First Black Box in Australia, very interesting shape and great graphics. This board got lot's of attention after Danny Bruch used it very successfully in light wind conditions in the PWA. It's 215 x 62 with a super wide nose, tail and trailing fin set-up. Should be the ticket for low wind small waves. We're hoping to take it for a spin next few days !

I think the concept is very interesting. But at 87 liters volume I wouldn't call this a light wind board.

At 87l no, but at 62cm wide...

for danny it would be a light wind board.

it's more a light wind shape than volume, in the same way you have fish surfboards for small mushie waves.

I saw it in shop today! It looks awesome! Such a great compact shape!! Perfect for those mushy conditions!

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DunkO said...
it's more a light wind shape than volume

??? So how do you make it out past the break in 5 to 10 knts when the board barely floats you?

i guess people have different skill levels and ideas on light wind.

yes you are correct the average beer guzzling pie eating east coast rider is going to need a little more.

i think this board shape is designed more to PERFORM on the wave in the light wind small wave conditions not just to make it easy to bog heavy dudes out the back.

reality is there are now heaps of large volume boards out there for the waves, all the brands do them.

this is a new and different shape, an ugly one but a new concept.

Depend the size of the break. Even with a Sup, 5-10 knts and a good break your are stuck. Let say life start a 10-12 knts?

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stehsegler said...

DunkO said...
it's more a light wind shape than volume

??? So how do you make it out past the break in 5 to 10 knts when the board barely floats you?

Sorry, that's not the first "Black box" in Aust

I can see why this board would be good for small waves, reos, floaters etc (and maybe freestyle moves with the big shoulders?) but as I'm not a board shape expert I don't see why it is so good for light winds? Does the width get you planing on the wave more quickly?

That's one seriously wide square tail
Looks very much like the tail of a super stable mini mal often used for learners (Compare it to a Shane mini mal which was/is the board of choice for surf schools when transitioning from soft tops to all glass boards)

Interesting looking fin set up, not sure if it's just the photo/angle of board but it looks as if the side fins are a fair bit bigger than the centre.
Anyone seen one in the flesh and can confirm or shed greater light ?

Been lucky enough to see Danny sailing first hand a couple of times, the guy is an absolute freak who could make a door with a mast track rip.

Keen to hear from a mere mortal who has sailed the board ???

One thing for sure... it's an interesting looking board and great to see some of the big brands pushing the envelope on design and not just leaving it up to the highly skilled and dedicated custom shapers out there.
Interesting times indeed !

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NordRoi said...
Depend the size of the break. Even with a Sup, 5-10 knts and a good break your are stuck. Let say life start a 10-12 knts?

I hate to disagree. I had a 10.6 Fanatic SUP three seasons ago that would get me out in almost no wind. The sheer length and volume of the board with the right technique would pop you cover white water up to about 5 feet.

You probably need to see the shape in the flesh to appreciate how different it is. It's only 215 long and has a very wide nose and tail. It's definitely not going to be a board for everyone but I can see this being a lot of fun for experienced wave sailors that normally would ride (and have the skill) to ride their down the line boards in marginal conditions.

Anyway check this vid of Danny riding a prototype and it will give you an idea what conditions it's made for.

Maybe this isn't going to be a light wind option for a 100kg guy, but for anyone around the 80kg mark, and possibly slightly more, it might be something really worth having a look at.

Anyway, here is a vid of Zane Schwitzer taking a production Black Box for a run.

Mmmm they seem to have a different idea of light wind than me. didn't look like our conditions here .

Looks like a fun small wave board to me. But I'm cofused about the definition of, "light wind". For me light wind is 5-14 knots. Above than I'm up and running nicely on my FSW gear with 5.4. So is the Black Box designed for bigger sails ( around 6 meters or so) and sub-planning, sub 14 knot conditions? Kinda reminds me of the classic "fish" surfboards, which shinned in the weak mash potato summer surf.

I don't know... I think that in on of these videos with the kid there is lots
of wind. Interesting concept. Maybe a good board for heavier guys. I can feel that bump-jump can be pretty bad on it.

I was lucky enough to take this board for a spin yesterday so will try give an actual review.

I weigh around 80kgs or maybe a touch less so I'm not a heavyweight so maybe this is not so useful for the big fellas here. I've also only used the board once..
But anyways it's definitely different. It has massive deep double concaves, it's short and has a massive wide tail. It's actually really light for the first production board too.
I took it out in small cross to cross on powerless waves with a 5.3. At the beginning of the session I was on and off the plane and later the wind picked up so I was fully powered.
The board seems to plane pretty early and goes upwind pretty well also. Off the plane you can stay in the straps for a really long time because of the whopping big tail and short length. The short length also makes jumping a bit of fun too.

Here's the thing though, everyone used to always whinge about pros with painted up customs. The opposing argument always went along the lines of pros need specialist boards because they're special. Something like that anyways... Well the brands seemed to have listened and now most of the guys who sail on starboards have to use production boards. Dany bruch obviously wanted a board that worked really well in conditions that the pwa is currently held, small onshoreish crappy waves so he made this board for himself. In those conditions this board is amazing, it turns really nice and generates its own speed on the wave, it feels like it doesn't even need the sail. Those moments when there's a wind hole and you don't quite have the power in the sail to go for it don't really happen. I actually think this board worked better when I couldn't plane it really was special when the conditions fit the design brief. Personally small light wind cross onshore starboard tack is my least favourite conditions. But with this board it felt good. It's really fun to turn and try throw around, it's probably a bit big for me though.

But and here is the big but. In anything else it's far from amazing, it's uncomfortable to sail in chop or a straight line and it's not particularly quick.

If your really into competitions I think you really do need one of these boards for the crap that competitions seem to be in its a real advantage to anything else I've used. If your looking for a board to take out in onshore mush to do big slashy top turns get this board. If you want a board to do just about anything else your probably better off with something else. Later on the tide went out and it flattened off I changed over to a 87 köster kode wave and it was heaps more fun.

So basically what I'm saying is it does exactly what it says on the box. Does it do abything else yes it does but not that well.
If you do get the chance definitely give it a go!