Saturday, October 4, 2008

An October Surprise: 9'4" x 29.5" x 4.25" Stamps

Here's what I love about new boards: they remind you of how much you still have to learn. The best ones also take you places you didn't think you could go and the magic boards just straight up blow your mind. I think this one could be a mind blower- check it out (board on the left):


First impression: Wow, this thing is do-able! Right off the beach I was able to get up and get moving. I have to admit, I had my doubts- that board looked really small sitting on the rack (check out how it compares to my 10' Mahi2). I wondered if dropping twenty liters of volume might have been too much. Stamps, as usual, was spot on with the volume call- he hit the float point right on the head.

What I've got is a trade off between stability, float and performance. My feet are right at the water line on this one with more of it underwater than on any of my other boards. I'm still working out the sweet spot and it sometimes feels like I'm falling way too much but I accept this as part of the game. Dues will have to be paid.



Second thoughts: Surfing this thing is going to be a whole new ballgame. I went from a Caddy to a Porsche. I only had time to surf four waves but like I said before, the good boards take you places you don't expect to go. For me it was straight up into the lip- on my backhand! What!


The board is made of 1.5lb foam and features no gloss coat. It's feather light. Put into a section with juice, the thing just starts GOING: bounce off the bottom, bounce off the top, wrap the cutback, drop back in and keep it grooving down the line. All this in an hour of mushburgers. I can only imagine what it'll do on a day with good open faced waves. Which I'm hoping will be tomorrow- and the waiting part will be the most difficult!


Once again I'm stoked on what Tim Stamps pulled together for me- thanks homey! If anybody out there is going to the Sacred Craft show in Del Mar, October 11th and 12th, the board will be at the Stamps booth- come check it out!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hello my name is Merle Dean Shamblin and I would like to be your new friend. I sure could use somebody to chat with. I am a 47 year old long haul truck driver who currently lives in Duncan Oklahoma. Dec 8th 1960 I was born in Fairview Oklahoma. Moved to Caddo and Washita counties where I attended school at Colony Hydro and Weatherford. My parents Malvin and Wanda Shamblin were cotton and peanut farmers. Dad died in 99 from lung cancer. Graduated from SWOSU with a business degree. My two sisters are LaDonna Hubert and Malva Burrahm. Dennis is my brother. I have been a truck driver for 14 years and have driven 2 million paid miles. I have received many safe driving awards over the years. I am single and have never been married. I have a wide range of interests and am pretty much an open book. Currently I drive a 2006 Freightliner for a major carrier. I dont go to Canada very often. I dont have a dedicated route so I run the entire lower 48. I enjoy reading cinema music sports travel etc

John Ashley said...

Hey Merle- sounds like that rig just needs a stand up paddle racked to the top and you'd fit right in around this website!

Happy Thanksgiving and welcome friend!

John