I was looking and reading about that board for some time until finally one showed up on the local 2nd marketplace for a very good price. The only downside, it was a smaller size than what I was looking for. At 6' and 76kg I was looking for a 5'9, or even a 5'11 to get enough 'groveller' volume. But I couldn't resist and jumped in.
I've surfed it 3 times in different waves and must say I'm very happy I took the risk of buying a board that could have been too hard to paddle. Still paddling is not easy, the trick is to just relax and safe energy. It took me some time to get comfortable in paddling position, and last session went much better. Now I can relax my legs by bending at the hips and weigh the trackpad with my knees, this also allows for a bit more forward position on the board. It is starting to feel like an extension of my body and paddling speed seems much better now.
Paddling in the wave is like a dream, every time I feel the wave pick me up that early It surprises me. Kicking helps! And the stability when popping up is great. From the first time I paddled for a wave I felt this was the right board for me. Up and riding immediately u feel the speed, also the speed surprises me compared to the wave I'm on, it goes in the weakest stuff. And the boardsize being smaller than I was looking for gives me more upper range, what is not a bad thing in Bali
I think it can handle overhead waves, as long not too hollow.2nd time out was at low tide with steeper take offs that resulted in the 'bar of soap' effect on takeoff, the board, with it's 18.3" wide tail, just slipped from under me in all directions. But yesterday I took it to hightide shoulder high crumblers and it felt like it could handle much bigger waves. My back foot was in front of the trackpad most of the time to keep speed, and it turns good that way. But I feel there is so much more potential in this board if the waves are a bit bigger.
For me the beauty of a semi groveller like this is I can have maximum fun in waves that doesn't bother the crowd of better/fitter surfers to go out. Also with bigger swells it's a great board for sitting inside and ducking the biggies until the smaller, that nobody on the outside can catch, rolles thru.
The board came with a 5-fin set of Small FCS2 Performers. Until now I only tried it with these fins in quad setup, it feels ultra loose but I never had a slide out. For sure later I will do some experimenting with my FCS1 fins, I'm curious to see the difference with a large PC7 thruster set.
Let the small waves come!
