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cantSUPenough said..
Great review mbuzz! Curious to know about the previous boards you have owned.

In order from 2010 to now
- Starboard Drive 10'0
- Naish Mana 9'5
- Starboard Pro 9'1
- Naish Hokua 9'5
- Naish Hokua 9'0
- Deep custom 8'10

The deep was the last board I had and I have been using that for around 2 years now, but it had fairly parallel rails in the mid-section which meant you had to turn it from the tail. You couldn't ride it as easily from the middle or pump it to build speed like you can with the flash and I struggled to get it to go well on the backhand. It was only 29" wide so had fractionally less stability. Build quality on the deeps are awesome though.

Of the boards listed the 9'0 hokua was probably the closest in comparison in terms or ride and handling but at 28 3/4 wide I could only last 3/4 of an hour before I was spent and had to switch to a bigger board, whereas with the flash it's much more stable and I can spend longer on it.

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mbuzz said..

cantSUPenough said..
Great review mbuzz! Curious to know about the previous boards you have owned.

In order from 2010 to now
- Starboard Drive 10'0
- Naish Mana 9'5
- Starboard Pro 9'1
- Naish Hokua 9'5
- Naish Hokua 9'0
- Deep custom 8'10

The deep was the last board I had and I have been using that for around 2 years now, but it had fairly parallel rails in the mid-section which meant you had to turn it from the tail. You couldn't ride it as easily from the middle or pump it to build speed like you can with the flash and I struggled to get it to go well on the backhand. It was only 29" wide so had fractionally less stability. Build quality on the deeps are awesome though.

Of the boards listed the 9'0 hokua was probably the closest in comparison in terms or ride and handling but at 28 3/4 wide I could only last 3/4 of an hour before I was spent and had to switch to a bigger board, whereas with the flash it's much more stable and I can spend longer on it.

Thanks - it is always interesting to see the progression, and to see where someone has come from when they enjoying a new board.

I have been riding acids (with many other boards before) and have been wondering if the flash might add something - good maneuverability and better stability. I am taking just one board to the Maldives in a few weeks and you can get anything from glass and steep walls to wind and chop. And with a potentially crowded line-up, you don't want to have stability issues when it is your turn to paddle for a wave...

Tardy you must have your board by now?

I am continually impressed with this board, it is just awesome. Already progressed my surfing so much in a month or so.

I'm riding it as a thruster now primarily - it turns alot easier - running the supplied 94's all round.

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jb1979 said..
Tardy you must have your board by now?

I am continually impressed with this board, it is just awesome. Already progressed my surfing so much in a month or so.

I'm riding it as a thruster now primarily - it turns alot easier - running the supplied 94's all round.

Bloody delayed ,surfs been pumping too.Monday is the launch .Great your liking it .I really can't wait....hows your turns and speed .of the board.

I have finally gotten a good session on the 9'0 Flash!
My only other surf was crap onshore chop and set up as Quad.... too stiff for that junk surf.

I asked James Casey what fin setup he uses....... 2 + 1..... meaning medium sized sidebites and smaller trailing fin.
2 - 3' and clean, set up as Jimmy suggested.
Absolutely loved it! Super smooth, snappy, easy to jam a cutback.... stable and easy paddling.
It's in the van for the rest of my stay...... Monday might give me another swell to get on it. Stoked :-)

Today I rode the 9'6 Style XL in small, clean surf.... (the 9'0 Flash is way more stable)
The Style was a lot of fun on a good point wave..... I am going to have to put more time on my 10' when I get home!

Sorry, my camera's have all failed, so no video to show the boards in action.

I am on a surf trip in the Maldives and the organizer (Trent Moon/Moon tours) supplied some Flashes (and creeks, and speeds). They guys trying them have been loving them. One guy went from a Flow to a Flash and thinks it is much better. Another guy has a different brand board and today caught some crackers on the flash. The flash is perfectly suited to the steep waves we have had here,.

I personally bought one (second hand) a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it. There are differences with my acid, but I would probably struggle to verbalize how the ride was different. I decided to bring my acid on the surf trip (because I am more familiar with it, it had lower liters, and there is a slightly bigger flash here that I can use), so I only have fours sessions on my flash. It is a great board and I did have a tough decision flash versus acid.

(FYI: I am just a full-paying customer.)

A great tester of all boards CSE.with a 10 day test ,would you say this is a board for vertical re entries.?

Absolutely. Actually, I have personally stayed on my acid during this trip, and while I try to get vertical I am probably not far past horizontal... But that's me, not the board. I did have fun on the Flash before I came on the trip, and with small fins it seemed easier to slide around than the acid, but that is only after a few sessions.

