Catch surf y-quad

Nic · Since 21 Jul 2008 109 Posts Bend, Oregon Stoked

So has anyone got one of these suckers? I'm thinking about getting one and was wondering if any of the local shops carried them for a demo. Anybody have an opinion on one?

tonyb · Wed Apr 22, 09 8:56 am

I've got one. Fun board, goes upwind well, super durable, good for smaller, mushy surf and lighter days. Rides a little slower than a regular surf board so it's great for figuring out how to ride strapless. It's also a little wider than a regular board so jibes are easy and pretty forgiving. It goes up and over the white water surprisingly well and if you stand on the tail it snaps a turn pretty quick.

It doesn't ride fast like a Surftech, Firewire, or SST type of board but it's fun. I posted some pics on here a month or two back. Do a search for Y-Quad or on my name and you'll find it. We'll be back in Stevenson with it around June 1st and you could demo mine then if you don't find one before that.

Scott Norby has one and says he uses it for paddle surfing as well as kiting.

Tony

Nic · Since 21 Jul 2008 109 Posts Bend, Oregon Stoked

Sweet deal, I'll check it out at Steve in the next few months. You ride it at all on some of the small summer surf? (No kite)

tonyb · Wed Apr 22, 09 9:22 am

I've tried it a couple of times without the kite down here in SPI but with my lousy surf skills and the short wave period here I haven't been able to do much.

scottnorby · Wed Apr 22, 09 11:04 am

I have a 6'6 Y quad and I surf it all the time.

If you are just going to kite with it get the smallest version.
If you are going to surf with it then go for the 6'6.

I have not found that the board is slower at all----In fact it surfs a LOT faster than a normal 6'6 surfboard ----paddle surfing.

It is faster when riding down the line on the wave without power in the kite because it is very flat and surprisingly buoyant.

Tony is probably referring to it being slower riding it on a rail------- it is wider and tends to push more water----hence it feels slower when on a rail going up wind.
But Tony is right it goes upwind amazingly well.

They are sweet.
I am stoked on mine.

tonyb · Wed Apr 22, 09 8:00 pm

I went out and rode the Y-Quad on a 12 mile down winder this afternoon in small 1' to 4' waves on my 8m and did a lot better. Scott is right - it is faster when ridden flat. It goes upwind really well when you put it on the rail but then flatten it out on the wave and it shoots down the line. I also played around with my stance and as I got farther back on the board it picked up speed. I think I was riding it too far forward with a lot of board in the water. I REALLY like how easy it is to jibe the board. I think I only missed 4 times today!

It is a lot more fun to take it out when the wind is blowing than to try it when I can barely get my 14m in the air. I had been reserving it for the light wind days but it looks like I need to get it out more when things are cranking.

I don't want to call it a beginner board because guys like Scott can rip on it but it sure makes learning to ride strapless and jibe a lot easier. It also encourages a much more surf in / kite out style of riding as it is very easy to stay on the wave with little to no pull from the kite then hook it up to get back outside.

Tony