Getting Out on the Water Again
So, I finally got around to trying out that Phase 5 board I picked up. Been sitting in the garage for a bit, just looking at it. Weather was good, water wasn’t too choppy, seemed like the right time to give it a proper go.
Dragged the boat out, got everything set up. First thing I noticed when I grabbed the board was how it felt under my arm. Different balance, maybe lighter? Hard to say exactly, but definitely not like my old trusty ride. Chucked it in the water, got my vest on, and hopped in.
First Impressions and Finding the Groove
Getting up was pretty standard, no real surprises there. But once I tossed the rope and was actually on the wave, man, it was a different story. This thing felt loose. Like, really responsive. My first few attempts at just cruising felt wobbly. It reacted to every tiny shift in weight.
Took me a good few tries, and a couple of unscheduled swims, to start getting the hang of it. You really gotta be delicate with your feet, think ahead about where you want to go. My old board was more forgiving, kinda plowed through stuff. This one dances more, if that makes sense.
- Tried some basic turns.
- Focused on keeping my weight centered.
- Played with pumping to stay in the pocket.
There was this one moment I tried a bottom turn, felt like I put too much weight on the edge, totally expected to eat it. But the board just snapped around, super quick. Surprised me, honestly. Felt pretty good once I realized I hadn’t wiped out.
Thoughts After the Session
Spent maybe an hour or so out there just working with it. It definitely demands more attention. You can’t just stand there and chill. You gotta be active, constantly making small adjustments. It’s less stable, for sure, but way more agile. It’s not a lazy ride.
I reckon it forces you to be a better rider, maybe? Makes you clean up your technique because it doesn’t let you get away with sloppy moves. It’s kinda like when you switch tools for a job – the new one might feel awkward or too sensitive at first. You might even mess up more initially. But once you dial it in, you find you can do things much faster or with more precision than the old clunker allowed.
By the end, I felt like I was starting to get it. Could link turns better, felt less like I was fighting the board and more like we were working together. Still got a long way to go to really push it, but it felt like progress. Definitely gonna keep riding this one, see what it’s really capable of once I get fully used to its personality. It’s a challenge, but the fun kind.