitely not easy).

On the bad points, his footstraps placement seems bad: the longitudinally aligned front one is awkward, you can see is foot at a 45 degree angle, and the rear one is so open that his foot is fully engaged, which can be quite dangerous, I guess because the strap is not enough close to the rail...