SMIK NORTH FREO SHORT MAC 8’7
SMIK NORTH FREO SHORT MAC 8’7 TEST REVIEW
Verdict:
Scotty McKercher is a pivotal figure in surf sup development and he’s poured his innate wave riding knowledge into the SMIK stable. The Short Mac is truncated longer board, it’s easy to surf and generate speed with, loves to be thrown into turns and surfed with energy. Well conceived board with superior finish; great step-down board for those not wanting to go the way of the nugget.
Overview:
First up, the Short Mac looks even sweeter in the flesh than it does in photos – the simple, classy graphics really pop, urging you to pick it up and discover the wondrous etched ledge carry handle. The fins are also SMIK’d up and the diamond etched EVA deck pad is smoothly integrated into the logo. Underneath, a single concave runs into a double, jetting water out past the 2+1 fin set up (supplied) with a quad option. The up-to-the-minute carbon PVC sandwich construction yields a very light, tough board and we can tell you the paint is not going to fall off of this thing!
Brand Claim:
Not exactly a long board, but it isn’t a short board, though it certainly turns like one. Extremely responsive with good line drive, makes it competent in small to well over head high surf. Excellent board for the larger fella. But then also a capable entry level short board for a smaller rider.
Performance:
The Short Mac is a longer board template with the nose squashed in, so those more parallel rails give you more glide. You feel this in the unfussy paddling and the way this board runs down the line. It’s really easy to generate speed with: throw your arms forward with a paddle stroke and it will leap around the next section. This easy acceleration and light weight encourages all manner of lip assaults and ambitious turns but this is not a frenetic, wiggly board. It prefers a sustained bottom turn or being let to run down the line before throwing a big, committed turn that actually means something. It sits well in steep pockets too; don’t be afraid to try and pull in. You don’t have to push the Short Mac to its limits to appreciate the easy wave catching and glide; it’ll run nicely in lacklustre waves and would be a good fit for a surfer scaling down from a cruiser and for bigger guys and those having to wear kilos of wet neoprene all winter. Leading edge construction, simple classy graphics and a shape and design that already looks timeless; it’s a board you’ll find reasons to return to for years to come.