Pyzel Phantom for small but good-shape beachies?

Pops started the topic in Friday, 13 Dec 2019 at 12:34 pm

I'm looking for a new board to fill a pretty important gap in my quiver. I've got boards for good waves (head to double-over), pushing-my-mediocre-limits waves (double-overhead plus), and gutless slop - but I don't have a board that excels in those good-but-small (waist to head) days. My groveller tends to be a bit slippy, having a very wide tail, and my good-wave board is a bit on the long side. I'm also keen to try a new shaper - I've surfed mostly chillis over the past 10-15 years, also some arakawas, insights, an Annesley and a lost.

Have any of you ridden a Pyzel Phantom? The shape looks like it should go well in what I have in mind, but I'm yet to see one in the flesh.

Island Bay Thursday, 20 Feb 2020 at 06:58 pm new

Best board ever for big, choppy Wellington waves.

simba Thursday, 20 Feb 2020 at 07:17 pm new

so how would a ds go as an all rounder?

soggydog Thursday, 20 Feb 2020 at 07:43 pm new

Lost doggy was onto it with the Simon 5-spark. Great small wave boards. I like em so much I’m about to order number 3.

I focus Thursday, 20 Feb 2020 at 07:45 pm new

Simba there are a heap of variations my DS is purely for bigger size surf others here I note have a lot less volume and specs are different

goofyfoot Thursday, 20 Feb 2020 at 08:10 pm new

Nice review pops, I can only dream of explaining how a board feels like you have on this thread, just dunno how to articulate it!

I'm just about to order another DS, a 6'6". Froth levels are rising

Island Bay Friday, 21 Feb 2020 at 03:19 am new

Simba, I'll let you know when I have some time on my yet to be ordered 6'4.

It won't be an allrounder/DD, but I'll be surfing it a lot around here. We either get flat to small waves or OH reef waves.

Solitude Tuesday, 17 Mar 2020 at 09:30 am new

Interesting read guys. Am looking for a standard 'performance' board myself. Never bought one of the name boards before. Always stuck with the local fella. Am intrigued about something like the Phantom or Sharp eye HT2.5.

Just a question for those who ride the Desert Storms. Everyone seems to rave about them. Why isn't there as much chatter about Webster's short boards?

Freeride, you don't find them as good?

Pops Tuesday, 17 Mar 2020 at 11:08 am new

If you surf well enough to make a high perf board work (which I gather you certainly do) I don't think you'd go wrong with a Phantom. Plenty of other great boards out there though!
I've never ridden a Webster, so can't comment there.

Solitude Tuesday, 17 Mar 2020 at 11:58 am new

I've ridden standard shortboards from various local shapers in the past. Lately have been on different sort of crafts from Gary McNeill and other twins etc. I jumped on a couple year-old thruster the other week and loved reengaging with that feeling stability and confidence through turns. Made me think about getting something new like that.
When I say 'performance' I kind of mean bog standard PU shortboard thruster that everyone makes. Something for conditions you have described above: 2-4 foot NSW beach breaks.

Pops Tuesday, 17 Mar 2020 at 12:01 pm new

Sounds like you ride similar stuff to me.
It'll fit the bill for sure.

lostdoggy Tuesday, 17 Mar 2020 at 12:03 pm new

I've ridden a couple of webby's shorties and didn't like them but there are plenty of guys who rip on them, they just weren't for me.

Solitude Tuesday, 17 Mar 2020 at 12:09 pm new

Yeah interesting. Different strokes for different folks. Just thought I'd ask to question to those in the Leba area as everyone always talks so much about the DS

Optimist Tuesday, 17 Mar 2020 at 04:20 pm new

Anything with forward width around 12" and a more pulled tail .Something like a Fred Rubble rounded pin or swallow as a Quad, like kelly rode for ages.

Solitude Wednesday, 18 Mar 2020 at 09:01 am new

Anyone have a Pyzel Ghost that they find goes well in head high waves? Or does it need to be a big bigger / better ?

Pops Wednesday, 18 Mar 2020 at 10:15 am new

From memory FR might have done a review on the Ghost?

udo Wednesday, 18 Mar 2020 at 10:29 am new

Yes.... over on the Grit

Solitude Wednesday, 18 Mar 2020 at 10:51 am new

Thanks, just read it. Sounds good. I'm not sure if I'm surfing quality waves regularly enough from that review.

freeride76 Wednesday, 18 Mar 2020 at 11:35 am new

Yeah, it needs a good shaped wave. But head high will do it.

had a heap more good surfs on it in the swells around TC Uesi.

