After demo'g a few boards in surf previously and now trying the 3 fanatic's in flat water, no surf today I have narrowed it down to 3 boards. I am 5'7, 81kg, 47 years young, surfed for a long time and surf beach breaks up to 5' and a middle of the range sup'r. Current board I ride in the surf is a 2011 10'6 Fanatic Fly. Looking to go smaller as more time spent in the water and enjoying it more. First choice is the 9'6, really stable and first choice but worried about the length (too long). The 9'3 a bit more tippier but equally easy to spin around on. Liked the 9'1, super stable, easy to spin but worried about it being to corky. I am pretty sure they will go ok in surf, but would appreciate some feedback. Got the ok from the minister of finance and ready to order. Also any suggestions on who to throw my hard earned at, anywhere from Sydney to the Goldy, willing to travel on good suggestions. Thanks in advance.

Haha just support who is more local as us fanatic dealers are all good guys!!

Also depends on the waves you surf, if more beach break and pushy waves tjen go the prowave if fuller and weaker waves then go the alwaves and at your weight also consider the 8'11!!

Paul pretty much has it - Coming off a 10'6" shorter boards will feel tippier but you soon get used to it and although the Allwave will feel heaps more stable, because you've surfed, you'll quickly outgrow it and most likely end up with a Prowave anyway.

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HGFish said..

Paul pretty much has it - Coming off a 10'6" shorter boards will feel tippier but you soon get used to it and although the Allwave will feel heaps more stable, because you've surfed, you'll quickly outgrow it and most likely end up with a Prowave anyway.

One is a Fish shape, The other a traditional surfboard shape. If you have ability you can do anything on an Allwave with Stability. Like Hokua's, Prowaves are designed for very good conditions and perform very well when those conditions occur. They are much more stable than Hokua's in sideshore conditions but still not as stable as Allwaves. The Allwave can hit the lip, cutback, find the barrel, if you know how. Just don't go too long. I reckon at your size the 8'6" or 8'10" would suprise the hell out of you!!

Barney... I would recommend that you demo the 2014 Allwave 8'6 or the 8'11
then compare them to the 2013 Allwaves

The nose of the 2014 is more pulled in, so stability and performance may change.

I am sure that if you hopped on a 2013 8'6 Allwave, you would feel very comfortable right away.
I have a 2013 8'10.... every single person that jumped on it, instantly paddled into waves with no problem.

I can't speak to the 2014's.... you'll have to try both.

The prowaves are definitely sweet, but you will probably have to go longer... and that always presents a quandry.

Mate if I were you I would also give the Starboard Pro range a go. At your weight the 8'5 in the brushed carbon would suit. It is a super stable board that is ultra light and turns on a dime. I had a demo of that board on the weekend and then dropped down to an 8'0 which was even better. No corky feeling to either board and very easy to paddle onto a wave.

Cheers Ozzie

Thanks Jacko, Leroy, Fish and the others for all the help. I am now going to try and demo some smaller Allwaves in the surf as the waves I mostly ride are small and crap, so I think that maybe a better option. I am heading down the Central Coast (NSW) this sunday for a surf so I will talk to some people about hooking up some demos on the Fanatics and Starboards. I have a Starby race board so I know they area good product. I never gave it much thought about going shorter because I was selling the 10'6 but now the daughter wants that so I can have that as a backup and have a 8'5 etc as a main board. Once again thanks for the help. Keep you posted on what I decide.

Cheers Barney

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Barneyrubble said..

Thanks Jacko, Leroy, Fish and the others for all the help. I am now going to try and demo some smaller Allwaves in the surf as the waves I mostly ride are small and crap, so I think that maybe a better option. I am heading down the Central Coast (NSW) this sunday for a surf so I will talk to some people about hooking up some demos on the Fanatics and Starboards. I have a Starby race board so I know they area good product. I never gave it much thought about going shorter because I was selling the 10'6 but now the daughter wants that so I can have that as a backup and have a 8'5 etc as a main board. Once again thanks for the help. Keep you posted on what I decide.

Cheers Barney

Mate Mark at ESS is very helpful in this regard and has quite a few boards to choose from to demo.

Cheers Ozzie

Thanks for that.
Mark sold me my last Fanatic so I will call down there soon and have a chat.
Cheers

Guys how does the allwave 8"6 compare to the Luke Short 8"6 flashback fish 130L..on both these boards they only come with one fin sit up..a thruster..or a quad..does this matter?
cheers