Custom/Hybrid SUPERFREAK talk

[Billybo455]

haha, i'll have a surf ski by the end of the year. i'm just happy if i can get away from yamaha. got to be different!

 

[JetManiac]

First off Tem is a great guy and I wish I could have spent more time talking with him. My review of riding skis that are not set up any where close to how I would set mine up, riding in really bad conditions, and with lots of back pain should not really be taken to hear by anyone.

One of the most critical things for me to be comfortable on a ski is a decent length handle pole...in Daytona my back was wrecked by Sunday and short poles really are the worst for me. A short pole does two things, it keeps you constantly bent forward which makes my back tight and prevents me from moving how I would like, but more important for a short guy like me it prevents me from being able to transition my weight rearward which is a super important part of making a boat turn correctly.

I can't say that I could give you a really fair assessment of either of the two demo boats (red or black) that were there. I rode both of them pretty poorly and was in a ton of pain. But I will do my best to give a good honest review of the limited experience I had with them, and I did get some insight in to their capabilities. I did have the chance to spend a little more time on Corey's boat which was an older stock length version, so I will end with that one.

Red: I can't really speak to the handling of this boat because the pole was super short and I just basically fell down a lot when I tried to turn it or roll it. The ski did not ride nose high at all but was probably the easiest ski to flip that I have ever ridden. And it was stable. I would love to have the chance to ride that boat with about 6 inches added to the pole. The other thing that was difficult for me was the foot hold placement was like 4 inches forward from the rear of the ski. Which made things feel a little awkward especially trying to roll the boat. Easy fix for me would be to run a strap in the rear. I would really love to have a chance to ride this hull with those two issues sorted out! I think it has a ton of potential, especially as a small wave ski.

Black: This ski was about 400% more comfortable for me because of the longer pole, a little longer would still have been better as far as the pole goes. But the hull felt great. I still had issues trying to roll the ski, and I think that is a combo of footholds and pole but has nothing to do with the hull itself. The boat turns quite well as far as I could tell and even with my inability to get my weight back there was never any time where I felt like it was going to pearl. And the hull was quite stable and pretty easy to recover on. When you consider that the hull was only 56 lbs, it really is amazing how well this hull worked. Again, flipping the hull is ridiculously easy. I don't remember what motor they were running 7xx but it felt like good running 1000. I'm certainly a fan of this package and if I lived in Florida I would really consider buying this hull. And if I had to compete in conditions like we had in Daytona I think this would have been at the top of my list, (provided I had time to get used to it and set it up to suit me.)

Corey's Red/Orange older version hull.
My favorite boat of the weekend. Foot holds were too big to lock in to, but when the ski handled as well as it did, who cares. Stock length hull with footholds all the way back, comfortable pole length, super fun to ride. The motor in that ski was an old tired 61x with a b-pipe, and if I had not ridden the other two Superfreak hulls I would have told you this was the easiest boat to flip I rode there. I rode the ski for 10 or so minutes, super happy that I had finally found something that would turn and not destroy my back. (The Rickter I was riding was pretty great, but was a little limited with the steering setup on it.) I've ridden lots of skis and can usually get a pretty good idea of how a boat will flip by riding it around, but I way misjudged this thing. This is was the first time I have ever been really surprised by how unexpectedly quickly the boat comes around...and I think that is the best part of this hull. It is really stable handles well, and flips incredibly easily.

All this being said, I can't really tell you how the skis handle in the surf...I still don't really know. I would love to ride one of these boats in a heavier fiberglass version, probably stock length but maybe with a rocker profile like the red hull in some clean sizable surf. I'd also like to try a set of tubbies on them...the tubbies give you a pivot point close to the front of the ski that is just can not be duplicated with rocker profile.

Overall, I love Tem and his approach and I hope this is just the beginning for him. For quality of construction/price I think he can seems to be the top guy at this point.

Ross, your reviews are always insightful and well written.

Thank you for your riding impressions. It is great to hear some impressions from one of freerides greatest surf riders with west coast style and east coast hometown roots.

BTW the motors in the demo freaks are JetManiac/Blue 710(red freak) and JetManiac/Blue Big Bore 760(black freak) with stock electrics including CDIs.

 

[Lucaumpits]

Yes I know the pole was really short on the red ski, but the black one I would add another 2 in to it and would be fine for me , but i had a hell of great time, especially trying my new motor Jetmaniac BB760, holly guacamole that engine run strong, I only had a stock flywheel and stock cdi in it, and the better part some cheap @ss stock 38 carbs, and the pump had a 14/19 with 2 washers in it, and seen had no problem pushing it, I cant wait to put a 13/18 on it and a Epic and a better flywheel, them that thing will really hit,

I just order a fiber glass version stock length of a superfreak, and I cannot wait to put it together, Thanks Tem for a such a great hull Jetmaniac for a great motor!!

braaaap

 

[tipafew]

If you guys don't make it to Pismo in March you should try to go in October for sure. I am hoping to be out there again the week after the world finals.

