Pyzel "Phantom" Surfboard Review by Noel Salas Ep. 61 

ATTENTION PYZEL AND FUTURE! This year I have purchased a Ghost, Phantom, and Gremlin for my travel quiver. I have also purchased Futures JJ-2 Large Tech Flex, HS Quad Rears, and a set of the Legacy Series fins all because of Noel reviews and suggestions on these products. I live in North Alabama and luckily get to take multiple surf trips a year but I don't get easy access to surf shops for suggestions or even to feel the boards in my hands. I go strictly off Noel reviews and suggestions because I trust his opinion and knowledge. He has been accurate on all his reviews and I'm happy with every purchase I've made. I'm leaving this review only to remind the surf industry of his impact to us consumers. PLEASE PAY THIS MAN WHAT HE DESERVES!

Your reviews are just getting better. How you took time reviewing and comparing it with different fins is next level! Sick surf footage. Best RU-vid channel.

I still come back to watch this review. I think this is the best surfing I've seen in your reviews, the quad setup really looks magic

Just ordered one. Told them that you recommended it. Thank you so much for the effort you put in your videos. I’ve boughten a hydra, black baron and now phantom thanks to you

Quad set up is what I usually ride because the added traction really helps to produce down the line speed. your surfing was noticeably crisper, more powerfull and throwing more spray with the extra fin in there. Thank you for the review the boards look great

I love your show. great job man. The feedbacks at the beach are mental. cheers from Brazil

I feel like that quad went so well because you're definitely a back footed surfer and the ghost family of boards are more condusive to front-footed surfers like john john with the wide point forward and the really parallel rails. But when you stuck the quad on it, it gave you more lift off the tail so you could put more pressure and generate more speed off the back foot kind of like a Sub Driver. You were throwing down some pro level combos on that quad looking so spicy. Great review

Hell yeah, Noel! Great review, solid surfing. I'm absolutely in love with my 5'8 Phantom Electralite. Best daily driver I've ever owned. I also surf Trestles on the daily, so the EPS/Expoxy construction is insane for our waves.

Big fan of your reviews. Bought a couple boards because of them. Keep it up.

I've watched most of your reviews and this board is by far the best I've seen you ride. Ordering one.

Noel, have watch about 25 of your board reviews. Have appreciated your ability when reviewing given boards but the Phantom in quad makes you look like a top 50 international competitor. Definitely next level compared to your other vids. Gonna grab a Phantom based on this....btw, I am way north of SF, 60 @ 190lbs, and have a 6'8" Ghost as well as a 7'10" paddy - both game changers!

Next level review mate!

Another great review....just wish i could have ALL the boards 😄

Great review, freakin love this show!

really nice intro and liked that you put in so much great footage this time

That turn at 11:10 sold me 🌊🏄😉🤙🏼

I don't know how many times I watch this video before ending up buying one recently. I already have the pyzalien 2 because of your review and a mini ghost last year before you made a review out of it. Never been so happy with my boards 😁

Good review waiting for the gremlin one now :-)

Oh man riding it as a quad looked game changing for you on those waves that were a bit smaller! Would love to hear how you go riding the ghost on a 3ft5ft day but with the same quad setup you had here! Great review.

Just bought my 6'0 Phantom today!! Many thanks Noel, eased my mind after watching your review and with a bit more research, can't wait to break it in !!

I like these boards. I think Pyzel have nails the tre'o. Awesome into. Thank you

Thanks for the review Noel! Keep ripping Bruddah!

The Quad looks sooooo fun!!!

I think a pretty valuable takeaway is that comment about a shaper building out a quiver of boards that share the same DNA - it's very logical to alter a board to suit different waves without changing the core principles of the design and feel. Maybe similar to Rocket and Rocket Wide but this kind of takes it to another level where with the three boards you can pretty much handle everything without having to fully re-adjust your approach to suit a totally different board. I know you had the Team Lite glassing on there but durability is a big concern, especially for the travel boards. I think Pyzel has some durable options but I have a Pyzel in Firewire FST construction and after a year it has literally 0 pressure dents and barely a scratch even after a few run ins with super low tide reef heads. Too bad FW and Pyzel ended their shaping arrangement but hopefully more and more shapers will give options for ultra-durable closed-cell EPS for worry-free travel.

