Surfboard Reviews

Review by Joel · Age: 32 | Height: 173 cm | Weight: 66 kg | Skill: Experienced · Nov 5, 2019

This board is a perfect option for good surfers wanting a smaller board option for slab type beachies and reefs up to 6ft, but also who want a board that is still responsive enough that you can change your line easily in the barrel and still release the fins and do big punts! I ordered the slab 2inches shorter, 1/2 inch wider and same thickness as my go to shortboard. However, next time I won't order it wider as it's fuller nose and fuller rails overall give plenty of paddle speed and buoyancy over flat sections of the wave. But if you are an average surfer than definitely go the extra 1/4 or 1/2inch width as Jon Pyzel suggests. I got a round tail and it holds in sick in slabby barrels and it punts good too, more stable for landing airs than my Pyzel Grunt model. Sick board !

Review by Joseph · Age: 40 | Height: 173 cm | Weight: 75 kg | Skill: Competent · Nov 5, 2019

Excellent paddler that gets you nicely into waves. Forgiving yet manoeuvrable. Can be surfed down on smaller or fatter waves, but it really likes it when the waves start getting overhead.

Review by Gary · Age: 43 | Height: 183 cm | Weight: 87 kg | Skill: Experienced · Nov 5, 2019

Great board! Fast and forgiving. The extra volume and wide nose makes for easy paddling.... Really comes to life in head high conditions.

Review by Daniel · Age: 31 | Height: 180 cm | Weight: 93 kg | Skill: Competent · Nov 5, 2019

This board is all time! Great on smaller days, but have been riding it in all conditions since I got it. 2ft beachies to 4-5 ft beachies mainly. Great down the line speed, and so easy to paddle into the wave early, just feels like I have more time on this board. If I make a small mistake with foot placement I'll still be zipping down the line and have time to adjust! I've had a HS Hypto Krypto and a Lost V3 Rocket, which both I really enjoyed, but the Vampirate Inflatable Mattress kills it compared to them!

Review by Aaron · Age: 42 | Height: 182 cm | Weight: 81 kg | Skill: Competent · Nov 5, 2019

Absolutely loving this board as my step up but can still take it out in all conditions. The board comes into its own when riding anything above 3 foot whether it pitching or crumbly. Great to paddle into waves and I have never had a board that feels so stable under foot.

Review by Todd · Age: 27 | Height: 183 cm | Weight: 72 kg | Skill: Experienced · Nov 5, 2019

The Ando goes really well in waves around 2-6 ft. The outline is a little wider than your standard shortboard which I like for progressing my surfing in most conditions. The rails are a little fuller than I expected but this board still works really well!

Review by Mark · Age: 36 | Height: 182 cm | Weight: 80 kg | Skill: Competent · Nov 5, 2019

I'm an Ex-Skateboarder. This is the board I've been looking for the whole time I've been surfing. I've ridden a bevy of seconds and store bought performance and fish models. However, nothing compares to to my inaugural custom shaped performance model from Hayden Shapes - The Ando. There's no other way to describe it apart from being my Magic Carpet Ride! Through each top turn/hit it allows me front foot grace to draw necessary speed into the next turn to re approach the lip again and again. The finesse and suitability of this design has allowed me to progress my ability and massively enhance my style in a short space of time. I'm a Dad of 2 kids born 11 years apart and my time in the ocean has varied over the last 2 years. Any chance I get these days I'm frothing, not only because I can get out there, but cause I can get out there and really enjoy my time performance wise. On a trip down south to Diggers Camp, NSW, my mates commented how comfortable I looked riding the back beach of Sandon Point, saying how much they felt my enjoyment. The Ando is definitely the shape for me. Got me Riding for my Life! Cheers to Hayden Shapes and the Boardcave for proving that "you can't buy happiness but you can buy a surfboard" and in every turn its the same deal! :))

Review by Theresa Lee-Ann · Age: 16 | Height: 176 cm | Weight: 68 kg | Skill: Experienced · Nov 5, 2019

I surf the ando around 2-5ft beachies and reefies and I'm absolutely loving it. It has heaps of take off speed but controllable to do turns off the lip and in the pocket, I recently landed my first little re entry air which I couldn't get on my old board but the ando flus over the lip, sick all round board.

Review by Chris · Age: 62 | Height: 180 cm | Weight: 73 kg | Skill: Experienced · Nov 5, 2019

I use this board as step up from my 6ft DHD Skeleton Key. I’ve only surfed the sweet spot 4 times but changing between boards is seamless. The waves were quality, powerful, head high to 2ft+ overhead. The sweet spot performs exactly as described. It feels good through turns and holds its line perfectly in hollow sections. I’m more than confident it would go even better in bigger surf.

Review by Grahame · Age: 58 | Height: 179 cm | Weight: 75 kg | Skill: Experienced · Nov 5, 2019

Great board for most conditions. Excellent performance board for older surfers.