Mona Vale Basin
30 Mar 09

Conditions: Light on-shore wind. Waist high, punchy waves.

After loving my first session on Matt Lumley's PSH 9'3" Ripper a few weeks back, I thought I'd better go and pay Andrew Allen from Balmoral Boards a visit - just to see what he's got in stock. As it turns out, I get there and he starts unwrapping a brand new blue one, fresh out of the container. He knows I love the blue ones, the bugger - how could I say no to that? So, now I've got one too!

I've just got back from a little session out Mona Vale Basin where it was a bit bumpy with lots of cross chop bouncing off the rocks but there were some really fun waves coming through. I had it with just one other guy out for most of the session. That was my fifth surf on the 9'3" Ripper.

One word: Ripper.

The board is: 9'3" x 28 3/8" x 4 1/4".

If you've seen the 9'3" Ripper's plan shape, you'll know that this is one good looking board. A nice pulled in nose but with still enough volume to get up there from time to time. Not too curvy through the mid section and then pulling back in again, just the right amount, to that nice diamond tail down the back end.

There's not a heap of nose lift but just enough to keep the nose dry when taking steep-ish drops or coming down from a reo. The fact that it's pretty flat throughout means it planes really well and holds it's speed and momentum through turns. It's easy to connect bottom turn, cutback, foam bounce, back into another bottom turn ... all with speed and flow and as if it's just one manoeuvre - nice.

Paddling this little puppy is a breeze. It tracks really well (with my 6" centre fin) and it's got good stability. None of the surfs I've had it have been really clean (in fact most of them have been quite choppy), yet I've not a problem standing on it at all. I've ridden bigger boards which have been heaps harder to balance on while you're waiting out the back. The flat deck feels nice under your feet and gives a great base to move your feet around on.

Punching out through the waves is pretty good with just a fraction of kickback when you hit a decent bit of white water. The good stability helps with that wobbly bit in the foam just after the wave has passed.

I've pretty much managed to try out my full repertoire of moves on this board now. Lots of big bottom turns in a variety of sized waves - really nice, you can fully lean into them and generate lots of speed ready for the next manoeuvre. Some snappy cutbacks - just get on the tail and snap it, easy. Some of those get down low, big, carving cutbacks on my backhand - unreal, these big arcs are where the 9'3" Ripper excels. A few drop-knee, forehand cutbacks around the paddle - I love doing these and Ripper does them well. One or two semi vertical re-entries - not bad, just need a bit of push to the waves to help spin it back around. A couple of decent floaters - these are quite fun on the Ripper. I've even got up near the nose a couple of times, just for fun.

I've seen guys in Hawaii doing helicopters and even 360s off the tail, on the 9'3" - I've got to get into them, they look so cool.

This PSH (and I'm sure all the other production models are the same) just seems bullet proof. I've accidently whacked it a couple of times now with my paddle - really hard, without as much as a little scuff mark. The first time I did it, I was scared to look down at my brand new little baby and see what awful thing I'd done to it. But when I did manage to bring myself to look - nothing, no damage at all - phew.

Overall, this is a wicked board. The PSH 9'3" Ripper rips. I just love it.

Highs Points:
- Good stability for a short board.
- Turns off the tail beautifully.
- Awesome momentum between turns.
- Super high quality, bullet proof construction.
- Paddles great.
- Very comfortable under your feet.
- Big name so great resale value.

Lows Points:
- A little heavy for a 9'3".
- Fairly full rails might be hard for a fly-weight to bury.
- It's got no carry handle (yet - apparently they will in the future).

Here's some footage of this session:


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Thanks Casso.. How does the flotation and stability compare with the 9'3" Naish?

DJ

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DavidJohn said...

How does the flotation and stability compare with the 9'3" Naish?

The PSH seems to have a little more flotation - I sit a bit higher in the water when paddling. Stability is very similar - possibly the Naish is more stable - but only by a fraction.

Good review and all sounds about right the only thing i thought was it seemed a little more stable than the Naish but not much it. The 9'3 PSH seems to get better as the waves get bigger.
Jacko

Just returned from the first paddle on the new 9'3 Ripper in the local canals.

Board is really stable for my 90 kg frame and has a good glide as well.

Waiting for the surf to settle down a bit before hitting it for the real acid test.

Casso, what fins are you running?

Waz

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wazza66 said...

Casso, what fins are you running?

I'm was using FG7s on the sides and a 6" wide base in the middle:



That was until today when I snapped one of those side fins out on a shallow rock:



I'll probablly have a go with my Occy sides now.

Jacko - what are you running?

Not sure i only used AA's demo for a couple of days and to honest the fins weren't right for the board but it still went well. I was planing to have a demo one for the shop but i couldn't keep them in the shop long enough and with none left I'll keep riding my Naish until more arrive in the next shipment. Still think for my weight both Naish and PSH 9'3 are still to big and I'm hang till the new smaller one come out.

Jacko

I've got a few sets of fins out there on the boards that have been sold so guys can try them out to see what works best. As soon as they get a few good days on them I'll get them to comment on how they went.
Jacko

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paul.j said...

Still think for my weight both Naish and PSH 9'3 are still to big

What do you weigh? If that's not too rude.

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paul.j said...

and I'm hang till the new smaller one come out.

Ooooh, yeah!

74kg

Thanks Jacko. Yeah, that's fly-weight (IMO) and you'd be ripping on a smaller board with less volume.

Here's my new fin setup:



I bought a $30 adaptor which lets me put a FCS fin in the centre box. So now I've got a true thruster set up with my Occys in - and it goes insane. Just the right amount of hold yet even more manoeuvrable. Sweet.

Appreciate your reviews Casso, thanks. Any chance of a review of the PSH 9'6" wide ripper? Robdog

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robdog said...

Any chance of a review of the PSH 9'6" wide ripper?

I've been interested in seeing how that board goes for a while now. So, we might just be able to organise this in the near future.

You are probablly interested in the 9'10" Ripper and the 12" Gun too, hey?

AA, are you reading this?

I am sure we can organise this if I can just get the 9'6 wide Ripper back!! It still up in QLD.

HILLY has one, might see if he will write a review as he has tried a few different boards.

I do have a 9'10 Ripper demo, CASSO, but you will need a BIG day for for a 9'10 to start firing up after riding a 9'3!!

AA

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AA said...

I do have a 9'10 Ripper demo, CASSO, but you will need a BIG day for for a 9'10 to start firing up after riding a 9'3!!

Ooo, yeah ... big Butterbox, the Bomby or even Makaha would be good testing grounds for that one. Expect a call next time it's big and clean.