well ive had my stinger for 5 mouths now and had it in some realy nice waves and got on soo well with it and love how well it turns ,goes out through waves and also nose rides like a dream however it is 99.9% likely its going to have to go back on a warrantee issue so wondering about asking for the 8'5 instead. however have yet to demo one so was just wondering if any one has surfed both and has any comments, i definitely dont want to loos the hole nose riding thing but if i can get a little more speed that would be a plus. oh and if it makes much difference im 75kg and 6'2 ish
ps i would allso be open to any of the newer shapes if there was something that fit the bill but i did love the stinger shape and the quad fin

any comments would be great

cheers charlie

well had to make a slight snap decision and have gone for a pocket rocket so fingers crosed i like it as much as i did the stinger.

Just my personal opinion - and I have ridden both boards in the flat and surf and have owned a stinger.
The stinger is a much much straighter and faster paddler and that obviously makes it better on flat water and also getting back out the back after waves and as such copping less sets on the head. The stinger also gets onto waves much quicker and easier and I reckon its faster down the line.
The p/r is great fun and very responsive tight in the pocket and will run down the face quickly if you set it up properly and is much quicker and more practical than perhaps the 8.5 pro model. Not the greatest board to paddle in the flat and frustrating getting back out sometimes if there is a bit of swell or current running.
HOWEVER - if I had the funds I would without hesitation buy a pocket rocket and add a small centre trailing fin to help it paddle better and would use it every time I hit a beach break or needed a travelling board. I would not have one as my only sup but as a second board it would be my pick over any other baby play board.

cheers dude as a matter of fact a pocket rocket turned up on my door step yesterday but ive yet to get it wet.i do have a 12'6 pin to use on the flat so thats no wories will waight to see what the 8'5 is like though fingers crossed i like it.

Hey Charlie,

How're you going with the pocket rocket? How does it compare to the stinger?

Thomo

hey ive actualy just sold it funny anuf as im now riding for Fanatic but i did give it a good going over ,it is very similar to the stinger a little looser and a little quicker but that is about it. it still nose rides quite well maybe not quite as nice but it was nice doing like roundhouse snaps and geting the fins out which was not quite so easy. if i was having one alround wave board i think i would go stinger as it is just that bit better for catching the weaker waves and it still turns real nice but if i had say a 9'8 as well for the weak stuf id get the rocket


Thats if i had to get a starboard of course as now the only way is Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic Fanatic

Thanks Charlie, thats good info.
Make sure you tell us about the Fanatic boards too hey.

Thomo

no wories will do so far i have only riden the new 9'0x29 in very small condition but it showed a lot of potentialbeing very quick to paddle and got on to waves. they have a new 9'6 coming also but yet to try it,they both look great though!! no waves forcast theis week but we have a big sup stock event in cornwall on the 17th/18th and we have book good waves for then so fingers crossed i can report back then