SUP Mag UK lo-res free to readers July 2014 lo-res - free to read | Page 86
Floating on air –
BIC 10ft Air
g
k ie t a r
s h e d : i n f l a t a b l e s
www.bicsup.com
Not the most rigid of sticks (there is
some ‘play’ as you paddle along – to
be expected) the BIC nevertheless
glides well on the flat, picks up
windy bumps with ease and is
surprisingly agile on a wave.
BIC have been floating around SUP for a while. In that
short time they’ve been responsible for a plethora
of affordable performance gear aimed at all
comers. The iconic BIC branding doesn’t just
adorn disposable razor packs and throwaway
pens! The company produces a line of
performance stand up paddle boarding kit –
sported by the UK’s very own Pete Holliday,
who uses BIC sleds to devastating effect.
Contact:
[email protected]
Price: £799
During a recent sojourn to the
Caribbean I got their 10ft Air
iSUP to try out. The Air is touted
as being an all round stick you
can take and store anywhere. Most
will be aware of the easy to
transport properties of inflatables
and the BIC is no different. The brand,
however, has thought things through and
also provides a svelte and lightweight pump
and removable central fin. Rolling up into a tight
package the 10ft Air and associated paraphernalia
stow away neatly and securely.
The only fly in the ointment was the bag, which,
although robust, has mesh panelling that gives
visibility inside. Paranoid travellers may not be
comfortable with this. Not being able to secure the
bag meant valuables had to be stored elsewhere.
During the trip the BIC Air 10ft was thrown at a
variety of different conditions – from shallow live
coral reef breaks to full power downwind conditions
and general touring scenarios. In all instances the
board performed well – durability and versatility
shining through.
Larger riders may find the next
size up more stable while
lightweights will be fine with the
10ft. The ride from the deck is
quite high relative to the Air’s
narrow width, making for a wobbly
experience in some conditions – side
chop in particular. Blowing up the BIC was
super easy – much less work than with
some. Moulded side bite fins help with
tracking along the flat but do little with
providing grip during wave sliding antics.
The central fin provided is fine for
downwind and coastal touring but
swapping to something smaller allowed for
better surf performance. A US box fitting
allows different skegs to be used although it’s a
slight faff having to use an Allen key to tighten and
release the fin (although screws are no better and can
also easily be lost). Bungee cord is located on the
nose for storage, although I wouldn’t have wante B