Damn, those cutbacks on the quads....tight!

Top review and top surfing. Looked very good under your feet, especially as a quad!

damnn after watching you riding the phantom as a quad. I really regret no buying my phantom 5 fin set up. you killed it as a thruster, but watching you riding it as a quad was a game changing

Yeahhh Noel you are absolutely ripping it with that quad setup! It'd be cool if you reviewed weirder boards like the meyerhoffer. Also, a single fin 9/10ft longboard would be funny to watch just to see how your flow would turn out! Cheers

Riding that quad your backside flow looked unreal...complete speed but always under control...ripping..!!

Noel you are so attentive and generous with your responses to comments. A true gentleman. Loving my phantom. Bald doods shred.

Sick review. Definitely looks better as a quad. Looked sticky at times as a Thruster. Maybe Try the Jack Freestone generation series in it as a Thruster. They went great in my Pyzel Sure thing. To me the J Freestone couple better with the stretch quad rears compared to the Haydens though. I also like the Ando fibreglass fins when it gets punchier. Have a good one

Hi Noel, great show and awesome reviews. I am 6’6 and +- 197 pounds. Athletic, about 30 years surfing. Most of my surfing is mexico and central America. Used to ride 6’4 CI black n white 35.6L and moved to 6’2 CI everyday happy 37.5 L and is lots of fun but i am missing high performance or want to get a board for when the waves get really good at point breaks and small puerto, punchy beach breaks. I am not truly convinced on the ghost due to my size 15 foot (12”) it will be located too far up the tail pad. That said, been looking at the phantom and radius from pyzel (pro dims) to get a bit more length and a round pin to use it as a step up. Liking the pyzel extra foam at front for the puerto/mex off shores paddles. I like the feeling of the CI happy is fun, floats a lot, I get to ride many waves per sessions. Thought of the CI too happy and also considering the …lost (driver, stub or sub drivers). What are your thoughts on those boards and situation mentioned? Also, want to get board to alternate with the 6’2 CI EH, when the waves are not for the above situation! Debating the rnf 96 or the pyzalien2. Any comment will be greatly appreciated. Thanks bud. Big help your analysis. The phantom looks good on your feet 🤙

Bought a 6,1 phantom Noel after seeing your review . Super excited for the winter swells to arrive here in Ireland now. Few fins to try out on it . I’ve the CI am2 , JJF med and the captain fin Dane Reynolds in large.

Ok... I'm 43 and an ex-pro surfer sponsored by Oakley and I have to say: rarely are the young guys as good as me and others because all you get to see from them is air 36tv's (360 to reverse) but Noel man your style is solid, you keep the tightness in your turns from really good looking bottom turns and quick snaps show up more than it doesn't. You rip man! Kelly Slater used to call me the best La Jolla small wave surfer until the Brazilians made everyone look like peewee league, but I am about to pull the trigger on a 5'11 Greg Sauritch in Cardiff or a Rusty but after seeing you riding these boards I would like to know whether buying something off-the-shelf would work for someone used to custom boards? I road mostly hand me downs of Pat 'O. Pat O'Connell has some killer boards. If I am used to riding a 5'11 perfect for gutless Shores/Scripps in La Jolla or Trestles, what would you recommend? Sorry my name is Beatle.

Once again great review. hey Noel, can you do some high level surf technics, special reviews ? that will be great. thanks for such nice videos,

Looks like the quad carved off the top best. Though all of them looked loose and fun to ride.

Great surfing on your forehand and backhand! Frothing !

Noel you could surf a fricken Mac Donald’s tray and make it look good .. No offence to Pyzel surfboards btw

Again a great review. Man you rock! I learn a lot and your show helps me to put words on some of my feelings in the water. I'm looking to purchased my next board and am looking for an everyday board but also a board that will help me progress. I'm looking at the Baby buggy, phantom and SCI FI. I would rather get all of them but my wife would probably kill me. Any advice?

Awesome review and beautiful surfing. Please review the Pyzalien too! Can't decide between the Phantom and Pyzalien.

Nice job again. Looks more on point than other boards under you feet. Riping!! Like the FT2 but this looks more fast.

Noel, helpful vid. It would be good if your surfing clips started before the wave entry so we could see the paddle and pop up.

