Grey weather to match a greyish board :)In Holland its cold and paddled it only for half an hour or so.
Well it floats me, (i,m a little over 90kg, but with a full hooded suit, 5mm boots i,m over 95kg for sure) but is a lot more tipy as my former 9.0.
Lots of swimming in the choppy confused water but the couple of waves I got with it made it up for all the swimming, felt really promosing :) , and for the less perfect conditions I have my Airborne8.8 :)Can,t wait to try it next month in more quality waves (and warmer water) at Capetown-SA

With the FCS2 fins (the Starboard fins are normal FCS, but you get the converter kit as well.


Monoconcace all the way to the fins. Behind the finst it goes in a light V

Nice looking board... I bet you are stoked

Send along a review and pics after your SA surfari

I am humbled when I read about conditions others have to endure to enjoy surfing. Won't complain any more about only two decent surfs of 3 hours in warm water over the last three weeks due to persistent northerlies!

Put some c drive fins in it and you'll be even more impressed, Jeroen.

@Log: it can always be worse, at least I live close to the sea, some people have to drive hours to the beach. @Tang, I was already looking at them for my AB8.8 as well.
What size do you advice? tri or quad (or both). I will order a set when i,m back from SA, because it won,t be here before we leave at the end of the month with the holidays coming.

Damn. I'd love a crack at 6-8ft Supertubes on my 8'5" with cdrives in it.....

The way they work is weight based. If you're heavier go with the XLs and vice versa. Or if you prefer a little bit more looseness go with the next size down. They have amazing grip so you should be fine.

If you get the five fin set you'll have thruster and quad all ready to go.

Okay.
Thanx :)

Hi! Is't more stable than the 2013\14 ST 8.5 pro? and compared with the Hokua 8.5? My weight is 90kg.
TK

Select to expand quote

LOGOMAN said..
Hi! Is't more stable than the 2013\14 ST 8.5 pro? and compared with the Hokua 8.5? My weight is 90kg.
TK

I have one as well.
It is, imho as stable if not more than the 2012 model which was 123l, and more than the 2013/14 model.

Right now and considering i'm wearing my winter wetsuit, i'm about 110kg.
It is easily the best iteration of this board.
Very easy to paddle, it has a lot of drive of the bottom turn and the increased tail rocker will allow you to surf tighter in the pocket. I surf it with the original fins, which are really nice btw, with the center fin brought all the way to the tail side of the box (this is all the way until just before the fin metal plate comes off the box).

Comparing to the Naish 8'5, I always think that the naish shapes are the most refined shapes of the production boards (which doesn't necessarily means the boards are better), but having said this, while the naish board is a nightmare to paddle for someone my weight, this board is really friendly, despite having 3 liters less in volume.

Select to expand quote

JohnnyMaya said..

LOGOMAN said..
Hi! Is't more stable than the 2013\14 ST 8.5 pro? and compared with the Hokua 8.5? My weight is 90kg.
TK

I have one as well.
It is, imho as stable if not more than the 2012 model which was 123l, and more than the 2013/14 model.

Right now and considering i'm wearing my winter wetsuit, i'm about 110kg.
It is easily the best iteration of this board.
Very easy to paddle, it has a lot of drive of the bottom turn and the increased tail rocker will allow you to surf tighter in the pocket. I surf it with the original fins, which are really nice btw, with the center fin brought all the way to the tail side of the box (this is all the way until just before the fin metal plate comes off the box).

Comparing to the Naish 8'5, I always think that the naish shapes are the most refined shapes of the production boards (which doesn't necessarily means the boards are better), but having said this, while the naish board is a nightmare to paddle for someone my weight, this board is really friendly, despite having 3 liters less in volume.

Thank you very much Johnny, have you tested the new 8.0 x 29 SB pro? If so, Can you compare it with the new 8,5?