Got the board in the water today for a second session. Here are my impressions.
Switched the JJF larges out for AM2 larges which was definitely an improvement. Started with the JJFs because the tail seemed pretty chunky and I thought it would benefit from the extra fin but I guess that wasn't the right move.
Also ripped off a front pad that I had put on there. Every now and then I think a front pad is a good idea and without fail it never seems to really work for me. Getting rid of that was also an improvement.
Surfed three days in a row. Also an improvement... or at least I can take that variable out of the equation.
I'm still pretty lukewarm on the board. I feel like once I removed the front pad the board paddles pretty decently but I'd still say it catches waves alright but maybe not as well as a board with more planning area. So the board can definitely move when there is a bit of a curve to the face. When the board is going I can definitely see how it's a fun, rippable, shred machine.
But once the wave flattens out it feels like it completely hits the brakes. Almost like the rocker break is in the wrong spot to glide over the flat spots??? Unless the waves at OB are really good they tend to go steep - flat - steep so it's a bit hard to have a board that doesn't want to cruise over flat sections.
Just to be clear, I wouldn't call this board a dog or a bad shape by any stretch of the imagination.
But definitely don't think it's for me, or for OB, or for the waves I wanted to use it in, or for some combination of all of those things. If I compare the board to say a rad ripper, I can see how this is a tiny bit more high performance but I don't think it has more range necessarily and it's A LOT less fun from my perspective. If I compare it to say a Sub Driver or a Happy Every day, I'd say those boards outperform this one on every single dimension.
I'm not trying to suggest these are apples-to-apples comparisons but I don't think this board is going to have a spot in my quiver. Will give it one last go to see if it grows on me or happens to be fun/good enough for better waves to justify keeping but I'm not getting my hopes up.
If anyone is dying to try a 5'9 LMK because it would not be hard to convince me to part ways.