SCALE 1-5 - Rating lowest (1) to highest (5)
| FLEX & FEEL |
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USER FRIENDLY |
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| FLOW |
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PADDLING |
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| SPEED |
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CARVING |
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| RAIL TO RAIL |
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POCKET SURFING
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In this episode, Noel Salas and his crew review the "Dumpster Diver 2" by Channel Islands Surfboards, a model designed by Dane Reynolds. Noel tested the board in stock 5'5" dimensions across three different constructions: Spine-Tek, XTR 10, and a P/U poly with Team Lite glassing.
Noel found the 5'5" XTR 10 to be extremely light, loose, and responsive, with the twin plus trailer fin set emerging as the best configuration. He felt the XTR 10 provided a lot of pop and projection in turns. Meanwhile, the Spine-Tek construction allowed for smooth transitions between turns, making it an easy board to surf, with just the right amount of flex for Noel's weight. The P/U poly, on the other hand, offered speed and stability underfoot, with great drive. In fact, Noel stated that the "Dumpster Diver 2" might be the best Channel Islands board he’s surfed in the wave pool.
Others in the group also shared their thoughts. Eric Petersen found the "Dumpster Diver 2" to be fast and lively in flat, mushy conditions, primarily riding it in knee- to chest-high waves. Asa Cascavilla thought the board had a great sweet spot, connected turns really well, and felt lively underfoot. Ian Macpherson from Wooly TV rode the board in both small and larger surf, preferring its performance in oversized waves, which was an interesting surprise.
Overall, Noel described the "Dumpster Diver 2" as a good paddler, with extra width under the front foot aiding down-the-line speed. Designed as a high-performance So-Cal surfboard, it features medium rails that add to its versatility. For a deeper dive into Noel’s fin setups and more details, viewers are encouraged to watch the full review.
Noel's Height 5'9" and weight 172 lb
Board Dims:
XTR10 Stock 5'5" x 19 x 2 1/4 (25.3L)
Spinetek Stock 5'5" x 19 x 2 1/4 (25.3L)
PU/Poly Stock 5'6" x 19 1/8 x 2 5/6 (26.5L)
Asa's height 5'10" and weight 165 lb
Spinetek Stock 5'5" x 19 x 2 1/4 (25.3L)
Eric Petersen's height 5'8" and 180 lb
Board Dims:
XTR10 Stock 5'8" x 19 1/2 x 2 7/16 (29.3L)
Ian's height 6'1" and weight 195 lb
Board Dims:
PU/Poly Stock 5'11" x 20 1/4 x 2 5/8 (34.0L)
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