Hi, just thought I would update a review I did about 8 months ago on the LSD 8'6 Flashback Fish

Here is the link to my old review if you are interested
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/SUP/Luke-Short-Flashback-SUP/?SearchTerms=Luke,short,8'6

After about 16 months riding this board I still love it. In fact it gets better the more I ride it! Now that is most probably partly due to my skills slowly improving over time and I have even lost a few kg's weight, which all helps to get the best out of the board.

So here is what I think now


Rider/reviewer
weight 90kg
Height 6'3
Intermediate to Advanced skill level

Length 8'6
Width 30.5"
Volume 130L

Stability
This board is a keeper. Its almost a one board quiver for me. The bouyancy and stability are pretty good at 90kg. It does still get wobbly in chop and randomly spits me off when it feels like it. But thats just the trade off for having nice low volume rails and better performance in more powerful waves. I did initially struggle with the stability for a few months but in reality I was leaning towards being beginner/intermediate skill level and was pushing my limits at 95kg + steamer wetsuit etc. (coming off a SB Hero 9' x 33") I now call the LSD 8'6 my "big board" and choose it when there is choppy or windy conditions.

Performance
It really does perform like a blown up shortboard fish. It catches very small waves and is pretty fun even in knee to waist high waves, producing speed easily with its flat rockerline and bottom concaves.

Goes off in waist to head high surf whether clean or mushy. Again it is a really fast board when negotiating crumbling sections and can be pumped like a shortboard easily. The rails seem to hold in anything and the nose is just pulled in enough to not catch.

It is a suprisingly good noserider too. I can get right up on the nose in front of the grip and "hang five" without nosediving or stalling the board.

I have surfed it in 4-5ft (head and a half high + waves) and the 8'6 loved it. Got a bit bouncy on a few waves but held some very fast bottom turns and pulled in to some heavy close-out barrels. I would never go back to a board with boxy rails again.

The wide tail and quad fin setup make tail slides easy if you want them but I upgraded to KineticRacing Quad Fins which gave the board a bit more hold and drive.

Construction
Solid. The board is still in great condition after almost a year and a half usage. They are heavier than some other boards but super strong. I would guess from doing an arm scales test it weighs about the same a Fanatic 8'10 prowave but more than a Naish 9'0.


Positives
Good allrounder/super fun in any conditions
Performance rails
Solid construction

Negatives
Slightly heavy
Fine rails can make it wobbly in chop
Wide tail can hinder rail to rail carves and sometimes wants to push and slide. (But if it had a pulled in tail it would lose it's fishy allrounder-ness).

I still think it is a great fun board for slightly heavier riders who want an allround board or those riders who need a board to cover varied surf conditions without compromising too much on performance. It will be in my quiver for a long while yet.

Just my thought/opinions but I would definitely recommend to try and demo one if you are in the market for a 8'6 to 9'0 board.

I fitted a tail/kicker pad but the newer versions come with one already and have exposed wood deck.

Thanks Andrew.

Just for interest, if this is your "big board" for choppy days, what are you riding on glassy days? I'm considering a shorter board which will fit in my van better (probably not the best reason for downsizing) but I'm not sure if I'd want to go from a 28+3/4 up to a 30+...

Cheers

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BenKirk said...

Thanks Andrew.

Just for interest, if this is your "big board" for choppy days, what are you riding on glassy days? I'm considering a shorter board which will fit in my van better (probably not the best reason for downsizing) but I'm not sure if I'd want to go from a 28+3/4 up to a 30+...

Cheers

I also have a 7'8 Hokua but that is about to be replaced by a LSD 8'8 Shorty. The Naish was just too limiting to when it suited the conditions, it had to be little wind and fairly powerful surf or it was painfully slow on the wave. amazing on a good day though!

Not sure what you are riding now but with the domed deck and low rails of the 8'6 Flashback you may not notice the extra width. It would be very interesting to hear your thoughts.

