SUP Mag UK lo-res free to readers April 2014 lo-res free to read | Page 70

kit review S(k)well times - Nah Skwell 9.2ft Surf Series review www.nahskwell-sup.com Nah Skwell have been around for a number of years now. With shapes developed in Brittany, France, their surf range is poised to make the best of Euro wave conditions and should be perfect for the UK. The Surf Series 9.2ft is the third biggest in a range of six. Super light and comfortable to carry, it appears a lot smaller than it feels when paddling. Even though it has a generous 127 litres of volume and 30” of width, it looked as though it wouldn’t be particularly stable – and yet, this wasn’t the case. Handling a fair amount of chop and giving good glide, the Nah Skwell 9.2ft is a great partner for accessing offshore bombies or sand bar waves. Enough float to get to your destination, paddling over distance is comfortable and the board remains composed. CONCLUSION An impressive mid-size surf SUP that would fit the requirements of a varied spectrum of stand up paddle surfers, the 9.2ft Surf Series would make a perfect step up board or a good one SUP only. Use rail saver tape/blade guard to keep it looking great, swap out fins for tuned up performance and you’ll have yourself a great wave shredding tool. Also available in lighter full custom carbon. cutting back. Some stand up boards, particularly those billed as top end surf performers, require riders to drop into the most critical of sections. The Nah Skwell is a lot more forgiving and picks up waves super early, giving longer riding time. A thinner swallow tail gives improved pivot while the bottom vee to double concave hull helps acceleration through flat sections and on slower swells. Stock glass 12.3” thruster fins gripped well and performed admirably. For enhanced performance, switching these to something more tuned to locality and ability (made easier in 2014 – the Surf Range offers FCS boxes to give a larger tuning range) will be preferable. Glass fins supplied will chip if not looked after. In fact, it would also be worth using rail protection tape and/or a good blade guard on your paddle. The pristine finish will, in time, pick up knocks and scrapes – particularly from aggressive SUPers who have a habit of dinking their ride. Usually, if a surf SUP has good glide and stability its manoeuvrability is lacking, however, not so with this stick. Dropping in, on even the slackest and most gutless of waves, a few turns can be had with rail to rail carving critical enough to keep even the most demanding of riders happy. The Nah Skwell Surf Series 9.2ft was actually a bit of a revelation. Initially perceptions suggested a lack of performance in slack swell. This was totally unfounded with all expectations exceeded. In more powerful and hollow swells the 8.7ft would be a better bet for middle weights – the 9.2ft would then make a perfect switch up stick. It would also be a good choice for charging overhead swells with fantastic glide for getting into waves early. The lightweight feel of the 9.2ft allows for flicky turns and generates speed for banging one off a frothy lip or Please note: Mini Tuttle fin system will be replaced with FCS , allowing for greater range, wider usage and individual rider tuning. [email protected] s t a n d u p p a d d l e m a g u k 70