Mistral Pacifico Wave Reveiw.

I have just come in from a session with Sam from Wind Surf 'n' Snow testing the Mistral Pacifico Wave.

Conditions, Waist high with the occasional head high wave. Quite choppy, back wash, closing out a bit, but some wave were quite nice. Very hollow on the inside.

Board, Mistral Pacifico Wave. 11'1" x 29"

A nice cleanly finished board. Paddled really smoothly, the board has excellent glide, and seems to cut through the water with ease. Probably due to the amount of "V" in the bottom shaping. For a day that was quite hard to get out through the closing out waves, the Pacifico wave made easy work of it. Catching waves was very easy, it is fast to get to full speed, and is ultra smooth on the wave face.

The board felt a little stiff in the turning, and I felt I had to get right back to loosen it up, but I think the fin may be a bit responseable for this. I would like to try it again with a much more swept back fin. But we did manage to get some nice turns in, and the board held speed and remained stable. I would say that it likes fuller waves over hollow waves.

Deck grip was a lot more comfortable than I thought it was going to be, and suprisingly grippy. The intergrated handle in the mast track works well, and is well centered. And with the deck cover inserted, you can't even notice where it is.

I can imagine this board being very nice with a sail on it.

All up a very nice ride, smooth, easy and flowing. A great cruising board for mellow waves. This board is totally suitable for flat water paddling, and most surfing conditions.

Here are some pics of Sam making good use of some pretty poor conditions.

It is a little straight through the mid to nose section, and I found the rail would grab a little if I wasn't far enough back during turns, but I had no problems with nose diving. The is enough nose lift at the end to pull you up, but I wouldn't want to go in waves that were any hollower than today. I think the rocker and outline are very speed orientated, and will be perfectly suited to fuller and cruisier waves.

I think this will be great for travel long distances, both on waves and travel on the flat, it has such a nice smooth glide to it.

The nose doesn't have grip, so you would have to wax it for nose riding.

JB

SSAR,

The mistrals are definitely better for windsurfing, and the Naish are better for surfing. So you need to find out what is more important. Mistral is a little heavier than the Naish. Your best bet is to Demo both boards. Where about's are you located?

I prefer the Naish but I use it for surfing mainly.

JB