I had my first paddle on my Thuya 11'0'' board yesterday and I enjoyed it so much I went twice! Here are my early thoughts on the Thuya:
Expectations: I definitely feel the board and the accessories that were included in my purchase exceeded expectations. From its great quality to it's amazing feel, not to mention its eye-catching aesthetic, the Thuya 11'0'' is a winner for water enthusiasts of all levels!
Quality & Design: The board itself feels well-made, thought-out and durable. The first thing that stuck out to me was the crocodile-finish EVA deck pad. Great grip when wet and a good texture that didn't hurt my feet or knees when I was paddling. The neoprene handles and d-rings all look solid and the bungees are good quality. I was a bit skeptical about white bungee cords but the aesthetic is quite nice and looks great with the wood veneer print. Speaking of the wood print and design, on my first day paddling I've already received several compliments on it's look and colours! I will say the yellow is more pale in person than what I saw in the pictures but I prefer it that way!
Ease of Use: Set-up and inflation of the Thuya is quite easy. Given it's a larger board I was the last in the group to have in completely inflated but the triple action manual pump made it a breeze. The 3 settings are wonderful! I found the Thuya tracks well and is very stable. My morning paddle was quite windy and the Thuya held it's own. I also tried a few yoga poses and felt secure and with lots of extra space. The fin was easy to install but I did need to read the instructions in the manual beforehand to make sure I was doing it correctly. I do wish there was an additional fin-screw as part of the kit as I feel it'll go missing on me one day. Take-down and deflation was a breeze and the High Quality Travel Bag made storing the Thuya efficient and organized. The design and quality of the travel bag is well thought-out in order to compensate for a larger board and it's accessories! Just watch out when you roll the bag on it's wheels as the hip straps tended to drag along the ground.
Ideal Use: Having only used it twice, I get the impression the Thuya will have a lot of versatility for a variety of adventures. Whether I want to cruise along calm waters, read on the lake, or explore the Yukon with my dog, I feel the Thuya will effortlessly adapt to each activity. Its generous size allowed me to bring along a medium sized dry-bag with room to spare, which in the future will make it convenient for day-long paddling trips.
Recommendation: I would absolutely recommend the Thuya 11'0''! You get great quality for it's price-point with a lot of versatility and stability. I'm looking forward to exploring more Taiga products!