Have had the 9.0 loose leaf in two sessions , small 2 foot clean waves and 4 foot with little chop.
wow so so fast, turns so easy, really easy to catch waves with the concave in the nose.
when the conditions got a bit bumpy stability was a fair bit harder, but by no means impossible.
glides on to the waves with ease, lay the rail on edge no worries at all, just flies down the line.
hopefully get a few more waves to relly get the hang of this amazing board.
I had a fun little session on the 9'6 this morning. Gutless bumpy surf, but this board tuned it into a really fun session.
What impressed me most was that the glide and drive you get from the hull design. It was always a feature of all Blane's hulls and this has the same slippery, fast feel. If you miss a wave it is only because you have caught way too many. It spins on a dime and picks up anything in a couple of strokes.
As mentioned these boards are not the lightest when you pick them up, but on a wave the extra speed generated by the hull design drives it from one section to the next effortlessly. The extra speed generated allows for powerful turns that are very easy to link due to the glide of the board. It never felt heavy on the wave and I can see why Tom prefers a bit more weight for drive and stability with this design.
I really enjoyed this board and when I go away later next month and can only take 3 boards (including my down winder) this will def be one of them.
I reckon it will also double as a great gun for when it gets bigger. Stay tuned on that one.
Have any of the people demo'ing the new TC boards ever ridden a Naish Mana? and are able to make a comparison? I have had the Mana out for a demo and so far I don't rate it as much as I thought I would. So if any are able to make that comparison I would appreciate it. No one down here on the GC has any TC demo's available yet.
TC 9'6 demo report. Design and construction is top quality. It's fast. But it is too bloody heavy! When you pick it up you feel the weight. When you ride it you feel the weight. I like to throw a board around on wave regardless of its length but this was a real chore on the TC. I was really excited to try out TC,s new board as he was the reason I started SUPing when I saw him out on one about 6 years ago. But I was really disappointed with this board. I jumped on my old Laird 10'6 straight after and it felt lighter and more responsive. The next day I took out my old Lopez 8'11 and it totally blows the TC out of the water. Sorry Tom I had my $2100 ready to drop on a new board but it won't be on a TC until the weight comes down.
TC 9'6 demo report. Design and construction is top quality. It's fast. But it is too bloody heavy! When you pick it up you feel the weight. When you ride it you feel the weight. I like to throw a board around on wave regardless of its length but this was a real chore on the TC. I was really excited to try out TC,s new board as he was the reason I started SUPing when I saw him out on one about 6 years ago. But I was really disappointed with this board. I jumped on my old Laird 10'6 straight after and it felt lighter and more responsive. The next day I took out my old Lopez 8'11 and it totally blows the TC out of the water. Sorry Tom I had my $2100 ready to drop on a new board but it won't be on a TC until the weight comes down.
Each to his own but sometimes I think if you can't say anything good don't say anything at all (like my mum always said)..
I'm thinking if this board was a featherweight it would not perform the way TC designed it to.. Most long boarders will tell you how some weight can actually be an advantage and most people would rather durability rather than light and fragile.. IMO this is a board's for crusing big long board style turns.. like Tom is doing in his vids.. It's just a smaller version of the longer models.. If you want to throw the board around maybe your old 8'11" Lopez is the better board board for you.. because IMO it's like comparing apples with oranges..
It's my review take it or leave it. I love riding apples and oranges in fact my quiver is a fruit salad all different shapes and sizes. They all have their plus and minus. However this review is the TC 9'6 and its big minus is its weight. I will bet you Tom,s board that he rides is not as heavy as what is being put in the shops.
What weight are they and what makes them so heavy? They are so thinned out that you would expect them to be pretty average in weight. People tend not to go for heavy...if they actually are heavy.
how heavy is too heavy ? just checked the weights compared to the DC NSP boards ,the TC boards come in 4 - 700 grams heavier .
eg TC 8 ft - 7.9 kg / DC 8 2 -7.5 kg . TC 8 8 - 9.1 kg /DC 8 6 -8.7 kg , TC 9 ft -9.8 kg / DC 8 11 - 9.14 kg .
different boards for different people but I find the DC 8 11 easily light enough to throw around , and I still enjoy my old PSH 9 1 which is heavy ( not sure how heavy ) .
does 700 grams make that big a difference to the performance of a board ?
It's my review take it or leave it. I love riding apples and oranges in fact my quiver is a fruit salad all different shapes and sizes. They all have their plus and minus. However this review is the TC 9'6 and its big minus is its weight. I will bet you Tom,s board that he rides is not as heavy as what is being put in the shops.
