It has same rocker as the OG ghost (I know, I've really milked that curve for all it's worth, but it seems to be a good one), so it feels pretty familiar. I really like the bump squash version for a bit of difference.
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Pyzel Mini Ghost
- Thread starter oeste858
- Start date
Thanks John. That did it for me. Just snagged the 5'6" off the varial site. Hope it wasn't sitting there for too long
Stocked!
I was able to try a 6-0 Mini Ghost RP for half a dozen waves today. Medium Pyzel Quads. Having owned two ghosts, a shadow, phantom and gremlin, this one felt very familiar right away. I honestly really liked it. First wave i didn't get my foot back enough (no tail pad wtf) and my turns felt off but after that first one I really clicked with it. Got one turn in particular that still has me buzzing.
It was a Bali built custom that the owner had ordered for his recent trip. Having not seen one in person before a few things struck me. The beak nose was more subtle than I expected. Narrower, too. The rails were more "normal" feeling than I was expecting. It didn't really seem to have that flat deck with angular rails like some other similar boards I've ridden. I've got a Rusty Blade and a Stamps Gigglebox, both of which I would put in this same "modern 80's" category. I love both of those boards. They both feel a bit more unorthodox than the MG though. The MG feels like a more fully modern board. If that makes any sense. I didn't get to fondle it overly much but I'm guessing the bottom contours are fairly familiar to the Ghost family. It definitely felt more Ghost like than anything else but with less bogging sensation on a slopey chest high wave.
It was a Bali built custom that the owner had ordered for his recent trip. Having not seen one in person before a few things struck me. The beak nose was more subtle than I expected. Narrower, too. The rails were more "normal" feeling than I was expecting. It didn't really seem to have that flat deck with angular rails like some other similar boards I've ridden. I've got a Rusty Blade and a Stamps Gigglebox, both of which I would put in this same "modern 80's" category. I love both of those boards. They both feel a bit more unorthodox than the MG though. The MG feels like a more fully modern board. If that makes any sense. I didn't get to fondle it overly much but I'm guessing the bottom contours are fairly familiar to the Ghost family. It definitely felt more Ghost like than anything else but with less bogging sensation on a slopey chest high wave.
Would love to run a Mini Ghost vs Pyz2 test day. Average to decent rights, chest hight to just OH. Please
There's a DA Pyzalien2 at my local surfshop. Guy rode it once. I think it's 6'1" or 6'2" but I know it has 38 (.something) litres so could be a 6'4". Not sure if he got custom dims. $1200. FYI.Would love to run a Mini Ghost vs Pyz2 test day. Average to decent rights, chest hight to just OH. Please
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Finally getting to know my MG. I'm not Aruka, so my experiences / comparisons here are relatively limited in the thruster department. Here's a little interim review after a handfull of sessions.
Me: 5'7" 165lbs, but I tell people I'm 5'8"... who am I kidding?
MG: 5'6" stock squash in venerial
Fins: Started with F6 thruster setup, but board was not feeling right off the bottom (unpredictable, lacking drive, not inspiring confidence), then put AM2s in the front, feels WAY better, probably going to go with an AM1 in the rear next session. I don't think I need a full large-size setup... we'll see.
Ride so far:
holy double concave. never owned a ghost, so new sensation here. I'm used to single concave. or (subtle) double within (deeper) single. first thought it was boaty, but you get over that quickly. Now it just feels normal. Paddles well. Feels great in the few barrels i've ridden, which is like 2 closeouts. enough to say it feels very controllable despite the wide tail. Nice release off the top with my setup, but I might like a little extra drive... still dialing it all in, so could be a commitment issue, could be the bump squash.
Easy board to ride.
Haven't tried it as a quad. Looking forward to it.
Other thoughts:
Kinda funny how, after riding it, I'm like, oh I bet a longer version of this board would be sick. like, longer rail line, rounded pin tail. Oh wait.
Interested to hear how the round tail goes from others.
Me: 5'7" 165lbs, but I tell people I'm 5'8"... who am I kidding?
MG: 5'6" stock squash in venerial
Fins: Started with F6 thruster setup, but board was not feeling right off the bottom (unpredictable, lacking drive, not inspiring confidence), then put AM2s in the front, feels WAY better, probably going to go with an AM1 in the rear next session. I don't think I need a full large-size setup... we'll see.
