C O M PA R I S O N R E V I E W
UK waterman
package
Loco Amigo 9.5ft x 31” and Aztec 7.7ft x 28.5”
Prices:
Clearance 2016 from £699
Amigo 2017 from £949
Aztec £999/£1349
Info:
http://locosurfing.com/prod
uct/2017-loco-amigo-allround-sup-paddle-board/
http://locosurfing.com/prod
uct/2017-loco-aztec-shortsup-paddle-board/
We’ve been doing comparison tests between same branded kit for a while
now. It’s a way to test the contrasting differences or similarities between
kit and highlight who these toys are for. Sometimes we take almost
identical boards, with one dimensional difference, and pit them against
each other, while at other times we pair up two seemingly different pieces
of kit and highlight why they might be good for users looking at a
potential quiver. For this Loco comparison it’s very much the latter
category that the Amigo 9.5ft and Aztec 7.7ft falls into.
Amigo 9.5ft
however, and the Amigo
switches up a gear and
carves up and down,
bounces of the lip and
generally skirts
around ‘wave town’
with the best of
them.
Loco’s continued delivery of updated
liveries and enhanced performance
sleds for 2016 has been tangible this
season. Having updated the range, we’ve
been impressed with the North East SUP
company’s gear and the Amigo suitably
follows this trend.
Standing out with bold graphics on the
beach, the 9.5ft Amigo looks like a good
board for budding intermediate paddle
surfers while retaining a degree of all round
flat water paddling performance. Look
closer and the beady eyed will spot the
integrated mast track suitable for attaching
windy rigs.
Whether a budding
ripper or already
established
shredder, Loco’s
Amigo 9.5ft is
poised to serve
up fun wave
performance
that all the
family can
make use
of. And
then there’s
windSUP
mode…
Flip the Amigo over and gone are the low
quality plastic fins of old, replaced by a set
of high performance thrusters accented
with bold fluro green paint work. All in, the
Amigo appears to be a versatile machine
with plenty of crossover appeal for a variety
of watery tastes.
Paddling out, the Amigo is perfectly
composed. It’s rock solid in the stability
department and the full length deckpad is
both grippy and comfy underfoot. A
moderately rockered nose climbs over water
efficiently and if mellow surf sessions are
your thing then you’ve come to the right
place.
We know
Joey T (Loco
head honch)
uses the Amigo
for light wind wave sailing
and wit h rig connected it provides a
confidence building riding for anyone
thinking about the same type of
shenanigans.
Don’t be fooled, however, when we use the
word mellow… Picking up waves early, the
Amigo revs up to speed progressively and
can be ridden from up front, allowing wave
riders to get to grips with paddle surfing
technique. Place tootsies on the tail,
s
t
a
n
d
u
p
p
a
d
d
l
e
m
a
g
u
k
78