Not true actually - Tom rides the production boards - he got #1 and 2.
If your ripping on an 8'11 the only true comparison is the 8'8 that is coming later this year or the 9'
8'8'' x 29'' x4 1/4'' 111 ltr FCSII TC Premium Quad80kg / 176lb
9'0'' x 29'' x4 5/16''120 ltr FCSII TC Premium Quad80kg / 176lb +
I understand the obsession with weight, but these boards are a different beast and you need to ride the size most suited to your body weight to truly compare.
I am 92kg and I love the 9'6. If you are under 90kg the 9'6 will feel heavy on a wave. It flew down the line for me.
Tom will be coming by in the new year and you will be able to hear from the man himself why he prefers his boards a bit heavier.
IMHO, I find they always gain a kilo more or so after they have come in from the water. Grip always absorbs water to some degree, take the grip off and Im sure you would lose some board weight. Might kill ya feet, but "demz da breakz"
Don't get me wrong I am not bagging TC,s board it is a quality product and nice to ride and I am not obsessed with weight unless it is a factor of performance and what I like to be able to do on a board. In this case the 9'6, I think the name "loose leaf" is miss placed on this board. I cant waiting for a crack at the 8'8. No money will be changing hands till I have had a ride on it. I am looking at a replacement for my Lopez 8'11 but so far nothing puts a smile on my face like it does...yet. I have an 8'0 , 8'6 , 10'6 , 12'6 all fun in their own way but the 8'11 is right on the sweet spot for speed and response and long enough to paddle away from the masses. I have my fingers Xed TC,s 8'8 is the one.
TC 9'6 demo report. Design and construction is top quality. It's fast. But it is too bloody heavy! When you pick it up you feel the weight. When you ride it you feel the weight. I like to throw a board around on wave regardless of its length but this was a real chore on the TC. I was really excited to try out TC,s new board as he was the reason I started SUPing when I saw him out on one about 6 years ago. But I was really disappointed with this board. I jumped on my old Laird 10'6 straight after and it felt lighter and more responsive. The next day I took out my old Lopez 8'11 and it totally blows the TC out of the water. Sorry Tom I had my $2100 ready to drop on a new board but it won't be on a TC until the weight comes down.
I have to agree with Opinionator great looking board & Iwas almost ready to part with the hard earned until I picked the board up , for a 9'6" performance board IMO it is just too heavy, too much swing weight. I did take it for a spin in some crappy waves , pretty choppy & onshore, paddling out was OK but standing around out the back was pretty hard work but after a couple of half decent waves you can tell that this board wants to get up & go but for me the weight factor is a killer. I weigh 90kg & have been surfing for over 40 years ,SUP surfing for the past 6 years and although I am not a slash & burn type surfer it is nice to have a board that you can throw around a bit if you you get the urge that 's probably why all my other boards are carbon - for me lighter is better
Don't get me wrong I am not bagging TC,s board it is a quality product and nice to ride and I am not obsessed with weight unless it is a factor of performance and what I like to be able to do on a board. In this case the 9'6, I think the name "loose leaf" is miss placed on this board. I cant waiting for a crack at the 8'8. No money will be changing hands till I have had a ride on it. I am looking at a replacement for my Lopez 8'11 but so far nothing puts a smile on my face like it does...yet. I have an 8'0 , 8'6 , 10'6 , 12'6 all fun in their own way but the 8'11 is right on the sweet spot for speed and response and long enough to paddle away from the masses. I have my fingers Xed TC,s 8'8 is the one.
Mate, I think you should turn your paddle over & stop using it as a shovel.
You've obviously just chosen the wrong board. How you'd expect a 9'6" of any brand to outperform an 8'0 or 8'6" is a bit like using a shovel for a paddle instead of digging holes.
TC has been a soul surfer for quite some time now. He's developed a board to suit his ambitions. I think he's on the money & I'd like to experience that ride - not bag the crap out of one of our legend's ideas. & by the way, I reckon' he'd have buckets more feedback ability than any of us....
Rgd's, G...
Weight is not a bad thing. As I mentioned in an earlier post I was surprised at the weight of the TC boards as they look light. I think the feedback so far is mostly positive and I still can't wait to ride one..for me it is another sup to add to my quiver for waves up to 2ft. TC is a surfgod/living treasure and as has been said he is a bit of a soul surfer and has made these boards to his satisfaction, I guess that won't suit all styles, so if it not quite the board for you then don't buy one. So looking forward to riding one in the near future.
