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Forums > Stand Up Paddle   Board Talk & Reviews

2015 BIC Tracer 14ft - flatwater test

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Created by CaptFathom > 9 months ago, 18 Dec 2014
CaptFathom
TAS, 93 posts
18 Dec 2014 5:54PM
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Hello, there are not many videos of this board out there yet. This is only a flatwater run, seems fast, stable and catches ripples.

jojameka
VIC, 94 posts
19 Dec 2014 12:13PM
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Thanks for the video. I have had my Tracer for a month now. It is a brilliant board for the money. The glide is fabulou
s and the nose goes through chop beautifully. It is stable for a board for it's length and width. I did 15 k's on it last week going out in to a 20kph South easterly along the shore and back with it. Good surface chop and the board handled it brilliantly. I have heard from some reviews in Europe that many are putting after market fins on it. It is the perfect board for where I generally paddle on the southern Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. I don't know how it would handle a strong down winder but I am only really interested in flatter water fitness and touring paddling anyway. It is a board that I hope to do some long half/ full day touring on. Fitted tie down bungees on it this morning . Bic also make a deck bag that fits on to the tie down slots . It looks good but is about a hundred bucks.

CaptFathom
TAS, 93 posts
19 Dec 2014 11:00PM
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Select to expand quote
jojameka said..
Thanks for the video. I have had my Tracer for a month now. It is a brilliant board for the money. The glide is fabulou
s and the nose goes through chop beautifully. It is stable for a board for it's length and width. I did 15 k's on it last week going out in to a 20kph South easterly along the shore and back with it. Good surface chop and the board handled it brilliantly. I have heard from some reviews in Europe that many are putting after market fins on it. It is the perfect board for where I generally paddle on the southern Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. I don't know how it would handle a strong down winder but I am only really interested in flatter water fitness and touring paddling anyway. It is a board that I hope to do some long half/ full day touring on. Fitted tie down bungees on it this morning . Bic also make a deck bag that fits on to the tie down slots . It looks good but is about a hundred bucks.


Thanks for the more detailed info. At the moment still getting into the board - but so far very happy. It does glide very well and feels quick. It will be a while before I can get it into some rougher stuff as I travel in and out of the country a lot and am not really set up with a surf/beach vehicle - so it's great reading your impressions. Please update your experiences if you are happy to.

CaptFathom
TAS, 93 posts
28 Dec 2014 11:34PM
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Checking trim and balance :-)

jojameka
VIC, 94 posts
29 Dec 2014 11:39AM
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Nice video. Where did you find the sweet spot for it.? I find that if my toes are about level with the half way part of the handle it is about perfect. I am still experimenting with it . I am 85 kegs .

CaptFathom
TAS, 93 posts
29 Dec 2014 6:21PM
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jojameka said..
Nice video. Where did you find the sweet spot for it.? I find that if my toes are about level with the half way part of the handle it is about perfect. I am still experimenting with it . I am 85 kegs .


I am finding there and a little further forward as most of the time I am standing with feet almost even with the handle. - I am around 95kgs, so the extra volume in the swollen part of the front helps with some more float I think. Interestingly it seems to even feel faster well in front of the handle (100mms or so) but that "feel" could be misleading and be just skittishness due to the rounded section under the board being more engaged at that point (if that makes sense). I am really liking this board more and more.

Area10
1508 posts
30 Dec 2014 3:55AM
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Captflathead said...
Checking trim and balance :-)



It looks to me that you could do with standing a little bit further forward, to fully engage the nose and release the tail.

There are also many suggestions that could be made about your stroke. But that is for another thread...

Love the way you left the fall in!

CaptFathom
TAS, 93 posts
30 Dec 2014 1:17PM
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Area10 said..

Captflathead said...
Checking trim and balance :-)



It looks to me that you could do with standing a little bit further forward, to fully engage the nose and release the tail.

There are also many suggestions that could be made about your stroke. But that is for another thread...

Love the way you left the fall in!


Haha! thanks for the "fall support". Yep agree on the further forward stance - from my understanding the tail should be slightly out to account for the tail kick (slight as it is). On stroke: Thinking, sink the paddle further in for efficient pull, lean further forward, bend at the knees more and shorten stroke to promote higher cadence. Appreciate any pointers only started in April - have 4 boards already, I guess I am addicted. (ps, I thought I was doing all those things) :-)

DavidJohn
VIC, 17569 posts
30 Dec 2014 2:18PM
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Captflathead said..
Checking trim and balance :-)



Nice and glassy.. I also liked the special move at the 50sec mark..

CaptFathom
TAS, 93 posts
30 Dec 2014 5:48PM
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Too good to leave out :-) dead flat water too.



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"2015 BIC Tracer 14ft - flatwater test" started by CaptFathom