But we have had some cracking waves on the Maldives trip, really steep sections, and a few guys have been using the Flashes provided free of charge and they have been making it through these sections.

hey tardy
i would say the flash would go more vertical and the acid is for more serious waves/juice than the flash ..so stick to yr prefered litres.
if you want a stepup flash get an acid - the flash is a reasonably specific mid size board for ripping hard on mid size waves - generally

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cantSUPenough said..
I am on a surf trip in the Maldives and the organizer (Trent Moon/Moon tours) supplied some Flashes (and creeks, and speeds). They guys trying them have been loving them. One guy went from a Flow to a Flash and thinks it is much better. Another guy has a different brand board and today caught some crackers on the flash. The flash is perfectly suited to the steep waves we have had here,.

I personally bought one (second hand) a few weeks ago and really enjoyed it. There are differences with my acid, but I would probably struggle to verbalize how the ride was different. I decided to bring my acid on the surf trip (because I am more familiar with it, it had lower liters, and there is a slightly bigger flash here that I can use), so I only have fours sessions on my flash. It is a great board and I did have a tough decision flash versus acid.

(FYI: I am just a full-paying customer.)

Hi CSE

Can you put up an edit or review of your trip when your done please
I was so close to coming on this trip but work commitments and other trips got in the way
I am super keen to hear your review and see any footage/photos' you may have
Enjoy the rest of your trip

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that guy said..
hey tardy
i would say the flash would go more vertical and the acid is for more serious waves/juice than the flash ..so stick to yr prefered litres.
if you want a stepup flash get an acid - the flash is a reasonably specific mid size board for ripping hard on mid size waves - generally

thanks guy ,have on order a 9,0 .and another .

hey duhsouth.im going on the next maldives trip on friday .show you a few as well .
i believe the first crew have had awesome waves ...cse. will be showing some pics.I'm sure .

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Tardy said..

that guy said..
hey tardy
i would say the flash would go more vertical and the acid is for more serious waves/juice than the flash ..so stick to yr prefered litres.
if you want a stepup flash get an acid - the flash is a reasonably specific mid size board for ripping hard on mid size waves - generally

thanks guy ,have on order a 9,0 .and another .

hey duhsouth.im going on the next maldives trip on friday .show you a few as well .
i believe the first crew have had awesome waves ...cse. will be showing some pics.I'm sure .

well the eagle has landed...first surf today ...i know i shouldn't but i compare it to my 130 flow.
First ,its not as fast as the flow due to the extra rocker ,so you have to paddle a bit harder to catch waves ..
the stability is similar ,but what it does do better is punches through the waves easier ...really noticed that straight away .
I took the original fins out 9,4 fronts and 10,5 rear ...had trouble cutting loose and it felt dead ..I went straight in and but my quads .
first wave i took off on ...with the quads, the board came to life ...yes..due to the narrow tail it didn't require the big fins as it really sits-down in the rear .cut backs where nice and crisp ..the rails on the board really make it roll over and climb the wave ...it did like the steeper waves ,but has good potential ..its earlier days ,as the surf was only 3-4 foot and messy ...but so far i like it ..unlike the flow ,it is not affected by white water as much and will take a far steeper drop .....so it does give you more leniancy ..really nice finish on this board ..
looking forward to more sessions ..

Sum of Awe

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SunnyBouy said..
Sum of Awe

eye.eye.sunnybouy .

8,7 ...flow .vs 9,0 ..this 9,0 is just as easy to throw around ,but does feel bigger in the nose than the 8'7 .
but the rails are the key to this board .
can't wait to get this 9 in some sizeable waves ...i think thats where it will shine .
if your 97 kgs and over 50 like me its a good add to the quiver .

I pulled up to say gidday to the misses with it on the roof ,all she said ,is that number 10 .
I don't know what her problem was ,no hello or nothing

I can't get hold of a Flash to try out, my mate won't bring them into the UK.. He's only got a handful of small Creeks this time around.. I'm trying to get him to get an 8'5 or 8'8'ish on the next shipment..
Glad you love it already, they look fantastic and from this side of the planet I'm quite jealous..

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Tardy said..


well the eagle has landed...first surf today ...i know i shouldn't but i compare it to my 130 flow.
First ,its not as fast as the flow due to the extra rocker ,so you have to paddle a bit harder to catch waves ..
the stability is similar ,but what it does do better is punches through the waves easier ...really noticed that straight away .
I took the original fins out 9,4 fronts and 10,5 rear ...had trouble cutting loose and it felt dead ..I went straight in and but my quads .
first wave i took off on ...with the quads, the board came to life ...yes..due to the narrow tail it didn't require the big fins as it really sits-down in the rear .cut backs where nice and crisp ..the rails on the board really make it roll over and climb the wave ...it did like the steeper waves ,but has good potential ..its earlier days ,as the surf was only 3-4 foot and messy ...but so far i like it ..unlike the flow ,it is not affected by white water as much and will take a far steeper drop .....so it does give you more leniancy ..really nice finish on this board ..
looking forward to more sessions ..

