BIC PADDLE BOARD REVIEW | ACE-TEC PERFORMER 10’6
BIC PADDLE BOARD REVIEW
| ACE-TEC PERFORMER
10’6 REVIEW.
BIC PADDLE BOARD REVIEW | ACE-TEC PERFORMER 10’6
VERDICT
The big news about Bic’s 10’6 Performer is that it’s an excellent board to learn to surf, or to teach someone else to surf on. It has a smooth, glidey feel and rolls into waves so easily, and the tapered refined tail gives a proper connected surf experience. You won’t be wincing if the paddle strikes the rail either thanks to the integrated rail guard. Bic’s Ace-Tec construction is proven over many years in many centres so you can be confident this board will still be cruising after many years of use.
OVERVIEW
The Ace-Tec is a surprisingly attractive board with its deep gloss red deck. The pad is low-profile and easy on bare skin (Bic are clearly aware their products are used in many warm-water locations!). We love the FCSII Dolphin centre fin; it’s a push-click tool-less fitting that needs to be mandatory across all boards. The integrated rail guard marks the equator for the top and bottom thermoformed plastic skin, while inside the board is constructed from an EPS foam core with layers of fibreglass distributed to strengthen the board at the rails and standing area. All the materials are bonded under great pressure using molds and techniques unique to Bic.
BRAND CLAIM
If you’re looking for a board to be equally at home surfing a wave as is relaxing on the local lake, look no further than the Performer series. We’ve blended surf-inspired longboard outlines for solid wave performance with confidence-inspiring stability and a moderate rocker profile for versatility in flat-water conditions. Find the size that’s right for you and join the thousands of riders who’ve made the Performer series an international best-seller.
PERFORMANCE
The Ace-Tec won’t be the lightest all-round surf SUP you pick up this season but it will be one of the strongest (for ultimate durability seek out its Tough-Tec cousin) but in the surf the shape is the dominant characteristic and Bic have this it spot on. The broad nose lifts easily over whitewater on the way out and that deep 10” FCSII fin and long parallel rails keep you headed straight for the horizon with constant speed. The deck has a nice domed feel as it tapers towards the rails; you are standing on a big, proper surfboard and not just a floating platform. These low rails also promote stability in cross chop, you’ll really notice this if crossing over from an iSUP. Wave catching is so easy and the early entry sets you up to move onto the tail and start surfing. The accessible surf performance of the Ace-Tec won’t win the national surf series but it will allow you to learn a lot about surfing and develop your skills quickly. We’re so impressed by this boards simple performance that it’s almost an afterthought to say that it can pull double-duty as a casual tourer or fitness board. Unless you’re after progressive longboard performance or a lighter weight construction those keen to learn to surf won’t be disappointed.