And hey, any excuse is a good excuse for a new board. Its just getting harder to convince the wife that I need it!!

Here are some dodgy pics of the 8'6 in small surf from a quick road trip at the weekend to Kaikoura NZ

This is one of the best reviews I've seen on this site. Nice work. I am about your size and I like the look of the LSDs too. You have given me hope re enjoying a shorter SUP while accepting that I am going to pay some dues in the water. Another board for the (very long) short list.
That looks like a fun little peak you were surfing too. Pity about the crowd.

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wavelength said...

This is one of the best reviews I've seen on this site. Nice work. I am about your size and I like the look of the LSDs too. You have given me hope re enjoying a shorter SUP while accepting that I am going to pay some dues in the water. Another board for the (very long) short list.
That looks like a fun little peak you were surfing too. Pity about the crowd.

Hey thanks wavelength. Glad you liked the review and I'm sure you will enjoy the challenge of downsizing.

As for the crowd, yeah just me and my mate on a short board all to ourselves but we still got in each others way and dropped in a few times. Ha ha.

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standupper said...

BenKirk said...

Thanks Andrew.

Just for interest, if this is your "big board" for choppy days, what are you riding on glassy days? I'm considering a shorter board which will fit in my van better (probably not the best reason for downsizing) but I'm not sure if I'd want to go from a 28+3/4 up to a 30+...

Cheers

I also have a 7'8 Hokua but that is about to be replaced by a LSD 8'8 Shorty. The Naish was just too limiting to when it suited the conditions, it had to be little wind and fairly powerful surf or it was painfully slow on the wave. amazing on a good day though!

Not sure what you are riding now but with the domed deck and low rails of the 8'6 Flashback you may not notice the extra width. It would be very interesting to hear your thoughts.

And hey, any excuse is a good excuse for a new board. Its just getting harder to convince the wife that I need it!!

Ok, makes sense. At 90kg the 7'8 must be a handful in chop. I'm on the 9' Hokua which I rate highly. Cheers

Here are some pics of the Latest version (2012) 8'6 LSD with exposed wood deck, tail kick pad and arch bar and better/larger handle (great if you live somewhere where gloves are needed in the winter!




They also come with a really nice padded bag

hey mate nice review and photos on the 8'6

The construction on these boards has changed since you purchased yours, so the exposed deck graphic models are lighter in weight as a result.

The 8'8 Shorty is a real weapon, low volume performance SUP - looking forward to reading that review.

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Eastcoast SUP said...

hey mate nice review and photos on the 8'6

The construction on these boards has changed since you purchased yours, so the exposed deck graphic models are lighter in weight as a result.

The 8'8 Shorty is a real weapon, low volume performance SUP - looking forward to reading that review.

Hey thanks, I only just got to have a look at the new models and you are right they are much lighter. In fact I am planning to update my 8'6 to a 2012 version as soon as I can. That will make the board even better!

My new 8'8 Shorty arrived a couple of days ago but has not got wet yet. I'm slacking off work tomorrow as there are waves forecast so I'm pretty excited!! It is a wicked looking board!

I will have to ride it for a month or two to do any review justice though. Hoping to get some footage of both boards too.


A pic of the new quiver

8'6 Fish on the left and 8'8 Shorty on the right

Hi,
Really helpful reviews and it's nice to have some photos too. I am considering getting one of the new 2012 LSD and I was wondering if you already have some feedback on the 8'8" shorty. What's your opinion on this year's board as I can't find any info on the LSD website, it is only the 2010 models.

Cheers.

Hey maitaisup,

I wish Walk on Water would update their website too. Especially with the new race boards out and the new look to the whole surf range. I have been told the 2012 versions are identical construction to the white 2011 models but with the wood top exposed. Much lighter and stronger than the 2010 models.

