i have received a few messages lately asking to show the differences between the allwave 9.2 and 9.6 and to clarify why i prefer the 9.6. To start with, i am a long term surfer who has been supping for a couple of years now. Im 106 kg and of moderate ability. Im not into paddling but i surf at least a couple of times a week conditions permitting. I surf mostly in the metro perth and mandurah area so the waves are generally smallish under 4 feet and often windy. We do get some classic days but generally perth waves are pretty average. I have a very large collection of sups so i am lucky enough to be able to compare different boards in different conditions.
The 9.2 and 9.6 are very similar in shape. the 9.6 is a half inch wider and obviously 4 inches longer. the bottom shape appears identical and they are both really lightweight well constructed boards.
the 9.6 is on the left.
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The 9.6 tail is fractionally wider the 9.6 is on the bottom
substantially more volume up front
Other than the increase in size that comes from stretching the 9.2 by 4 inches to 9.6 and increasing general width by .5 of an inch the board shapes are identical. Both boards are quick, stable and easy to turn. The 9.2 feels a little looser than the 9.6 but not by much. both boards take off easily with the 9.6 extra volume allowing it to catch almost anything. both have enough rocker in the nose to ensure that steepish take offs are makeable. both boards are very responsive to the back foot, and when i plant 106 kg over the back fin, both boards will turn easily and quickly, moving forward the 9.6 can be nose ridden but i cant do that on hte 9.2. The 9.6 is also a much better paddling board than the 9.2 and has substantially more glide. This is surprising given that the size difference is not all that great. My young cousin who is 84 kg has ridden both boards and he loves the 9.2. He finds it much more difficult to turn the 9.6. he is a beginner and surfs further forward on the board than i do. He still manages to turn the 9.2 from this posiiton but cant turn the 9.6.
I find now that i surf my 9.6 allwave almost exclusively. the extra length and volume in the nose plus the extra width makes a marked difference in stability. On an onshore day i may fall off the 9.6 2 or three times in the chop, on th 9.2 it will be 8 or 9 times. Given my weight and the ability of the 9.6 to be surfed loose and fast if you stand over the fins i find almost no surfing advantage in dropping down to the 9.2. Im sure a better surfer would find the 9.2 better, but at my moderate skill level the loss of stability and paddling power of the 9.2 are not countered by any marked improvement in its surfing ability. However if you are under 100 kg, the 9.6 will probably be too big and this is where the 9.2 will become a better board. I have also found that in the steep beach break conditions around mandurah, the 9.6 with its extra paddling power means i can catch these waves a little earlier than on the 9.2 and be down the face and making a bottom turn before the wave throws over, on the 9.2 its always a slightly later take off on close out beach breaks. Build quality on both boards is very good. For relatively light boards they can take a pounding. In 6 months at secret harbour last year i snapped 2 naish manas. So far in the same waves the fanatics have remained unscathed in spite of some rather entertaining wipeouts.
A lot of guys suggest going shorter on these forums and i reckon if youre a gun surfer thats not a bad idea. However in my experience with the allwaves, i would suggest that anyone around or over the 100 kg mark stick with the 9.6. Unless youre an absolute superstar you wont gain much,by going shorter, and you will lose a fair amount of stability and paddling power. Currently my smallest board is an 8.10 starboard widepoint. Its a great board and fun to surf in glassy small to moderate conditions. I still find though that i am always drawn back to the 9.6 allwave. its stability and surfability are the best overall compromise i have come across in the world of sup. And at under 10 feet its still small enough to handle lightweight and fits in the back of my car.
sameh
> 9 months ago, 30 Mar 2012
) I am however running a 7 inch centre fin pushed forward as opposed to the standard centre that it comes with. Give the 9'2" a go if you can, they take a a lttle getting used to, but if you give it a chance you might be very pleasantly surprised. By the way at 160 litres it paddles really well but dependant on weight you may need to give an extra stroke to make sure you're into the wave. They are all a great range of factory made boards, light and bullet proof. Thanks Wazza at RPS!![:D]
