SHQ

Andrew Stewart Cassidy, better known as "Casso" was one of the first to take up Stand Up Paddle Surfing in Australia.He has been riding a variety of boards from different manufactures and runs a website called "CyberSUP". Casso is quickly getting known for his board knowledge, detailed equipment reviews, video's and riding style. His website is packed with his own excellent SUP reviews and video’s.

Casso in action

Most of these boards we have in stock and have been riding ourselves. We can let you know that his reviews are spot on. So if you are in the marked for a new SUP check out his website. www.cybersup.com

Underneath his review of the highly anticipated PSH 9’3” Ripper;

PSH 9'3" Ripper
30 March 2009

Reviewer: Andrew Cassidy [Info]
Location: Mona Vale Basin

Conditions: Light on-shore wind. Waist high, punchy waves.

After loving my first session on Matt Lumley's PSH 9'3" Ripper a few weeks back, I thought I'd better go and pay Andrew Allen from Balmoral Boards a visit - just to see what he's got in stock. As it turns out, I get there and he starts unwrapping a brand new blue one, fresh out of the container. He knows I love the blue ones, the bugger - how could I say no to that? So, now I've got one too!

I've just got back from a little session out Mona Vale Basin where it was a bit bumpy with lots of cross chop bouncing off the rocks but there were some really fun waves coming through. I had it with just one other guy out for most of the session. That was my fifth surf on the 9'3" Ripper.

One word: Ripper.

The board is: 9'3" x 28 3/8" x 4 1/4".

If you've seen the 9'3" Ripper's plan shape, you'll know that this is one good looking board. A nice pulled in nose but with still enough volume to get up there from time to time. Not too curvy through the mid section and then pulling back in again, just the right amount, to that nice diamond tail down the back end.

There's not a heap of nose lift but just enough to keep the nose dry when taking steep-ish drops or coming down from a reo. The fact that it's pretty flat throughout means it planes really well and holds it's speed and momentum through turns. It's easy to connect bottom turn, cutback, foam bounce, back into another bottom turn ... all with speed and flow and as if it's just one manoeuvre - nice.

Paddling this little puppy is a breeze. It tracks really well (with my 6" centre fin) and it's got good stability. None of the surfs I've had it have been really clean (in fact most of them have been quite choppy), yet I've not a problem standing on it at all. I've ridden bigger boards which have been heaps harder to balance on while you're waiting out the back. The flat deck feels nice under your feet and gives a great base to move your feet around on.

Punching out through the waves is pretty good with just a fraction of kickback when you hit a decent bit of white water. The good stability helps with that wobbly bit in the foam just after the wave has passed.

I've pretty much managed to try out my full repertoire of moves on this board now. Lots of big bottom turns in a variety of sized waves - really nice, you can fully lean into them and generate lots of speed ready for the next manoeuvre. Some snappy cutbacks - just get on the tail and snap it, easy. Some of those get down low, big, carving cutbacks on my backhand - unreal, these big arcs are where the 9'3" Ripper excels. A few drop-knee, forehand cutbacks around the paddle - I love doing these and Ripper does them well. One or two semi vertical re-entries - not bad, just need a bit of push to the waves to help spin it back around. A couple of decent floaters - these are quite fun on the Ripper. I've even got up near the nose a couple of times, just for fun.

I've seen guys in Hawaii doing helicopters and even 360s off the tail, on the 9'3" - I've got to get into them, they look so cool.

This PSH (and I'm sure all the other production models are the same) just seems bullet proof. I've accidently whacked it a couple of times now with my paddle - really hard, without as much as a little scuff mark. The first time I did it, I was scared to look down at my brand new little baby and see what awful thing I'd done to it. But when I did manage to bring myself to look - nothing, no damage at all - phew.

Overall, this is a wicked board. The PSH 9'3" Ripper rips. I just love it.

Highs Points:
- Good stability for a short board.
- Turns off the tail beautifully.
- Awesome momentum between turns.
- Super high quality, bullet proof construction.
- Paddles great.
- Very comfortable under your feet.
- Big name so great resale value.

Lows Points:
- A little heavy for a 9'3".
- Fairly full rails might be hard for a fly-weight to bury.
- It's got no carry handle (yet - apparently they will in the future).
 

Casso has reviewed the following Boards:

PSH 9'3" Ripper
30 March 2009
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C4 9'3" Sub Vector
6 March 2009
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Naish 9'3"
31 December 2008
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PSH 11'0" Wide All Rounder
28 December 2008
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Oxbow 9’6” Pilot
30 November 2008
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Penetrator 507
29 November 2008
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Scotty Mac 9’4” Quad Fish
29 November 2008
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PSH 10’0" All Rounder
29 November 2008
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Oxbow 9’6” Pilot
29 November 2008
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PSH 9’2” All Rounder
29 November 2008
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PSH 9’6” All Rounder
29 November 2008
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Oxbow 11’0" Cruiser
28 November 2008
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Kialoa Methane
19 October 2008
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Oxbow 10'0" Cruiser
15 October 2008
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PSH 10'6" All Rounder
19 September 2008
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Oxbow 10'6" Pilot
13 September 2008
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Kialoa Shaka Pu'u
5 September 2008
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PSH 10'0" All Rounder
4 September 2008
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Oxbow 9'6" Pilot
16 August 2008
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7S 9'8" Uber Fish
24 July 2008
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Naish 9'6" Fish
17 July 2008