Aloha Larry,
Thank you for your comment. As editor the SUPSURFMAG.COM I'll tell you that the staff and I couldn't agree with you more. (On a side note: Your comment was addressed to a blogger named Evan who has no affiliation with SUPSURFMAG.COM however, we are happy to respond to the comment and, truthfully, we support your view.)

We too have noticed that there has been too much pumping of mediocre equipment through blogs and review sites. In fact, I personally have spoken with a blogger who has publicly claimed a certain board as amazing, while privately admitting to me that it's tippy and skiddish off the bottom. I agree that such reviews definitely do a disservice to the industry.

If you read the reviews that we have done with other boards such as the Surftech Ali'i IV, we have made an effort to show both the pros and cons of the board.

With some of the greatest shapers in history producing stand up paddle surfboards, most boards are the perfect board for someone. I agree with you that the term "magic" is a personal thing and actually quite emotional. What's magic for one is probably not magic for another. I appreciate your bringing that to our attention. It's been removed from the review.

SUPSURFMAG.COM articles come from a collaboration of various writers. By nature, stand up paddlers are very positive and excited to share the stoke that they've found in the equipment. Most stand up paddlers that I have come to know, will get on a board and immediately start that mind-surf session where you begin to imagine all the things you could do on a certain board rather than what you couldn't do with that board.

There's certainly no justification for pumping inferior equipment. However, when you find something good, you feel an internal obligation to share it with others. This seems to hold true for everything from movies to ice-cream.

With surfboards, there are definitely some junk shapes out there, but there are also so many variables (wind, water conditions, wave height and shape) that one hesitates to pass judgment on something in a negative way until it's be tried and tested in all conditions.

Honestly, how many times have you taken out a surfboard, had a disappointing session, and vowed that you're going to sell the board and fix the problem with a new shape....only to take it out one last time, have a killer session kiss the board with affection and re-vow that you'll never sell it for as long as you live. In my opinion, it's the nature of the beast and a dichotomy that keeps us enthralled with surfing and on the search for the next magic moment.

What's the solution in reporting? One idea we have for our magazine is to determine a clear cut sort of matrix for board evaluation that is published with a review. IE: Conditions Tested In, Tester's Experience, Vertical Stability, Maneuverability, etc... and maybe a final note about how the board "feels". Suggestions for such categories would be greatly appreciated.

Again, thanks for your comment and contributions to the sport Larry. Even with the sport's exponential growth, all signs show that this is still just the beginning, and SUPSURFMAG.COM wants to do its part to help create a solid foundation of integrity for the sport.

Mahalo and Aloha,
Nate Burgoyne, Editor

Evan: I really am beginning to think that the SUP review community needs to step up to the plate and begin writing *real* reviews of the boards coming its way. A board is, almost by definition, a combination of compromises; and in so being, some aspects are bound to be great, some not so great, some neither here nor there. Because nothing is perfect, a review that only points out the positive is not much of a review at all and does a disservice to one and all. The community needs to stop gushing and start writing with a more seasoned, discerning eye. If everything is "magic," then nothing is magic. If you've got nothing constructively negative to neutral to say, then don't say anything at all and wait until you do; otherwise, all you're producing is fluff'n'puff.
That's my opinion ... and I'm sticking to it!