I agree with each others about board's weight
Yours feelings can be influenced by the kind of mellow small waves you like to ride with this TC board on your favorite spot even if you choose off this board from your quiver to surf that day
i have had the 9.0 for a few weeks now, and absolutely love the thing !!!!!
For me it is a bit heavier to carry than a lot of similar carbon style boards, but in the surf it rips, you dont feel the weight at all.
how heavy is too heavy for you ????
I am 55 years old supping for three years, surfed since i was 8.
weigh 85 kgs and 6 foot, for me this is the best performance sup i have ridden. [note i said for me ]
also ride the new 9.6 laird and love this board too, but they are such different beasts.
cheers this is just my take on TC loose leaf, 9.0
Keep your bagging of people's opinions to yourself "mate" what's with the "shovel comment??
Your comprehension is poor. My review on the board does not bag TC,s design nor does it make a comparison to an 8'0 or an 8'6. I am a paying customer and I am entitled to an opinion if TC or any other surf legend want me to pay over $2k for a board it needs to tick all my boxes.
So once more for the dummy's. In my opinion the weight of the 9'6 was a factor to me and therefore my purchase decision on this particular board.
I look forward to a demo of TC,s shorter boards with a bit less weight.
Keep your bagging of people's opinions to yourself "mate" what's with the "shovel comment??
Your comprehension is poor. My review on the board does not bag TC,s design nor does it make a comparison to an 8'0 or an 8'6. I am a paying customer and I am entitled to an opinion if TC or any other surf legend want me to pay over $2k for a board it needs to tick all my boxes.
So once more for the dummy's. In my opinion the weight of the 9'6 was a factor to me and therefore my purchase decision on this particular board.
I look forward to a demo of TC,s shorter boards with a bit less weight.
Just out of interest......why do you want to move on from your 8 11 if you like it so much? Fancy a change? I only ask as it is so difficult to find a board that is bang on and this one seems to work well for you.
Keep your bagging of people's opinions to yourself "mate" what's with the "shovel comment??
Your comprehension is poor. My review on the board does not bag TC,s design nor does it make a comparison to an 8'0 or an 8'6. I am a paying customer and I am entitled to an opinion if TC or any other surf legend want me to pay over $2k for a board it needs to tick all my boxes.
So once more for the dummy's. In my opinion the weight of the 9'6 was a factor to me and therefore my purchase decision on this particular board.
I look forward to a demo of TC,s shorter boards with a bit less weight.
surfgrub said..
Don't get me wrong I am not bagging TC,s board it is a quality product and nice to ride and I am not obsessed with weight unless it is a factor of performance and what I like to be able to do on a board. In this case the 9'6, I think the name "loose leaf" is miss placed on this board. I cant waiting for a crack at the 8'8. No money will be changing hands till I have had a ride on it. I am looking at a replacement for my Lopez 8'11 but so far nothing puts a smile on my face like it does...yet. I have an 8'0 , 8'6 , 10'6 , 12'6 all fun in their own way but the 8'11 is right on the sweet spot for speed and response and long enough to paddle away from the masses. I have my fingers Xed TC,s 8'8 is the one.
Mate, I think you should turn your paddle over & stop using it as a shovel.
You've obviously just chosen the wrong board. How you'd expect a 9'6" of any brand to outperform an 8'0 or 8'6" is a bit like using a shovel for a paddle instead of digging holes.
TC has been a soul surfer for quite some time now. He's developed a board to suit his ambitions. I think he's on the money & I'd like to experience that ride - not bag the crap out of one of our legend's ideas. & by the way, I reckon' he'd have buckets more feedback ability than any of us....
Rgd's, G...
What's the point of a forum if you can't say what you like and what you don't like? If everyone praised every board what would you learn? Opinionator wasn't being disrespectful (IMO), he was just giving his opinion. And this is the forum for grammar lessons: www.englishforums.com/English/GeneralEnglishGrammarQuestions/Forum12.htm
Keep your bagging of people's opinions to yourself "mate" what's with the "shovel comment??
Your comprehension is poor. My review on the board does not bag TC,s design nor does it make a comparison to an 8'0 or an 8'6. I am a paying customer and I am entitled to an opinion if TC or any other surf legend want me to pay over $2k for a board it needs to tick all my boxes.
So once more for the dummy's. In my opinion the weight of the 9'6 was a factor to me and therefore my purchase decision on this particular board.
I look forward to a demo of TC,s shorter boards with a bit less weight.
