The Eco Imagine waverider board is an interesting stand up paddle board. It is heavier than the production boards that have been constructed using a mold (i.e. most stand up paddle boards that come from a windsurfing factory), however the extra weight does help get you down the face of waves and does not seem to affect the performance. The wave rider stand up paddle board has been constructed using sustainable and low toxin foam and glass, which means it is kinder the the environment too.
We should thank Nick Mallabar from System X who gave us the board to review.
Great review... thanks. Here are a few comments for you.
Our shapes have changed radically for 2010. That was an early 2009 board you had there. Its the advantage of not using pop-outs - we can change and improve on the fly without being locked into a shape. That was 4 1/4" - our Wave Rider replacement - the Wave Rocket is over 5" (and also 30% lighter), and is light years ahead of that board in both ease and performance.
Regarding the deck grip (EVA) we specifically don't put it all the way to the tail so that people can put a real surfing traction pad in the tail without the nightmare of having first to peel up the existing EVA (and you MUST have one there to turn it as you saw), which is hard to do. In fact, now we don;t even put the EVA on at all - we provide it and let you do it. This is because if you ask 10 people where it should be, you get 10 different answers. Everyone seems to have their own ideas, so now we just supply it.
Anyway, great review... thanks.
Corran
tezwoz
January 06, 2010
Votes: +0
...
Nice review Matt and interesting add on comments Corran.
From the footage it def looks like it should be ridden in a more "surfboard" style (hence the tail pad I assume).
Looking to try a really loose board and I wouldn't mind getting my hands on one of these as one things that does bug me about SUP is the looseness aspect...We should be able to ride an SUP as radical and vertical as a surfboard...size shouldn't be a limiting factor...Longboard performance surfboards are easily as throw about as shortboards and surf style SUP's shouldn't be any different.
Corran you say the new 2010 shapes are even lighter which makes me even keener to try one of your boards in some solid stuff!
Again though...good review...the video element allows you to see exactly how they look on a wave etc...Nice one Matt!
Corran
January 07, 2010
Votes: +0
I agree
I'm a shortboarder at heart. I ride my SUP "LIKE" a shortboard - vertical, in the critical part of the wave, and pushing it hard... and it's how I design my boards. Sure, the Chopper and Wave Rocket are tonned down a bit to be easy, but the Enigma and Offshore are essentially shortboards...with a paddle.
Corran
Rich Morton
January 15, 2010
Votes: +0
Second Opinion
I have just bought a 10' imagine wave rider and i really like it. After coming down from a 12' all rounder and a 12'6" Starboard Pin, I found the board abit difficult at first however after a few sessions it all clicked. As Matt said in his video, its very smooth in the turns and quite reactive for a 10' board. Although it will surf smaller waves i find it a little slow to start planeing and get up speed, but it really comes into its own in larger more powerful surf.
To further answer Tezwoz's comment about a looseness and a surfboard feel. I have found the fin system is good in allowing you to get a set up that suits your surfing style. When i brought the centre fin forwards and althered the side bite "toe" i found this loosened up the tail a treat and occasionally find myself making off the top turns without the paddle.
My only problem with the board as Matt pointed out is the handle position! Mine is about 3 inches to far forward which means it pretty useless unless i clamp the back under my arm! However this is a small problem which can easily be rectified due to the production process.
All in all a great board which i'm looking forward to surfing in the BSUPA contests this year.
In October 2009 we spent some time in Cornwall filming some stand up paddle board reviews. This is the Eco Imagine Wave Rider review.
TrackBack URI for this entry
Subscribe to this comment's feed
