2010 Naish 'Nalu' AST 11'6"

I noticed recently when I wanted to buy a SUP that there was very little in the way of beginner’s board reviews written by beginners so to maybe help out another total rookie like myself I thought I’d put up this review of the Naish ‘Nalu’ 11’6” I’ve just bought and used for the first time on some nice flat lagoon water at South Esplanade Bribie.

I’m 6’1 and weigh 115kg, I’ve surfed for almost 25 years on shortboards (current is 6’10”x23”x3”) but have also used a 9’1”x23”x3.5” mal for the last 2 years and have grown to love surfing the mal. I’ve gone totally cold turkey into this SUP thing, I’ve never had a lesson and never even had a go on one.

From a bit of research on the web, my short list came down to Naish’s ‘Nalu’, Starboard’s ‘Big Easy’ and Fanatic’s ‘Fly’. In the end I settled on the 11’6” Nalu and a Naish carbon shaft paddle with a glass blade.

The paddle is nice and light and at $150 I thought it was pretty good value considering how expensive some of the full carbon ones were and the fact I wouldn’t do justice to a $500 paddle. I took the guy at the store’s advice when he said he wouldn’t even give an alloy paddle to a student in his SUP school. Can’t comment too much on it …….. it moves me along ok.

The board is pretty huge, but surprisingly light, the carry handle is in the right spot and makes it very easy to carry. I could easily chuck it on the roof of the landcruiser because I’m tall, but if you’re shorter then choose carefully which car you’re going to throw this thing on. I plan on mainly dragging it down to the beach with one of those “mule” setups anyway. When you look at it from the front this board looks like a big yellow banana, the rocker is huuuge, but despite this it still seems to glide along pretty good when paddled and even makes that little chattering sound when you get it going quickly over the ripples. The grip pad comes already installed and seems ok too. The board seems to hold it’s direction ok when paddled but I still changed sides every 5 or so strokes. It’s massive volume (230L) floated me really well, I only maybe sank it a couple of inches in the middle and pretty much kept my feet dry and this volume with the 29 and ¾ inch width made it super stable and a good learner board. I had a few non-surfing mates with me with kayaks and they all had a go and were on their feet and paddling straight off the bat. I just pushed myself off the bank on my knees then got to my feet and started paddling, I was very happy how this board let a first timer do this.

I’ve only ever owned polyester surfboards so the AST finish seemed quite cheap and nasty to me but the guy at the shop assured me it was pretty bulletproof so we’ll see how it goes. It still does seem like a pretty poor finish for what is essentially a $1500 surfboard.

This board is also very family friendly, as I said earlier everyone seemed to have a go on it and do ok. The kids loved it, at one stage about five of them had climbed onto it and stood up in the middle of the lagoon and were trying to rock each other off, in fact it was hard to kick all kids off it and get a go for myself. Even some old roosters who had come down to watch the sunset were quizzing me on where they could buy one for their grandkids because they’d seen all the kids having such a great time on it.

Anyway I give it a 4.5/5, with the .5 dropped off for the cheapo finish. Again, I’m totally new to SUP but I reckon I’m the sort of guy that this board is aimed squarely at and I reckon it’s perfect for someone like me.

Too easy East Coast. It's white on top with yellow rails and yellow underneath, is that the 2011 colours?

Thanks mate, i've just got to hope that some of my mates get into SUP so all their kids stay off mine and I only have to worry about kicking my own kid off it.

Nice review, and perfect timing too as I've just ordered one of these for myself (Oh and the wife too)

I've now had this board for a little over a week and I'm pretty happy with it.

Spend the last 5 days up at Hawks Nest and had a combination of flat water and small surf.

Day 1 Flat water, really easy to paddle out about a K and had no issues with it just seemed very easy to keep moving. Even ended up in a pod of about 20 dolphins which was pretty cool.

Day 2: Started my venture into the surf, was just a 3ft beach break and quite choppy, struggled getting out the back and definitely struggled standing up, coming back in was easy and caught a few waves and was able to stand up. Was great fun

Also went out in the evening, but was blowing 20kts and I'd have been far better off windsurfing, was good fun and fast going downwind though.

Day 3: More waves, slightly smaller than the day before and less choppy, got out easier and was able to stand up and paddle out the back waiting for a wave to catch. Caught half a dozen waves and started getting into it.

Gave it to a friend and he loved it too, so much he's thinking of getting his own board.

Only downside is the weight, any prolonged carries and it is awkward, especially if there is some wind. Easy to rectify though and I'm going to make my own sling.

If you were going to have one SUP in your quiver for all ocassions and were in the 95kg + range the Nalu 11'6 is THE board IMO.

It works in the flat and on the beach. A great allrounder IMO.

Here's a video I made of it's all round stoke ability to just surf crap and get in the water providing ton's of fun.

+1!!!!!!
that is so what Im tryin to do and getting there.
I have a Naish 11'6" Nalu, thanks for the inspiration and the stoke.

Traded in my big w/surf board yesterday for the exact same board. The guy in the store was very persuasive toward the Nalu as I wanted a board that I can paddle on flatwater, small waves, teach the kids on & put on a w/surf rig for a bit of fun on the light wind days!

Great review...now I just have to get it on the water!