A New Year, A New Sealion. Introducing the 8'3"
AHD has introduced a new SeaLion to its lineup called the 8'3." This new lion has been coined the "pro" version of the XL offering a thinner rail line and slightly wider shape. From experience on the Pro, the thinner rail definitely helps with better control on the wave by reducing the bounce and offering a looser more responsive feel in the water. The 8'3" will likely work well for those riders interested in the XL yet may want something a little more aggressive for activity in the surf or even Classic riders looking for something extra yet loose.
Here in Hatteras, this model should work quite well for summer conditions during our light air side-off days with small to moderate surf size. May work well in bigger stuff too?!
All in all, its great to see more choice for the SeaLion fleet and I know that I am looking forward to another excellent Hatteras summer season of waves and light wind, catching it on the Sealion. For me, its the Pro!
In local windsurfing news, its been relatively mild here and there has been plenty of winter wave action southside from the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse to Hatteras Village. Rt 12 at Mirlo is now open and access south is good to go! Forecast right now looks like "balmy" winter warmth with mid-60 degree air temps though the foreseeable future! I have not been on the water for quite some time, but likely the Sealion will be reintroduced for 2013 to the Atlantic off Nags Head over the coming days. A little S wind to fill the sail, and I will be good to go! Down south, Wind-NC Andy has been hitting it regularly along with some of the local kite crew who did not jet off to some tropical destination.