Going on a trip to South Africa this winter and am looking at a 2 board HP quiver, a daily driver and mini step-up. For the the waves at home when it gets shoulder/head+ with some curve I use the CI OG Pod and like that board as it has quite some range with fin adjustments but at steeper take offs the nose width gets in the way. Otherwise I would have taken that and complimented that with the Pyzel ghost. Now to bridge that gap for the quiver at home and for SA summer breaks, I need a HP daily driver for anything smaller than Ghost material, and it needs to handle some degree of surface texture. I'm planning on the Ghost in PU, and the daily driver in epoxy construction. I've had the sci-fi 5'11 in LFT and loved the speed and projection out of turns but it doesn't like chop at all and the LFT flexed too much when pushing hard in bottom turns in overhead surf. Actually surf thruster all the time as never dialed the quads in to my likings (always too loose for my backfooted surfing, sometimes liked it on forehand but never on backhand). Thruster sets I use allround template FCS PG-5, PG-7 and PG-3 or combo of these to loosen/stiffen up the boards. Now after checking a bunch of your very well laid out board reviews I have the following on the radar; JS monsta box hyfi squash, pyzalien squash (looks very similar in outline and rocker profile as JS MB, Pyzel phantom, Tomo hydroshort. Pyzels I can only get in standard EPS/epoxy, should I worry about delam during airtravel with that construction? As I like rail surfing and good vertical projection but also speed what would you recommend?

Love the reviews! Learning a ton from your videos! Currently deciding between the P2 and Phantom. Curious about your Dim recco. I’m 6’1”, 200lbs, intermediate surfer mostly riding 2-6+ft waves from Newport through South OC. I’m looking to progress my surfing... stepping down from a 6’6” 42.5 liter epoxy hybrid.

GOAT turn at the 8:50 mark

Great video and great surfing as ever Noel. I would love to see you test one of the new Mick Fanning "MF softboards". There are very few vids on it and I think there would be a lot of interest. Particularly the little Marley model if possible. Thanks in advance if you can make this happen! cheers Simon

Hey Noel, Great view. Board looks awesome under your feet in each transition. If you were to have this with the fcs2 configuration what would be a comparable fin you would use?

I found a Thruster set up with the JJF Large in front and JJF Medium in the back working better than all large and all medium

The best thing about these boards is how closely they relate to one another. So many shapers seem to shape individual boards in isolation so you end up with a groveller, daily driver, and step up that feel completely different to surf. Sure they might all work really well, but it takes a few waves to get used to a board every time conditions change. But with the ghost family each board flows into the other in a really logical way and preserves that same feeling so that surfing a gremlin in gutless waves feels weirdly similar to surfing a ghost in overhead surf. It seems so obvious but by shaping a family boards with forming the perfect performance-based quiver in mind, Pyzel is both lessening the transition between boards for customers and increasing the chances of repeat business e.g. if I buy a phantom and later on am in the market for a step up, the ghost is the obvious choice. Buy a gremlin for small days, a phantom or shadow for average days (depending on how high performance you want to be), and various lengths of ghost as your step ups.

Quad looked great

How would you compare the phantom with the OG flyer for less than epic days ? chest head high ? Any preferenceS ? Cheer mate

Nice review Noel! I like how you always maximize every board to its full potential by using a variety of fins (quad and thruster). I'm about to get a custom phantom board in a round tail only b/c I always ride round tails, so my question is - will a round pin degrade or enhance the potential performance of the board? Or will it keep it inline with the shapers intended performance?

Hey Noel, Do the places you surf at for your reviews rarely barrel? Would love to see how you get in and outa tubes in some of these surfboard reviews!

Thanks for all of the reviews, they’re super helpful. Have you ever tried the Phantom as a 2+1 with a trailer fin? If so how did it go?

wow the quad set up really made a difference with down the line speed and flow of turns.......ripping!

Hey Noel I was just wondering if you could do a review on the Panda B2. Also great surfing in this video that board looks sick!

Noel, thanks for all your great reviews! Wanted to get your advice…looking for a daily driver mainly for breaks around here (San Clem), but a board that can also handle the occasional overhead swell or a Central America trip. I’m mid- intermediate level. Deciding between the Phantom, Pyzalien 2, Sub Driver 2.0, and Disco Cheater. What would you go with? Cheers.

