Hi there...
Im tossing up between these two boards. Im 95kg and after a carvy wave board for rail turns... not a short wide flat board.
Anyone ridden these back to back and can comment
?
Ok so....... no feedback, so I tested a hokua 9.0 in terrible sloppy High tide cross shore junk.. I was in the water more than I was on....but.... When the stars aligned and I was standing on the board when a wave came....it paddles in really well. Tracks straight and surfed what little wall there was really well. It feels more surfboard like than the egg shaped 2012 starboard 8'5 I had been on, and faster. At 28 3/4 wide and under 4 thick.... The hokua is thin.
I really need to ride them all back to back...my memory of the 8'10 pro wave was it was mor stable and a little livelier. . That may be weight or different conditions,,,,.. very hard to decide....
I used to own the Hokua 9ft and changed down to the 2012 8'10" - so not quite the same board (I think there were a few tweaks to make it a bit faster).
I can let you know my views on the 2012 but may not be worthwhile?
all views are good views.. fore away :)
I had a paddle on the 9.0 today in small 5-10 knot onshore waves. much easier, must have tried it on a bad day. it surfs well! i think it would benefit from a LE carbon construction to liven it up!! but it turns great, got some decentwaves in rubbish.
im getting one.
im fairly new to it also... october last year. The shorter wide body boards are definately a great way to get into shorter sup! good luck. :)
Sorry went AWOL!
I changed down to an 8'10" ProWave purely so I can SUPsail which means I don't need to take my big waveboard away for weekends.
The Fanatic is a lot fuller through the shoulders/nose and not as rockered (from above) so it has a stubby/fish like look to it. It makes you wonder if you'll trip the nose more (you don't). The shoulders make doing floaters a lot easier.
The 8'10" has a load more tail rocker and as such you can really take turns/reos etc a lot later than the hokua. I'd go for a turn without much hope of coming out of it and sure enough I was setup for another turn. Of course this also means that the acceleration is slower with the Fanatic - I found the Hokua came off the top quicker (but then I am turning more vertically with the ProWave).
Build quality of both boards is excellent with good pads - I do prefer the hokua's recessed deck though - I find it helps stability. I would say that the hokua is a lot lighter and has a much better handle. Stability wise is too close to call.
Overall I prefer the hokua in bigger waves where the speed/gunnier shape is a major positive. In all other waves I'd go for the ProWave as it just turns so well. I will be upgrading to the 8'10" 2014 as I want a lighter board for airs off the lip etc.
To answer your question on skill level, I have been SUPing for 5 years and weigh in anywhere between 88-93kgs.
Both boards are excellent!
cool thanks Ben. pretty much as i thought.. i think im going to run a 10'6.5 nalu for small junk and over 10 foot surf comps, and try the 9'0 for when its on! tempted to try the 8'5 but think ill swim too much.
I had 6 surfs on my 2013 8'10 prowave , Im 93 kg and I love it .
From glassy to cross shore conditions , it handles it all well . Ive surfed for 25 yrs and supped for 2 . These prowaves are unreal .
