NAISH THORN
Mike Sagan, one of the most respected riders around SA, has given me the drum on the Naish Thorn, first chance I get I will be getting on this little machine, over to Mike...
"The thorn 07 is the latest board release from naish.last year,the thorns
Predecessor, the sol 06,proved to be a hot board, and delivered the goods as far as snowboard construction twin tips were concerned, unparralled pop, speed, grip, and control in all sea conditions. Now the thorn 07 takes this to a new level, the thorn 07 retains the same rail outline as the sol 06, which provides great carving ability when set on the rail. The composite i-beam stringers this year also provide a stiff centerline, but with the new graded flex patterns in the tips give superior control even over the sol 06.
The anti-splash tip outline works well,and provides sensational tail water release. The composite wood lay-up fells lively but silky smooth. This years fins are the same outline, but are lighter with a more refined foil. To top of such a well crafted board, naish has installed the new grav-d1 footstrap system. Standard footsraps when tightened only clamp down on the top of your foot,but when you chinch down the grav-d1 the strap wraps around your entire foot. This is set-up via a metal plate under the footbed, its a great step forward in comfort and feel, its also easy to install, and change if your friends want to take it for a ride. To finish off, a slider proof bottom with killer graphics...nuff said!
my first ride on the thorn was at moonta bay, yorke peninsula, SA, in flat water with a solid 40 knot sidshore. Just one of those spooky days where you watch young johhny get dragged 200 metres don the beach with his one square metre stuntkite that mum had just purchased from this years royal show. Well it was time to hit it, rigged up a naish raven 9m, fully wound up. Great heavyweights day, but nothing for the weakhearted. Worked my way upwind half a click north to the flats. The board had sick edge control, and went upwind like a steamtrain. The thorn 07 gives you the feeling of a stiff board, but with mindblowing flex and comfort.
The new footstrap system was sweet as, I never got flushed out of them, even in the most trying of conditions. To get big air you need maximum board speed and the thorn 07 delivers, with more top end than the sol 06, and with better tail release this just tranfered into mega airtime.
The new refined concave combined with a perfect rockerline gave me more forgiveness coming into hot landings out of 40 ft plus jumps. This board just takes high performance riding to a new level.
what a session!
the next day was a 20/30 knot southerly at low tide sultana point, just a more controlable freestyle day on a naish raven 12 metre,it was flat,but not as butter smooth as the previous session. Great test conditions. The best test for boards is to go on a beam reach flat out,fully lit! The thorn 07 never lost control, even in the most wild of chop,travelling at 25 knots plus.
Last weekend, I kited a 13/18 knot seabreeze with 16 metre naish raven,and even though I'm a 100 kg rider,my early planing ability was second to none, very impressive, especially in open water conditions.
If your looking for a first class ride, look no furter than the naish thorn 07', a great construction with top of the line fittings...the naish development team get an 'A+' for their homework!"
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