Among the 2013 models from Lost and Presebo, there are several that claim to be designed for super-small waves. However, we asked our customer, Mr. N, to write a report on how they perform when ridden by non-professionals. We hope you will find it informative, so please read on.
=========================================================Hello. I'm a weekend surfer in my 50s, weighing just under 70kg and feeling a bit out of shape. Last year, my main boards were the Tablet 5'8" and the Fish Quest II 5'6". The Tablet 5'8" was a great board, and I was able to board the Uluwatu, which is a Japanese size and is head-over-head-and-a-half. However, I wanted something even more comfortable, so I started riding the Fish Quest II last fall, and it also had a fast takeoff and was fun... but the other day, I saw the Couch Potato Poly 5'4" in a shop and fell in love at first sight. After riding it a few times, I thought, "This is an incredible board. It has the fastest takeoff of any board I've ever ridden," and then I got the news that the Raise Orca 5'8" I had reserved had arrived. I immediately went to ride them and compare them.
I called out to Hiroki, a Love Surf rider, and he said, "I've never ridden these two models before, so I'd like to try them out," so we met up at the location. The plan was for me to test ride Hiroki's Titan 5'9", but when I got there, the wave report said the waves were super small, with "thick shins, knees, and sometimes waist-high waves." What's more, it was super crowded, and it was not a situation where an old guy like me could ride on a regular board, so I gave up.
So, let's compare the three models including the 5'8" tablet:
5'8" x 19 3/4" x 2 1/2 30.74cl
5'4" x 21" x 2 5/16" 30.7cl
5'8" x 20" x 2 3/8" 31.43cl
All three have the same cl value of around 30 and have almost the same buoyancy.
Comparing the Couch Potato and the Raise Orca, the Couch Potato is plumper and wider.
The one with the thinnest rails is Ray's Orca
After discussing it, Hiroki decided to try being a couch potato first.
Of course, FU・WAX is used. Just apply a thin layer and you're good to go!
"The Couch Potato has an extremely fast takeoff, followed by the Rays Orca."
Hiroki entered the crowded small waves and immediately started riding them like crazy.
Vertical lips with a 360-degree swirl.
After taking off and accelerating, it spins 360 degrees, leaving us watching from the outside with our mouths wide open.
Apparently he's recently gotten back up to 68kg, but he's taking off from barely breaking.
"This is crazy. This is illegal. The takeoff is so fast it's deadly.
No paddle needed. And it moves like crazy."
"Right, right, right, right?"
There are a lot of old-fashioned people who think that the longer the board, the faster the takeoff, but in fact the length doesn't matter that much. Buoyancy is important, but balance is more important,' says Hiroki Sensei (who was promoted to a teacher at this point). Hiroki Sensei and the couch potato seemed to have killed everyone around and were the center of attention. Incidentally, later, without my knowledge, another friend posted the photo on his blog and wrote, "A skilled surfer was riding an amazing board." Lol
It hits you with a lip that's so airy that all your fins come off, in knee-high waves. The other day I was on a brand new Rays Orca 5'8". The outline is slim and there's no discomfort when paddling. It seems like it would be easy to switch from a tablet. However, there's basically almost no rocker so takeoff is ridiculously quick, but I think it requires a bit of skill in big, dug waves. This one also takes off quickly. Obviously faster than a tablet. The buoyancy is much less than the Fish Quest 5'6", and it feels thinner. The Dolphin is easy.
After about 30 minutes, we changed boards. This time, Hiroki-sensei was on a Rays Orca.
He took off even from a face that was barely standing up. And then the lip!! It was a quad setting, but the instructor said, "Tri might be better. However, even with a quad, if you put weight firmly on the tail, you'll get a solid feel." He also said firmly, "This is a cheating board."
Comparing only takeoff, the two of them had the following opinions:
Couch > Ray's Orca = Fish Quest 2 > Tablet
That's correct. Yes.
As mentioned above, the Raise Orca 5'8" has an outline similar to a tablet so it feels natural. It is particularly great in slow, powerless waves. It starts off noticeably faster than a tablet, so it's fine even in crowded waves. The Couch Potato is great for taking off, but it's very short, so those not used to very short boards may be taken aback at first. It can also be a little scary when the waves get to head height. You can ride it, but it feels like there's nothing under your feet... and it moves around a lot. The Raise Orca isn't a board that moves in a quick, haphazard way, it's more like skating.
"The best all-around surfboard is a tablet. For ultra-small waves, it's best to choose one that suits your skill level and the waves."
After discussing with Hiroki, I thought about it from an old man's perspective.
1. The best all-around device for beginners is the tablet or now the tablet 2.
2. If you are worried about a short board in a wave that is not deep enough, try the Raise Orca.
3. Couch Potatoes are well-balanced and can ride incredibly well, but you need to get used to the short length.
According to Hiroki-sensei, the key to riding a short board is to "put your weight firmly on your back foot and push off." It's fine for your back foot to have your heel sticking out of the deck pad. This results in a wider stance. He said that if you put weight on your front foot with a short board, the board will sink and you'll just end up going sideways. I learned a lot. Next time, I'd like to do a report on Titan in good waves.
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