Board PSH 9'6 Wide AA
Fins: PC7 Inside Foil Fin Thruster Fin Set
Rider: Phill Page 6ft or 183cm & 105kg
Experience: Average Supper
When I originally rode rode this board I thought it was impossible for someone my size to paddle it! I was luck enough that Session from SB allowed me to ride his a few times and I realisd that it was possible!
My previous board was a PSH 10'6 Wide AA and I love that board its great in bigger waves cannot recommend it enough for the bigger taller Brudda lol.
Primary Stability and float / volume (can you stand on it?)
The 9'6WAA has easily enough volume to float my weight and up against the other boards I tried like the 9'6 Naish appeared to me to have greater primary stability and was far easier to stand on which was my initial concern.
Paddle Speed onto a wave ( Will I be able to catch it?)
The 9'6WAA paddles extremely quickly onto a wave with 105kg and I have had no problems at all catching 1ft dribblers to late drops on 4ft+ waves handles it all with ease. The bigger the wave the better and easier it gets!
Manouverability ( How well does it turn?)
The 9'6WAA with 105kg to motivate it turns on a dime! Simply ensure the end of your kick pad is positioned over the center of the tailing fin box and your in business. When you get confidence on this board get your foot on the heel of the kick pad and it rips turns.
Nose RidesThe 9'6WAA even with 105kg will noseride like a dream, it locks in and you will just scream down the line. The first time i tried it I was blown away. Now I have more confidence I can pull it off 4 times out of 5 and I really have no skill in this area. Nose riding was one of the things I dreamed to do, well I just ticked that one of the list!
Paddling out over white wash
Well I still struggle a little in this area but I think that it is more my lack of skill that the board. The nose easily penitrates the white wash and I have seen other with more skill get over 3ft of white water on this board with ease.
Draw Backs
The 9'6WAA I have does not have a handle but all the new ones do!
If you surf really hard I have found no matter how well you tape your paddle you can leave rail chips in the paint work but this happens eventually on every board.
You need lots of weight to get the best out of this board so if your 75kgs it will perform very differently.
Summing it up
I think that the 9'6WAA is the answer to the Big Brudda wanting to rip in a production board. It goes rail to rail really easily and with 105kg you can sink the tail and drive hard with the paddle and the board responds exceptionally well is also very predictable providing great control.
Phill Page
Nice review Phill.
Does the thruster set up loosen it up much?I have some Sunny G sides and a 6.5 Dolphin about 1.5 inches from the back of the fin box.That seems to go well (I'm 99kgs and 6'3).I have just ordered some FC7 sides so will be fun to compare.I guess I will need an adapter to try a thruster set up.
Did you keep the 10'6 WAA or order a Gun?
Hey Phil!I put some PC7 inside foils on today with a dirty great 8" dolphin to battle a 20knot Nor wester and chop everywhere....power steering indeed!
It seems as stable as my old 11'2.Still taking a few tumbles ...just not every few minutes (in pretty tough conditions)
Have given up some performance no question ,but it is alot easier to pivot turn onto a wave quickly also. Still prefer the Sunny G/6" dolphin set up on the wave but was getting tired too quickly remounting so often.
I will stay with that set up for easier conditions.
Thx Ian