The Luke Short 8'8 shorty has been an easy transition from the 8'6 fish. I nearly s@%T myself when I saw the 8'8 in the flesh. It looked way too narrow and pointy to stand on and the rails are very thin. But to my surprise it paddles very well, straighter than my 8'6 and only marginally less stable in most conditions. Also don't be scared off by the 110L volume, at 90kg it is fine.
Someone in another review said that a guy at their local beach had gone from "zero to hero" after purchasing the LSD 8'8. Unfortunately that hasn't happened but I do find my style has immediately changed from the cruisier fish style sliding and noseriding to a much more aggressive short board style.
As you would expect it goes better in bigger and more powerful waves but has still been fun in small waist high mush, and I haven't reached for my 8'6 flashback once since getting the 8'8 Shorty.
I don't feel comfortable doing a full review yet after riding it for a short time but so far I am very happy with my purchase.

Here are some pics and a link to a short vid I posted a couple of weeks back. I should also mention that I am now a team rider for Walk on Water here in NZ, although it is more like the Coreban ambassador riders type thing. I pay for my boards and have been riding LSD boards for almost 2 years anyway. Cheers

www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/SUP/Friday-mornings-session-vid/

Thanks standupper for this feedback it looks like a great board and I like the new wood top graphics and deck grip too. It will definitely be on my short list.

cheers.

fantastic board, I have the 2011 8'8 and it is fantastic. I can't see myself ever wanting anything different. I am around 88kg and don't have any major issue with the stability or buoyancy of the the board.

I have upgraded the stock fins to some nice shapers fins, the package is certainly something I doubt I will ever find the limit of.

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aus301 said...

fantastic board, I have the 2011 8'8 and it is fantastic. I can't see myself ever wanting anything different. I am around 88kg and don't have any major issue with the stability or buoyancy of the the board.

I have upgraded the stock fins to some nice shapers fins, the package is certainly something I doubt I will ever find the limit of.

Agreed, its a great board and amazingly stable for its shape and low volume. Although it does sit fairly low in the water I wouldn't describe it as tippy and to me it feels more like 115-120L. I had it out in double overhead waves recently and it blew me away! I made the mistake of leaving my small thruster fin set in, but once it gets a rail dug in it just drives. No bouncing down the face and no nosediving on late drops.

Still playing with the fin setup to find the right combination. What fins are you using aus301? Quad/ Thruster/ 2+1 ??

Great review standupper, if you have some scales can you weigh the 8'8" for us please. Hows the recovery in christchurch going

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aus301 said...

I'm using a 2+1 on mine with a 6" centre and s-5 sides.

But keen to have a look at trying some of these SUP specific ones from shapers http://www.shapersfins.com/products-3/sup-fins

Cheers, lately I have been using thruster 4.5 all round. It works well up to about shoulder high waves but gets a bit too slidy after that. Just tried a 6" longboard fin at the weekend in the middle of the fin box. It felt too stiff so I've pushed it all the way forward to try next session. I'm waiting for my Jamie Mitchel 2 + 1 SUP set to arrive which I think should be about right (5.75 center)?? Didn't like it as a quad.

Yeah I could probably do with changing my 6" centre to something smaller. Just too lazy to play around all that much.

LSD 8'8 wicked board!!! Just had a great surf on mine on the far south coast of NSW.
Perfect 4' glassy offshore, charging rights and lefts on a pushing tide. It was smoking!!
It was to be a quick 1/2 h session before work with a mate, 3hrs later .... aah work can wait.
Set up with the stock Quad set was still amazing.

This is turning into a LSD 8'8 topic but anyway, after lots of testing different fin combinations my Jamie Mitchel 2+1 Set arrived yesterday so I had to have a play today. 2-3ft messy onshore but the fins seem to be the perfect match for me on this board. Very drivey but they release fairly easily when you try to push them out. Highly recommended.

Had an older 8'6' flashback in Bali recently in a quad setup the drive and speed of the rail was fantastic, just sold it to upgrade to another LSD, thinking the 8'8 from what the reviews say equally as stable and manoeuvrable , an exciting board to push the limits of your capabilities