Hey Noel. Love your work mate. I'm 6"2 200lb. I am beginner intermediate, starting to progress turns. I ride a 6"2 Hypto (38L) and a 6"4 Monstabox (38.7L) which was maybe a little to high performance for my skill level. Would you recommend the Phanton in this case, and if so what are your thoughts on volume? Cheers!

Thank you so much for your review, they are super helpful!! If you had to pick between the Phantom and the OG flyer for a beginner / intermediate (working on my cutbacks, top turns, etc), which one would you pick? Looking for a great daily driver to improve on, currently surfing several times a week. I’m on the small range, weigh 130 pounds, height 5’8’, reasonably good quality waves (3-6ft) but occasionally weak. Thanks again, you’re great :)

Hey Noel love your reviews! Im 158pounds and 5’7 tall. I want to buy the phantom 5’7 stock size do you recommend it? I’m surfing a serval years and want to take my maneuvers and surfing to another level. Another question I surf in beach breaks that have solid 2-5 foot sometimes mushy but sometimes punchy and hollow, what fins do you recommend on fcs? Thanks a lot!

Noel great review again. Which board felt better the 5’6” gamma reg dims or this phantom 5’7”? I’m trying to decide between the two. Thx

Hey Noel, would you say the phantom and the rocket 9 are similar? On paper they have nearly the same dims on paper. The also both have lower nose and higher tail rocker. Seemed like you liked the phantom lots more... Any insight on this? Thanks!

Great Review Noel! A little bit late, but question for ya. I am currently riding a 5'6 RNF redux as my daily driver. Awesome board but I'm looking to put a bit more of a traditional shape back into my quiver. The phantom and ghost family have gotten great reviews and really have my interest. Would the phantom have too much overlap in range with the rnf redux? Should I look at a gremlin or shadow instead? Follow up, I surf Florida's gulf and east coast, does a PU make the most sense?

Hey Salas first off thank you so much for the reviews helped me find the gremlin I’m a lower level intermediate so there was definitely a learning curve but I love this board, my question is if I’m riding the gremlin 5’10 with 20.38 thickness 2.56 what should I get for the ghost or phantom and witch would you go with

hello ... what fins could you indicate for Phantom use on 2 to 4 ft punchy beach breaks? I used Julian Wilson AirCore Large and the board was very hold, I changed it to AM AirCore Large and found that I had little drive on the bigger and stronger waves.

Hi Noel, about to order a Phantom soon. Can't decide whether to go for a Swallow tail or squash? I've ridden swallow tails before and always found them better fot the waves we get. Also a 6'0 or 5'11? I am 6ft tall weigh about 80KG. Excellent review by the way I've watched it about 10 times!

can you do a graham smith surfboard review?(maybe the "44" and the "Firefly" models)

Could you please review the Christiaan Bradley LC6 gladiator!!?? Would love to see what you think of it!

Hey Noel thanks for the awesome review just wondering if you could advise about the next board i buy. I'm 6'1 88kg and about advanced beginner/intermediate surfer surfing average waves alot of the time have been trying to decide between the pyzelian 2 or the phantom. I am leaning towards the phantom as it offers a little more volume. Any help you can give would be much appreciated! cheers

Awesome review Noel! They have both round tail and squash at the factory on the North Shore. When would you choose a round tail on the Phantom over the squash? What conditions? Thanks!

Hey Noel, Loving the reviews keep them up! I am looking for a new board, currently riding a lost baby buggy 80% of the time and I love it! But wanted to get a new board.. thinking a Pyzel Phantom or CI OG Flyer.. I surf in average conditions most of the time with a couple trips to Portugal and Morocco each year. What would u recommend? Cheers Ben from the UK!

I've seen alot of Noel's videos. But I think he may have rode the Phantom better than any other board I've seen him ride. He had more style too. Am I seeing things?

Thanx Noel for good review. Next board will be phantom. But why did you choose eps rather than pu? In general, eps is lighter therefore when wind starts blowing, take off can be hard. In small condition, it will be appreciated. Personally I prefer pu because EPS is too responsive for me.

