FEEDBACK : GONG SUP 7'8 Alley PRO !!!

First test for the Alley 7’8 105L (I’m 96kg) in some small decent chest high waves that got a little punchy on occasion. 0,9/1,4m 7,2s. I can confirm its stability, which is surprising for its 27 and 3/4’’ inch (70,5cm) width. The rails are quite full in front of the handle so I think that helps. It’s almost as sensitive with the front foot as the Karmen 105L much more sensitive with he back foot, where I was closer to the center line on the Karmen. Like her big sister the 8’1’’, I’m just as surprised for how easy she takes waves. I think because you’re further back, there is less playing around with front/back positioning and the thin superbly hydrodynamic nose doesn’t push any water. At the take-off it’s like she has a motor on the wave face…. she’s got enough rocker for steep drop-ins for sure. The thinner nose allows her to cut through the bar when getting back out to the peak, no problem. The Board is surprisingly clean in the drop, I did it a few times with poor footing (the front heel to close to the rail) and did fine, the Board turns a bit but its mellow, it’s not a big, immediate mistake as with my old ’super thin nose’ Furious 7’10 or the Fatal 2016. Once on the wave…… well the Board is so free and smooth underfoot that I really did not feel any limitations for her and with my technique. For every manoeuvre, it was only me that did not full fully commit or take it far enough in the move, the Board is clearly capable of doing more without me having to push it. And this even in the softer sections or hollower ones. The tail has enough lift so you won’t get bored in mushy waves. Its low weight must have something to do with the feeling of having nothing underfoot. Although a little weight didn’t bother me with the Karmen, it allowed me to make my turns cleaner and more fluid, but this super light weight is useful on a shape like the Alley. An FSP Quiver Karmen/Alley PRO (like Moritz) suddenly becomes very logical. The Alley is super easy because she can do everything, but paradoxically she is far more technique than the Karmen to get it to work well : With the karmen, I attack the turns and push through with my legs without crouching too much, and the Karmen practically takes the ideal turning angle all by herself and maximises the drive and plane like acceleration, like real auto-pilot. With the Alley, it is the pilot who choses the good trajectory, since the Board is ’neutral’ she’s ready to go anywhere, she’ll obey the pilot even if he made the wrong choice, while the Karmen is on auto-pilot for easy carving. I got closed off in a few sections where I would have made it through on the Karmen, but it was totally my fault, I would have gotten through on the Alley if I would have made a better decision with my turn.  The Alley amplifies your successes but also your errors. In short, I think I’ll only be going out on the Alley 7’8 this next month, if my body holds up (my legs are sore everywhere…)