Hi all
After advice.
I currently ride a 2012- 8'10 prowave, the wood deck model, 122litres, 29" wide. I weigh around 78kg. Mostly surfing the UK, often a bit choppy, windy & inconsistent.
I am looking to go smaller and lighter as I feel pretty confident on my 8-10 and want more of a challenge and better manoeuvrability. I am thinking about the 2014 8'.5' LTD or possibly the 8'. I guess the main difference will be volume. (17 litres less than my 8-10 for the 8'5")
Width of 8.5 is same as my 8-10 at 29" I would really like to go to the 8ft, but I am thinking it may be a step too far.
It is impossible to get a demo here and a lot of money to shell out, so the questions are:
Will the 8.5 be too similar to what I already have, or could I handle the 8'?
Does the change in rail shape between 2012 and 2013/14 make any significant difference?
I sometimes find the 8-10 sluggish to get moving on a wave, heard it is due to the tail rocker. Is this a trait of all prowaves?
And finally, a rant, why do Fanatic not publish their board weights as most of the competition do? Are they heavy compared to the competition? seems like a really closely guarded secret.
If any one is willing to divulge the weights of the 8 & 8.5 in HRS and LTD (Carbon) I am sure it would be very appreciated by a lot of people.
Thanks

Gary

Hey, I have the 2013/14 ProWave and reckon it is a good option for you. I am 85kg and dropped down from a 9' Naish Hokua @125L and the 8'5 is a proper step down but not too much. I haven't found the 8'5 slow at all - in fact I love the acceleration and speed/drive you can get in the bottom turn in shoulder high+ waves. The LTD construction is light compared to other brands and gives loads of feedback when surfing.

i just got a prowave 8'10. i can go heaps shorter but don't want to. this board is very impressive. i feel like i can go up and down no probs. it lacked a touch of speed to me

when i looked a the fins that come with the board i think the front fins don't have much cant. i but in some jm side fins which have more cant and got heaps more squirt and speed.

i never been on a board this size that has the balance and stability of the 8'10 prowave

cheers



disc the usual denials

Hey Gary
I asked the same question about the 9'6 Prowave....

No answers then either.....

so I called a dealer friend, who called the right guy at Fanatic and got my answer.

I know this is for a 9'6.... but it will give you some idea of where the 2014 fit compared to other production boards.

Prowave with pad... no fins:

9'6 Prowave LTD = 7.7 kg ---17.0 lbs
9'6 Prowave HRS = 9.7 kg ---21.4 lbs
9'1 Naish LE 32 = 9.1 kg --- 20.1 lbs)

Thanks all.
After a lot of discussion, then deciding on the 8.5 LTD, I found there was no stock left until the 2015 boards arrive!
So--As I am impatient Ive now got a Starboard pro wood- 8.0 x 28 x 96 litres. 2 sessions so far and I absolutely love this board. Not as challenging as I feared, and seems to catch waves as easily, if not better than the 8-10 Prowave. Perhaps a flatter rocker? Haven't had it out in anything above chest high yet though.