Yep.. at 2k you got every right O.
I got nothing much to say about TCs boards... from what I can see, they are not exactly grabbing my attention much as far as a future purchase. I would love to have a demo of a few for sure, but until then... Im not particularly motivated either way. HOWEVER, I do seem to think that many are gravitating towards them because of the TC name. The skeptic in me says that he is jumping on the SUP band wagon, like anyone else with his credentials would. But to me, it would not matter if it was Tom Carrol or Johnny Gerhkin's name on the board - really not a good way of making a purchase decision. But unless you got money to burn - then we are all entitled to be as picky and critical as we want when critiquing a new board or range of boards. After all, even if you only buy one new board a year..... the process of choosing through forums and reading reviews, demos and talking to industry reps - is often a satisfying experience - especially when you get that new board out there on a supreme day... and you just cannot stop grinning. Part of that satisfaction comes from the time and discernment you applied to selecting that board, and the journey towards that purchase. So.. in the end... we got our own opinions on specs and credentials of boards. Listening with due consideration will benefit you greatly, but aggressive retort and bull-headed argument will not.
From what I know TC has been SUPing for a good while now so hardly jumping on a bandwagon. Why shouldn't he design a bunch of boards that he likes to ride.....and make dome money too...I think he knows a thing or two about surfing Which more than many others making utter crap.
Out my price range though.
<div data-reactid=".f.0.1.0.1.0.0.1.0.0.0.0.1.2:0">4 days ago
A simple effortless glide is what I look for, with a nose entry designed to respond positively under foot and a fraction extra weight than ultra ultra light (against the grain in SUP market demands)...we can wander the deck with relative ease and maintain momentum | Tom Carroll Paddle Surf 10'4" 144L@gsi_surf @fcs_surf @quiksilver @blanechambershelp keep me above water ?? thank you!!
The above is how TC describes his boards on his Instagram feed.
From what I know TC has been SUPing for a good while now so hardly jumping on a bandwagon. Why shouldn't he design a bunch of boards that he likes to ride.....and make dome money too...I think he knows a thing or two about surfing Which more than many others making utter crap.
Out my price range though.
Tom has been riding SUP's longer than most people on this forum. I saw him surfing a SUP on the ABC 7.30 report back in 2006 and that is what got me keen to try it.
I got hooked and was keen to get Tom onto Blane's boards. We introduced him to Blane Chambers of Paddlesurf Hawaii back in 2008 and he became a big fan of his boards. He and Blane began working on this range in about 2009.
I have seen plenty of big names jump on the SUP band wagon and try to rush designs to the market.
Tom is not one of them.
I think that little extra weight does not stop you from doing anything on the wave plus it can also add to glide BUT it does have a shop appeal thing like graphics and gloss finish , if it looks good and feels good when you pick it up it's good. The original PSH's were never light and no one complained it's just there are some ultra lights out there now and now we think all Sups need to be light to work. Maybe on the really small boards but boards 9-0 and over it's not an issue.
The new Imagine Sups aren't super light either and when I asked Dave Kalama are you going to do a carbon version to make them lighter he said " Why the weights fine" The new TC's aren't poo shooters they are meant to be surfed on the rail , get these boards to rail and they will excel and weight has nothing to do with that. It's still a personal preference always try before you buy but don't hop in the water thinking to yourself it's heavy it won't work. As AA said above these boards have been on the chopping block for a few years alot has gone into them.TC worked with Blane Chambers (PSH) on the original Hull Rippers , so don't think for second he has just jumped on the band wagon.
Personally I really like the change in board designs now from a few manufacturers getting back to more traditional but progressive designs and not sub 8ft boards.
we think all Sups need to be light to work. Maybe on the really small boards but boards 9-0 and over it's not an issue.
Even on very small boards, weight adds more drive tough the turns. Extremely light boards will stop dead in their tracks in case of rider mistakes... or chop.
Cannot find the reference, but I read once that some ultra light shortboards were tried (Salomon? Aviso?) and found unriddable.
Whatever the board length, light is great for aerials and other acrobatics, and very tight turns (whipping back the board at the end of tight cutbacks), even for longboard shapes if you envision a "performance longboard" style, but for less extreme use, some weight makes for a more pleasant ride.
In my favorite 6'8" / 6'10" range, my boards are 7.5kg with pad and fins and I find them OK. 6.5kg is nicer for tight turns, and I had a 9.5kg once that liked a lot: was great for open face carving turns but harder to control in the pocket.