Hey Noel great review as always. Was wondering if you could give me some advice on dims. Im 5'9 68kg and an intermediate surfer. I surf in Ireland so need a lot of rubber. My go to board at the moment is a shred sled 5'10 x 19 1/4 x 2 3/8.

Great review as always! Would you recommend this board in the dark arts construction at the save wave range as the pu/eps?

Hi Noel, some advice please? I am 51, 5'7, 73kg's, live on the South West Coast of Victoria AUST and would say I am an intermediate surfer. I have a 5'9 CI Grovellor 4 @ 30.5 lts and a 5'10 Chilli Rare Bird @ 30.5 lts also . As I am getting a little older and the paddling power is dropping, I was looking at adding a little extra volume into my board quiver for when I get out in the bigger 4 foot + days down here. The 3 boards that are really catching my eye's are the OG Flyer, Neck Beard 2 and the Pyzell Phantom at around the 31 lts + range. Am I on the right path and which board would you suggest? thanks

I like your speed and flow in this review on the phantom. Very fluid when linking maneuver! Question I normally ride 34.4 liters in all my PU boards, never rode and eps. But if i were to order one could i shed a liter or keep it the same? Mahalos

Hi Noel, I am buying the Phantom 5’11 stock dim in EPS construction. I am 5’10, 183 lbs, good surfer. The board has 31 L. I’ve different boards in my quiver and with this one I am looking to surf at 3-6 ft punchier beach break in OB (SF), Bocas del Toro, Costa Rica, France and Portugal. Should I shave off 1/2 liter or 31 L is a good number? I recently surfed a Sci Fi 5’10 at 30.7 lt in a Point Break in Portugal and felt great under my feet. Thanks and keep up with the great work u are doing

8:56 that second cutback is the best i've ever seen.

Awesome surfing. Looking for a new daily driver. Considering Neckbeard 2 and the phantom. What would you suggest? I have a gremlin as a groveler. Would make since to get a phantom but the NB2 looks mental. Thanks.

What size would you prefer for my height and weight? I’m 5”6 140lbs. This will be my first short board and would love your opinion for my size. Thank you

Great review as always. Have u been trying the FireWire new Slater*Tomo design?

Hi Noel , thanks for your reviews they’re awesome. Can I ask your advice please? I’m looking at getting a phantom , I’m intermediate surfer of 10 years, 78 kg , height 5ft 10 (think that’s 177 cm) but looking to progress with better turns . I ride a 6’2 FCD Mullet which is 35.7 Litre which I love. I’m 47 year old with average fitness. With the literage for the phantom I was thinking 6’1 or 6’2 to keep the similar literage for paddle power getting back out in the line up etc. but can I ask your thoughts on what size phantom? For waves like Bells, winki which aren’t really hollow waves. Thanks!

Hey Noel, Just curious if you ever tried a Green JJF Medium Tech Flex in this board? Would you ever recommend a use-case scenario for it here with this setup, smaller waves maybe? Less drag? I ask as you're a lighter guy, yet often go for Large Red fins. I also just got a new PU Phantom 6'1, and it's my first Futures board. I usually ride Mick Fanning Larges in FCS2 at 6"6 in good surf. Always thrusters (sometimes replace the centre with a Mayhem Medium carver). I like a balanced board that isn't twitchy (am intermediate). I'm 80kg so right in between the Medium and Large, and ride in 2 - 5ft stuff. Usually smaller mushy beach breaks. This is my daily drive / small wave board. Which will serve me better? Green JJF or Red JJF? My worry is going too stiff in smaller waves. I note how well you work the board for speed here on Large JJF, but I'm nowhere near as good as you LOL.

What size and what board would you recomend if you have to ride between 5 and 8 ft? Panthom or Ghost?

Thanks Neil, great review. Based on your testing with Futures, what FCS2 set-up would you recommend?

Hey Noel, how do you compare phantom to holy grail? I am really curious since they are both daily drive for 1-6 ft range, and both got good reviews from you.

Hey Noel, great reviews. I think I learned a lot by watching nearly all of them. What size do you recommend for an intermediate surfer who could turn and gain speed? Traveler surfer for about 10 Years. 5.10 and 167lbs and I am athletic. Cheers from Germany

What fin configuration for a balance/neutral surf would you currently for the phantom? I’m thinking of JJF in alpha technology instead of techflex.