Thanks Tardy. Some good info.
A couple of questions on some comments :
a. Why do you think it punches through white water easier ?
b. "It is not affected by whitewater as much ...." Is that on the wave and is that due to the nose / speed / outline ?

Thanks

Hey Gboots...it just pop over the waves with the rocker ,where the flow having a flatter rocker ,the water tends to hold it down ....so it is similar to the x32 Hokua .where you can hit a white wash at full speed and you will get airborne ..not as dramatic a rocker like the x32 ,

also I came off the top on a late drop in the white wash and it shook around a bit but then straightened up and took off.
if I was on my flow 130 I would of been a gonna .

the rails are a lot thinner than the flow so doesn't seem to catch in the foamy sections ...
I pulled off a good white water foamy floater

it does require a more powerful wave than the flow ...but still does ok .in slop ...it's a good cross between the flow and acid ..

it does feel smaller performance wise than a 132 litre 9.0 . And I wouldn't be scared to take in some real steep reef breaks as the pin tail is made for it .
pictured 9.1 acid 125 litre and 9.0 flash 132.

Thanks Tardy. I assume on your last point that you "wouldn't" be scared

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Gboots said..
Thanks Tardy. I assume on your last point that you "wouldn't" be scared

Corrected....big fingers small phone ...are you thinking of a smaller size ?or just curious ...

Tardy ....Without sabotaging this thread ....
I am actually thinking a Flow for sloppy 2 foot beach breaks.
I think a Flow would be a complimentary board to my larger Speeed. Just trying to grasp pros and cons.

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Gboots said..
Tardy ....Without sabotaging this thread ....
I am actually thinking a Flow for sloppy 2 foot beach breaks.
I think a Flow would be a complimentary board to my larger Speeed. Just trying to grasp pros and cons.

Yep..8'7 flow is a little ripper .catches waves real easy .nothing wrong with the flows ...it does like being ridden on the tail....it's a little small for me in 6 foot reef breaks .but 2 -4 foot ..magic.

when it's small ,you will get more speed with the square tail .and flatter rocker ..I 'm guessing that's why the speeds so
fast ...and with channels ...

what size flow you thinking of going for, being a light weight .

Hey Tardy, can I clarify, when you say "its not as fast as the flow due to the extra rocker", you talking about paddling the board, not riding it on a wave?

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Tardy said..

Gboots said..
Tardy ....Without sabotaging this thread ....
I am actually thinking a Flow for sloppy 2 foot beach breaks.
I think a Flow would be a complimentary board to my larger Speeed. Just trying to grasp pros and cons.

Yep..8'7 flow is a little ripper .catches waves real easy .nothing wrong with the flows ...it does like being ridden on the tail....it's a little small for me in 6 foot reef breaks .but 2 -4 foot ..magic.

when it's small ,you will get more speed with the square tail .and flatter rocker ..I 'm guessing that's why the speeds so
fast ...and with channels ...

what size flow you thinking of going for, being a light weight .

At 65-70kg I probably should go 8'1 but am leaning towards 8'4.
Both may be too tippy for me due to pulled in nose because I like to lean forward hard when paddling for a wave. But the flat deck would be great

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mbuzz said..
Hey Tardy, can I clarify, when you say "its not as fast as the flow due to the extra rocker", you talking about paddling the board, not riding it on a wave?

bit of both ...remember I used it in 2-4 foot waves and i am comparing the 130 flow to the 9,0 flash ,so yes it paddles faster.and the flow catches waves easier ...but you can throw the flash around more .its a trade off

That's interesting. I found the flow to be really slow on the wave compared to the flash. Hopefully you get some decent surf to play around with it. It took me a while to realise that I didn't need to ride it from the tail like my last board and could actually get my weight forward and ride it from the middle. Have fun.

the only wave that Soloshot3 filmed of the 9'0 Flash in Thailand so far.
The wave never broke, and I am 102 kg.... so pretty stoked with how nicely the board turned in these glassy rollers.

Flash w/ Creek's make-up.

Custom 8'3 27 3/4 " 97 lts






(Messy tablet photo add)

Nice ...fox ...

a wave that never breaks creek ...it still ...zoomed around ok ...

early days mbuzz.I 'll milk some speed out of it ..I do like it better than my 130 flow . Because I can rip harder .

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supthecreek said..
the only wave that Soloshot3 filmed of the 9'0 Flash in Thailand so far.
The wave never broke, and I am 102 kg.... so pretty stoked with how nicely the board turned in these glassy rollers.

Only a surf god cou

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1fox said..
Flash w/ Creek's make-up.

Custom 8'3 27 3/4 " 97 lts






(Messy tablet photo add)

Is that a Fleek or a Crash ?