The origin8 first went into commercial production when I was working for Mctavish - and it was basically an 8ft (ish) original. It was popular with some of the older/heavier crew who usually rode big mals and were wantlng a smaller travel board for overseas trips etc.
You really need to decide what you want a board like that for I guess - beachies/points/travel or what ? Like the original the board is great for beach breaks and reef breaks but I think that like the original it is a slow and lifeless board on a fatter wave or average point wave. If you want a heavily rockered midlength for suckier surf then the origin8 may well be the perfect board, but I can tell you from experience that a standard 8ball will handle anything that you can throw at it and is a much better allround board than the origin8 in that it paddles better, trims better, noserides better and is much much faster down the line and in smaller waves its head and shoulders better than the origin8.
When I worked at McT I used to surf Broken Head and the Rivermouth at Suffolk in some pretty heavy conditions, and many times I was the only one out on a longboard (eightball) with the shorties and not once did that board ever let me down - and it got me some respect at times from the local shortboard crew. No - I am not talking myself up - I am just making the point that an eightball at 8ft is the gem board and not the origin8 IMO.
If you are a true longboarder and looking for a smaller version of what you normally ride then you should stay as close as you can to the overall shape but drop your length to help you fit into different types of waves but still keep the "feel" that you are used to with your everyday board. A lot of longboarders used to think they wanted to be more of a shortboarder and they went to boards like the carver cos it kinda looked like a bigarst shortboard but was still 7 1/2 foot plus so it should still paddle and surf kinda like their mal WRONG - nothing surfs or feels like a mal, especially a carver ! sh#t don't get me started on the carver
Mate, before you buy a heavily rockered 8ft longboard come and try mine. No - I am not trying to push you onto a Laguna Bay but it will give you an idea of how that kind of board surfs and if its really what you want. If you cant demo an origin8 try to demo an 8ft eightball and then ride my Laguna and compare the difference and then if you love mine go ahead and order an origin8 if thats what you want. I predict though that you will buy an eightball after trying them all.
Bill
because its a mctavish
thanks for your opinion and would love to hear your thoughts. thanks bb