Ride so far:
holy double concave. never owned a ghost, so new sensation here. I'm used to single concave. or (subtle) double within (deeper) single. first thought it was boaty, but you get over that quickly. Now it just feels normal. Paddles well. Feels great in the few barrels i've ridden, which is like 2 closeouts. enough to say it feels very controllable despite the wide tail. Nice release off the top with my setup, but I might like a little extra drive... still dialing it all in, so could be a commitment issue, could be the bump squash.
Easy board to ride.
Haven't tried it as a quad. Looking forward to it.
Other thoughts:
Kinda funny how, after riding it, I'm like, oh I bet a longer version of this board would be sick. like, longer rail line, rounded pin tail. Oh wait.
Interested to hear how the round tail goes from others.
With the beak and fuller front third, the 5’10 MG I tried felt much more familiar to me than my 6’1 phantom, so I could see swapping it for MG at some point.
I’m thinking 6’0-6’1 squash but can’t help but imagine a 6’2 roundpin would be fun for HH-OH… and I might actually reach for it more over other boars.
I’m thinking 6’0-6’1 squash but can’t help but imagine a 6’2 roundpin would be fun for HH-OH… and I might actually reach for it more over other boars.
I’m probably not the best judge of pointy-nosed SB these days… but it’s feels fairly full compared to more-foiled Phantom. I think keeping it shorter would be more fun. The 5’10 was fine for me (180-185 lbs) once I was up and riding. Realistically, I’d just prefer a little more foam for paddling
This is kinda boggling my mind. It's already piled on. So, not sensitive to volume? Do you want to add more via custom order?
Edit: just saw oeste's response. that makes more sense.
FWIW I fondled a mini ghost at el factoria de dank farts and it was the exact same dims as my GX but came in a full liter more in volume.
Not sure if that helps.
Not sure if that helps.
kinda does. Im still yet to fondle one of these.
have a stonk 6’1 (my height) ghost that I don’t mind the extra volume on up and riding, for reference.
This board has piqued my interest for some time. The Varial ones look sweet and it has been in my cart numerous times - haha! However, I want a roundtail.
@Pyzelsurfboards statement above, the Mini Ghost has the same rocker as the Ghost. This suggests that the Mini Ghost should work in a lot of different lengths since they will typically be shorter than a Ghost. Is this an appropriate way to think about this board? Granted - thicker and wider.
That’s pretty much what the dude at Pyzel Oceanside said. Extra foam vs ghost should help get through slower sections of the OH south county reef waves I described to him where the ghost would lose steam.
that's certainly what it felt like to me. the waves I surfed the MG in had soft and steep sections and it definitely carried speed through the soft stuff better than a ghost would have.
i would have probably ordered one longer than 6-0 if i hadn't had a chance to try this one out but it didn't feel too short. it felt pretty good in the length dept. maybe i would go a little thinner.
I shared my thoughts a bit further up the page.
I rode it as a quad and I quite liked it.
well, I finally committed to the "complete purchase" click - a 5' 6" Varial Mini Ghost squash is on its way to me. Thanks @SixtyGrit for the review.
I have been stuck in analysis paralysis: roundtail versus squash and 5' 6" versus 5' 7".
Though I was strongly leaning toward a 5' 7" roundtail, I have a few boards that I truly enjoy in better waves and didn't need to add another.
I also don't much need a 5' 6" squash either, as I have several boards in the so-called smaller wave/DD category. However, I am interested in the MG's outline/lower volume with potential increases in small wave performance relative to some of my current boards.
I said it before, but I am seriously done YOLOing.
I have been stuck in analysis paralysis: roundtail versus squash and 5' 6" versus 5' 7".
Though I was strongly leaning toward a 5' 7" roundtail, I have a few boards that I truly enjoy in better waves and didn't need to add another.
I also don't much need a 5' 6" squash either, as I have several boards in the so-called smaller wave/DD category. However, I am interested in the MG's outline/lower volume with potential increases in small wave performance relative to some of my current boards.
I said it before, but I am seriously done YOLOing.
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