posts: 316373
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| 316373 | 16398 | CI log dropped. Looks great to me | 67 | fluidworks | Jun 10, 2024 | 2024-06-10T13:42:52-0400 | takedown said: I'm sold on this board. I've been in a constant pursuit of learning how to noseride and while I've had moments where I've put it all together, it's not been consistent until I got on to the CI Log. It could be the perfect timing of finally figuring it out and switching boards, or maybe it's the fact that I got the 10' so I'm getting on many more waves and it's more stable for my weight at that length, whatever it is I'm loving it. I've been a fan of Wayne Rich's shapes since I got on a CJ x Wayne Haven in thunderbolt. I remember meeting a guy at San O last year when the lower lot was closed and there were only a handful of people down there and he was on a Model D from Wayne, one of the prototypes for the CI Log and he couldn't stop raving about what it did for his surfing. How I came to getting this board was pretty wild. I've been on the search for a shape / shaper that will shape a blank, unglassed, and ship it off to Carbon Compact to be made into a two piece travel board. Several shapers I've asked said absolutely not, almost like they were insulted that I'd ask (too bad for them, it would have meant the sale of 2 boards). One requirement I had was that I needed to try the shape first and really make sure that I liked it before investing in the travel board. Marc Andreini has his boards converted to two piece and he's been really happy with Carbon, so I first reached out to him about having a board done. The problem is I have no way to try his shapes and I'm not willing to just cross my fingers because the cost at the end of the day is not low. Marc suggested I get a shape from Carbon, but again same problem with being unable to try out the shape. Flying to New York to give it a go, seemed like too much when I could find a shape here that I like. Fast forward to last month and I took a 2 week road trip to SoCal. I started out with a quick session at C St and in the middle of the session Devon paddled out. There were quite a few other guys in the water one of which I struck up a conversation with (who was catching a lot of waves, getting to the nose, etc) and I asked him what he was riding and he said Devon sold him a CI. We talked a bit more about the board and he said it was one of the best he's ridden and was having a great time on it. I could tell he was more experienced then I was, so I was cautious about whether it'd work for me. The conditions were not great that day, but Devon was still doing what he does and the board seemed fine in messy wind swell. I paddled up to him and asked if he was on the CI log and he said yes. I then asked him if he had heard of Carbon and explained that Marc thought they were great, to which he responded that must mean something because Marc wouldn't just say that unless he meant it. I then asked Devon if he would be willing to shape me a CI log, unglassed and ship it off and he paused for a moment and said sure, why not. I was so excited! He then said, but you need to demo the board and make sure you actually like it. He said to message him the next day and he'd arrange a demo. So the next day we met up at Channel Islands in Carpenteria, there was a brand new 10' log in the lobby and he brought it out to my car. He also said I could pick up the CI fin from his house on the way out of town if I wanted to test the fin too. He had no problem with me taking the board for a week down to SanO to really figure out if I liked it. The first session on it in glassy early morning conditions was like a light bulb going off, I all of a sudden was able to do the things I had been trying so many times on other boards and it just worked. Early take offs, faded takeoffs to the nose, late drops, floaters, nose rides, it was all there. The one thing I quickly figured out, and lined up with interviews I had listened to, was that I had to be in the pocket to get the nose ride. There was no cheating things out on the shoulder. I don't know if it's because the nose is so foiled, or what, but if you try on the shoulder (at least at my weight), it will nose dive. That's actually been a good thing for me, as it's forcing me to think about positioning and make the steps in the critical section which has helped me get past the mind block of thinking the board won't hold me. I had one wave mid week at the point, shoulder to head where I got in early, pivoted, and the face stood up really fast and I was able to get to the nose and when I looked down it looked like a mile to the base of the wave (it probably was only 3ft), but wow was that cool to feel and see. Throughout the week I was chatting with Devon, letting him know how it was going, and he was giving pointers on fin position and how to improve on the board. Later in the week he reached out and said it sounded like I really was enjoying the board and if I liked it he'd sell it at a discount with the fin to which I immediately responded, SOLD! The following Monday he sent an invoice and the board was headed back with me to Oregon. I've had it out now in a large range of conditions and was really happy that it's working so well in our messy beach breaks, as well as in the glassy evening conditions with the off shores blowing. This past weekend I had two extended sessions where everything really started to click and I can't stop thinking about how this chance encounter at C St turned into me finding a board that I can progress on as well as an option for a two piece travel board. The next step is to get some of my friends on it that are better longboarders then I am and get their feedback. They have been searching for their next board and it'll be interesting to hear if they connect with it as well as I have. Click to expand... Very nice post. I definitely poo pooed the CI log initially, but having heard so many good things I need to try one for myself. I messaged Devon and said he could stop by the factory and borrow one of the 9'9s to demo. |