Noel, i’m enjoying your reviews, comments and surfing skills so much! Please help me with my next level board. I’m riding a Puddle Jumper 5.9 - 37 liters now and want to keep it as groveler. I’d like to get a easy every day board for next step 2-6+ Waves and was thinking about Lost UD or Phantom. what board size and liter do you suggest? (intermediate 6 Weeks a year surfer, 184cm, 69kg,) thanks!!!

The phantom looked very stable and fast, the Monsta box seemed a little bit looser?

Would you say this board is similar to an OG Flyer And which would you recommend as a daily driver?

Hey Noel, I surf a 6"6 in a more traditional HPSB shape, currently in 38L. I'm 5"10, 79kg/170lbs. On the intermediate side (I'd still say beginner inter). Usually surf 1 - 5 ft mushy beach breaks. Naturally I can't always take that out in small junk, so I've got another funboard at 5"10 32L, but it has pretty bad paddle power (still too HPSB shape to be a groveller IMO) so I don't enjoy riding it in small waves. Really want to start working on my turns more, and moving to a smaller board. I've been looking at the Phantom (probably Phantom XL) but my question is what length of board would you recommend for an off the shelf? I was thinking about a 6"2 which is going to give me 35 - 37L. As you might imagine, my hesitation is taking too much literage away too quickly, but on the other hand, a smaller length board is always easier to turn and snap back on small beach stuff, and will still have more volume than a traditional HPSB. In that vein, a 6"0 at 32 - 34L is also on my mind, closer to my actual height. It's that age-old debate of 'board designed for your height or a little bit over, versus volume needed to actually have fun surfing it at your level, at the cost of having a longer and more stubborn to turn board'. Any suggestions very welcome and appreciated :)

Hello Noel, do you think this board will go good with a round tail? Thanks a lot!

Thanks for your helpful reviews always. What are the dims of the Phantom that you’re riding? Thanks 🤙

Hey Noel. Always love your reviews. I'm considering picking up the Phantom for my trip to indo since I'll likely only take 1 board due to airline fees per board. I figured this board in the round tail would be the best all around board for my trip. (Will have to go out in smaller surf with my girl) What do you think? This board a good call or do you have a better all around board you would take? Thanks for the help!

Hi Noel, always super thx for great review i do really love ! Would plz give me a little tip for size? im 6.1 / 185lb i got ghost 6.2 it feels awesome now i consider between 5.11 and 6.0 or other size phantom. what do u think? which one is the best for me in your opinion. thx again happy new year !

Thanks for the great review! I was hoping you could give me some tips for size. I'm 5'10" approximately 160-165 lbs, athletic build. I've been surfing for 4 months. Started on Torq 7'2" mod fish (52L) and now I'm currently riding a 6'2" puddle jumper (46L) which feels very oversized for me and is quite easy to surf, but I bought it used and it was very cheap. I feel like it's definitely inhibiting my progress (I feel like I've progressed fairly quick from beginner to intermediate-ish), and I'd like to start riding a board that is sized appropriately for my height and weight and something that I can progress on for some time. I've been debating between a 5'10" Phantom, a 5'8" Hypto Krypto or a 5'8" CI Rocket Wide, which are all roughly the same volume. I surf mainly point breaks around Los Angeles area, that on good days this summer are generally 3-5 feet (most days this summer have been 1-3 feet). Which of these boards would you recommend? I've checked out all the shapes in person and they all seem great. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated on picking one! Thanks!!

I want to buy the phantom on surfshop and the phamtom is on quad but on fcs not on future do you thinks fcs works good to ? And what fins a can choose for fcs ? Thanks you so much for your time cheers!

Hi Noel, thanks for another awesome in depth surfboard review! I was hoping you could please give me some advice. Deciding between the Dominator 2 vs the Phantom. Lower end of intermediate skill level, just come off a DHD black diamond 6”6 felt too big for me. Wanting to progress my turns. Currently riding a 5”9 seaside on those smaller days which I love. I’m wanting a daily driver for those 2-6ft days. What board would you recommend? I’m 5”10 and 72kg Mostly surfing in Victoria Australia. (13th, Bells, Winki) Any advice is appreciated! Thank Noel