David’s Follow-Up Review: The Mistral Pacifico
David has spent some more time on the Mistral Pacifico since his first review, and he has some more thoughts on this board. David has now had this board out in a wide range of conditions, both stand up surfing and windsurfing, and it sounds like he’s still a huge fan! His words follow:
Since my first review, I have taken out the Mistral Pacifico stand up boarding in flat water. It performs incredibly well in glassy snorkeling weather conditions. The board is very “tracky” and efficient in a straight line, while still feeling very maneuverable as soon as you step your back foot back. I have taken the Pacifico up the White Salmon River, and up the Hood River. It is a fun challenge pivot-turning it in current.
In addition, I have had some first timers on the Pacifico, and they have been super stoked with the stability of the board, how easy it is to move around on the board, and how easy and fun stand up paddling is.
Also, this past week I took it out windsurfing in some pretty windy conditions and had a blast! The Pacifico planes immediately when powered. Waterstarting is a trip because the tail does not sink at all… you climb on up, and hang on because the board is already on a plane!
I have been sailing with the stock fin and only the back foot strap in place (I don’t have the front straps installed because they interfere with stand up surfing) and it feels free on the board when windsurfing that way. The board is insanely fast feeling, points very high into the wind, and rides smooth through very large chop, charging over the top of most of the bumps while staying in complete control. Blasting downwind is fast, and carving jibes are super fun because the momentum carried through the turn is huge.
Swell riding, and jibing on the swell is tight as expected. Remember to step back! The extra-large volume (207L) is nice when you sail into a hole. I think for an on-off 4.0 day at the Hatchery the Pacifico could be the ticket! You don’t need to size down to compensate for the large volume and planing surface.
I was sailing comfortably in 8-28 mph winds on a 4.7 sail. On another day, one of our customers (175 lbs) was sailing his Pacifico and planing consistently with a 6.5 sail in 10-15 mph winds.