 

[superwetbrett]

Guess I need to order a fiberglass hull to keep up with the fla boys

 

[McDog]

I'm debating a fiberglass for Brande. It would make a perfect surf hull too since mine will be set up for flatwater with too much motor for my pitiful surf skills.

 

[Buckwild12]

I wish I could be a baller like you guys with 2 freaks, I'll just have to count my blessings and enjoy my 1 little lonely ski. I wish I could get my girl to enjoy goin out on a ski, she just wants to lay out on the boat and listen to music.

 

[McDog]

Superfreak t-shirt plus graphics from my inversion table. Looks pretty cool to me. Just sayin'.

 

[superwetbrett]

nice dog

 

[Waternut]

I wish I could be a baller like you guys with 2 freaks, I'll just have to count my blessings and enjoy my 1 little lonely ski. I wish I could get my girl to enjoy goin out on a ski, she just wants to lay out on the boat and listen to music.

No kidding on both counts... I can't even find single girls around here that are interested in doing anything besides sit in the boat (in full clothes) and listen to music.

 

[Aircraftsalz]

After a full day of surf riding the Superfreak Sunday this hull really fits me perfect.... Yesterday was not perfect surf, but at least it had size... The hull performed well riding head high surf faces, I dropped into a few big waves, gotta love that Rocker... I think Bill & Blake got some pics, maybe Nancy will post a video. Lots of re entry stuff, nose stabs, few BF's. This hull surfs the wave face so good. I put time on both the Std length & -2 hull. I enjoy both hulls so I'm going with a -1 for my Superfreak surf hull. Another great part of riding this hull is how soft it lands, even when you come off a big jump it just lands so soft. I think these hulls will be even better once we get some longer poles. I think for Surf a Std length pole would be perfect, right now the Blk Surf Freak has a XM adjustable pole all the way out so thats -2 (I think), its close but 2 more inches would be perfect imo.

I never thought I would ride a better hull in the surf than a Rickter, but I was mistaken...

 

[tipafew]

Great review Josh......Makes me feel great about my surf build....Tem said he had a -1.25" plug for his mold and that seemed perfect to me. I also ordered a custom X metal pole that adjusts from +1 to -2 so it sounds like that might have been the right call as well!
I wish I had the hull.....instead I am just lining parts up on my work bench. Winter sucks.

 

[Matt_E]

I wish I had the hull.....instead I am just lining parts up on my work bench.

Haha, same here. :bigok:

I put my motor back together over the past couple of weeks. Put my pump together a month ago.
Picked out paint and a paint scheme.
Twiddling my thumbs til the hull gets here I guess.

 

[Aircraftsalz]

Great review Josh......Makes me feel great about my surf build....Tem said he had a -1.25" plug for his mold and that seemed perfect to me. I also ordered a custom X metal pole that adjusts from +1 to -2 so it sounds like that might have been the right call as well!
I wish I had the hull.....instead I am just lining parts up on my work bench. Winter sucks.

Thats really cool about the custom XM pole... That might be the way I go, I like the Carbon pole but you can't adjust it. Its always nice to have that extra to play with. Your going to love your hull, & that length is perfect...

TEM GET TO WORK! J/K

can't wait to ride with ya, I know we got plans for Wave Daze, Surf slam has been on the list, Pismo Oct ride for the FL freak crew ... So will see what happens

 

[Matt_E]

Plan for Surf Slam, guys.

 

[Buckwild12]

I'll be at Wavedaze, I'm hoping the freak will be done by then, it should be! I have nearly every part here, just waiting on the most important part. I think I am going -1.25 also.

 

[tipafew]

I'll be at Wavedaze, I'm hoping the freak will be done by then, it should be! I have nearly every part here, just waiting on the most important part. I think I am going -1.25 also.

I know you were going to go -4.3 for a mainly flat water hull. Don't let all these surf riding reports scare you into going too long for your needs. I ride about 80 - 90% surf so I am gearing my build that direction. I think you are kind of the opposite from what I remember. I would be going AT LEAST -2 if I was a flat water guy.

 

[Buckwild12]

I just dont want to pick the wrong one and be wanting something else, maybe i'll do -2 and just live with the consequences.

 

[tipafew]

Can't go too far wrong with -2

 

[Aircraftsalz]

I'm telling you the -4.3 ski rides great, I would build a -4.3 if we only had 2ft surf... But there's days when we get clean 4ft-6ft surf, plus our summer storms can bring us 8-10ft surf which the longer hull will be better...

My -4.3 rode fine in that crap Daytona surf we got this year, its really not going to hurt you... When Chad rode Lucas's ski that setup is pure FW, but if you run a 62t or 61x reduction with a front mount battery it rides the same as the full length hull.

I think you would love the -4.3 if you ride FW 90% of the time, I can ride mine WFO so boat chasing isn't a problem lol