World Finals Body Beach Thank You

[Proformance1]

I think I rode most hulls and combos there that I wanted to try out and would like to thank all who let me try their skis. Some very cool rides this year and I learned a ton from all who were there. Thanks.

Ill start at the begining:

Taylors FR2 Evo 1 945 Dasa

JMikes BOB Gen 3 885 DASA

EMEs Micro 900 EME

Brian's XFS 1100 DASA

Chris XFS Nynja 885 DASA

EMEs Aerial 8 1200 EME

Mark's Matrix 760 yamaha

Zach's Lightweight DE 850 DASA

Stanton's Footrocket 701 yamaha

Thanks to all for letting me try them out.

I think I got them all. Had a chance to ride the Rok R hull but let a friend try it

I have ridden the KDX a lot so didnt need to try them thanks to Paul's KDX 1100 DASA

 

[raytherace]

which one was your favorite Brian ?

BTW I still need your case !

 

[yurkanip]

I am very curious to hear input on Marks Matrix (he told me it was a 760, at surfslam). And curious to hear about the gen 3.?

 

[Tanman]

Mark Gomez's Matrix is a Kommander 760 Big Bore

 

[Proformance1]

I learned a lot this week. Way more than I expected. I learned that the skis that are most like what you already ride are the easiest to try. Some examples are pole length, foothold position and power band.

One Rickter XFS i didnt like, then rode the next one and really enjoyed it. Was easy to ride and BF, power was a little over mine with the 1100 and 148 mag but pole length was spot on for me and so were footholds.

Another case was the BOB Gen 3, rode one didnt like it, rode another with an 885 148 Mag and thought it was perfect.

Some of my friends I ride with have Freaks, Rickters, EME's, and Bobs, so these were easy to jump on and carve up the water.

Im currently on a 1000 DASA and both skis I liked best for flat water had DASA motors, were tuned great, and I felt comfortable borrowing them from the owners. Also both skis were from people about my height, I think this plays a huge role. Also both were set up for FW, which was what we were riding. Once the skis got to 1200, TL, 155 Mag with race gas I was out. Didnt want to break anyones stuff so I only rode Malones 1200s as I have ridden them a few times before.

Micro rode very wide for being so small and not nose up. I was surprised. Ryan did his first ever set up wake FW BF on it and also first ever flat spin 360. The ski was set up to short for me as when i put my knees forward it was perfect, very central. Ryan is shorter and thought it was perfect. I will be getting more time on this soon hopefully.

I have come to the conclusion that properly set up and powered correctly for your skill set any hull on the market today is perfect. There are no bad hulls, maybe hulls that dont work best for that situation, but change a few items and it will work. I couldnt see riding a circus freak or micro in a surf competition, but someone with mad skills will prove me wrong on that one.

The rest of the hulls mentioned I like all of them. Most were set to about my height and ride style so that was cool. I really wish I could hit Pismo now and really give a full review of the surf hull set ups that were there. The Footrocket, Lightweight DE, Matrix, Evo 1. Then I would really have some great feedback for those. I know with those set ups they would all be crazy rides in the Cali surf!!

 

[JetManiac]

Thank you for your thoughts, well written and thoughtful. Some good things to consider.

 

[jMike]

It was good to meet you Brian. Body beach was awesome that day. It was good to try some other hulls.

I was most surprised by the EME Micro. For being a small hull I felt I could really ride it well. Some time into setup and it will be an awesome flat water ride.

The foot rocket was great, I would like to try one with a flat water layup and setup.

lightweight DE was awesome, I rode zacks surf but I can see it being amazing for big water and all around ripping.

the matrix was a Cadillac but felt pretty good for a full size ski. Very planted to the water and stable.

The XFS felt very similar to my Gen 3. Not crazy about the footholds but that could be fixed with some turf

the KDX would be my next choice after a BOB for sure. I would like a wider tray but it rode very well.

The only one I wasn't too crazy about was the ROKr. The tray was just too short for anything and I found it tough to reboard.

All in all it was a killer week in havasu. Good to stay with you Brian. I'll try and make a FreeRide this year if possible.

 

[Proformance1]

Great review Mike, nice meeting you as well, one of the best weekends of my life. Some awesome people in this sport. Weish we could have went to Pismo.

Rode Pauls KDX 1100 again yesterday in the 2-4s, and although it is a workout, i think with time this ski would be a blast for the small surf as well as being perfect for flat. Maybe a longer rideplate would help. Thing turns on a dime and is very comfortable to ride.

Spoke to Malone yesterday and hopefully soon there will be a SJ pumped Micro for me to demo. Cant wait, I think it has potential.

Again I feel there are no bad skis, just different power bands and ski set ups for different riders and ride styles.