Magic Carpet 66 Custom Quad Review

After looking through the informative Sunova website,www.sunovasurfboards.com and after a lengthy discussion with Bert Burger on the ins & outs of board materials, balsa construction & shapes, I decided on a 6' 6" Magic Carpet Quad for the smaller summer months. When it arrived I was very impressed with the craftsmanship and the beautiful finish. My only concern was the thickness of the board, (being only 1 3/4 " thick) I thought it might be a bit hard to paddle as I am 88kg's / 195 pounds. All my other boards are upwards of 2 1/2 " thick.

I got my first chance to try my Magic Carpet on a glassy offshore 2' winters day. At first, my initial concerns seemed justified, as I found it a bit hard to paddle. However, after I adjusted my stroke it was a bit easier.

After 3 hard paddles for a wave, something amazing happened, as the board was on the slope of the wave, the power of my stroke seemed to be magnified & I caught a wave that I thought would be impossible to catch. After getting to my feet, I gave it a couple of speed pumps to get across the face, and the Magic Carpet just flew!!

I have not ridden a board made from balsa before, it just seemed to glide across the face with effortless ease, being so thin. It really is like riding on a magic carpet!!

Into a cutback I could really feel the board load up & spring out of a turn, I felt I had more speed coming out of a turn. I could really feel it flex!! Unreal!!

As a small wave board it is completely different to any thing that I have previously owned, and I love my Magic Carpet Quad. Tim Jones