Pops Wednesday, 18 Mar 2020 at 11:40 am new

Starting to get the hang of that turning arc now FR?

freeride76 Wednesday, 18 Mar 2020 at 12:07 pm new

yeah totally.

had that really nice banked turn snowboard feeling. which you can then push harder and harder on.

Pops Wednesday, 18 Mar 2020 at 12:20 pm new

Yeah, I'm really falling in love with that. Seems like it'll take as much as you can give it and then some.

Solitude Wednesday, 18 Mar 2020 at 01:09 pm new

Are you getting that same feeling on the Phantom Pops?

Pops Wednesday, 18 Mar 2020 at 01:27 pm new

Yeah. Also see my review/comments a little way further up (/on the previous page).
You get this crazy accelaration out the back end of a turn.
Probably not identical to the Ghost, but the two boards do share some DNA.

Edit: I've never snowboarded, so can only guess what FR means by that analogy.

udo Wednesday, 18 Mar 2020 at 08:45 pm new

Solitude ..6.4 Ghost 37L Futures boxes on the Goldy - $380 with 5 Futures fins.

edit : Seller will take $350

freeride76 Thursday, 19 Mar 2020 at 03:34 pm new

that was the biggest and best surf I've had the Ghost out in.

felt a little small on the paddle in thick, 6ft+ ocean-style point surf but deliriously reliable handling once up and riding.

Pops Thursday, 19 Mar 2020 at 03:39 pm new

How much more juice do you reckon it could handle?

freeride76 Thursday, 19 Mar 2020 at 03:56 pm new

not much, for my skill level.

but at a slight increase in length, say 6'3" instead of 6'1", heaps.

Pops Thursday, 19 Mar 2020 at 04:08 pm new

Still, a 6'1 handling that is doing pretty well in my books.

udo Thursday, 9 Apr 2020 at 06:40 pm new

Pyzel and John John on board design / Ghost /Shadow
You Tube

Solitude Thursday, 9 Apr 2020 at 08:42 pm new

That bloody insightful. John has a very good head on his shoulders.
Does make me think, what hope do the rest of us have? So many variables that they can control. We’re (avg joe) pinning our hopes on a prayer with our yearly / two yearly purchase.

Another thought, how close are these local ghost shapers (pyzel, JS , DHD, Mayhem etc) coming to what the main shapers are doing with the final product?

Blowin Sunday, 26 Apr 2020 at 09:05 pm new
birdfood Thursday, 30 Apr 2020 at 04:27 pm new

I watched the JJF / Pyzel video last night. Pretty interesting to hear them speak about such specific details on boards that to me seem pretty similar at face value. I'd love to have the skill (and conditions) to be able to feel the differences between them. I found it interesting that JJF rides a 30L board as I thought the pros tended to go for really small boards. The collab board mentioned piqued my interest. The main thing in here I found interesting was Matt Biolos breaking down the fundamental curves of board design and how both shapers (designers) seemed to be leaning towards what sounds like a somewhat minimalist design in outline and rocker.

udo Wednesday, 18 Nov 2020 at 07:07 pm new

Just out of curiosity punched Ghost 6.4 x 201/4 x2 7/8 Thruster into Pyzel Sth Africa

Price given 8500 Rand = $757 AUD shipped Capetown to East coast Aust
https://www.pyzelsurfboards.co.za/collections/surfboards/High-Performan…

goofyfoot Wednesday, 18 Nov 2020 at 08:16 pm new

How much if you bought one in Oz ? East coast

udo Wednesday, 18 Nov 2020 at 08:19 pm new

$925 i think

goofyfoot Wednesday, 18 Nov 2020 at 08:21 pm new

Shit good deal!

eel Thursday, 19 Nov 2020 at 08:24 am new

Who ships it, Pyzel Sth Africa? I'd be surprised if they shipped to a country where there are plenty of Pyzel suppliers.

udo Thursday, 19 Nov 2020 at 08:46 am new

I filled out full order form with East coast Aust postcode and they gave flat rate international shipping price of R1000 .

Pops Thursday, 19 Nov 2020 at 09:24 am new

Reckon there'd be an import tax on top of that?

udo Thursday, 19 Nov 2020 at 12:33 pm new

If applicable + $35 ?
Christ knows how they work out international shipping rates - under $100 for that distance.

Pops Thursday, 21 Jan 2021 at 10:00 am new

O&E leggie 1-0 Phantom

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free picture hosting

udo Thursday, 21 Jan 2021 at 10:04 am new

Serves you right shorten the cord

Pops Thursday, 21 Jan 2021 at 10:05 am new

Yeah you're not wrong.