After weeks of howling winds, I finally got a clean day to ride my new Sunova Speeed 8'10

Waves were really soft, coming off high tide.... but it was fun!

A review will come after I have sufficient time on this board.... but here's another look at this very sweet board.
Me: 67 yo.... 97 kg

Great vid and some nice waves, the only thing missing is the endless summer soundtrack??. Watching your vid inspires me to hope I'm still surfing when I reach your age! Great work.

Nice vid! Nice waves. The Speeed looks to be a great performer. Nice surfing too.

Great stuff stc!
Good to see that the waves have improved.
Looks like you've dialed in the new board.
Keep the vids coming!

Youve got it dialled. Great stuff STC. Good ad for the Speed.

SupChickadee said..
Thanks for sharing the video. Board looks like great fun.....makes me want one, but bought a 8'6' before Christmas........and wouldn't get past the husband, even though i tell him SUP's are like golf clubs - you NEED one for every conditions

And you would be absolutely correct!

I reckon what you are feeling is in the outline of these two very different boards, CSE.
The X32 has heaps of curve in the outline and just wants to turn, even at low speeds.
The SPEEED, which has straighter rails which generates more down the line speed. That is why Bert pulled in the tail so you get the best of both - Speeed to burn so when you step back you tuuurn!



Balmoral Team rider, Jimmy Melhuish ripping it up the Sydney Paddlesurfing Club round last weekend. First time on the SPEEED and he made it through to the final
Awesome pic from Jeremy 'Jezza' Corne photography

Great Video SUPTHECREEK
Very Inspirational, the SPEED is obviously complimentary to your surf sup style.
Looking forward to your review when ready.
Regards
Jack

Great vid! I wish I could surf like that.

Hi Richie... thanks for the kind words!

I owned 5 Allwaves over a span of 3 years, with the last 2 being the 8'10.
I really loved that board and respected it for providing me with such a stable way to go "sub-9"
It easily handled my (at the time) 111 kg plus full winter gear with ease.

When I was ready for more performance, I had to go to the 9'6 Prowave to get the same stability.

I could surf endless sessions without much pain on the Allwave & Prowave

The 8'10 Speeed is a different animal... at 130 liters and only 29" wide..... it was a leap of faith that committed me to some serious retooling.

I spent a month balance training daily, and losing 10 kg.

When it arrived, I surfed in 30 mph winds for training.

I hurt in places I didn't know I had places.... but in a good, healthy, workout type of feeling.

It is not a magic balance platform... I find it tippy all the time, but I don't fall much.... odd, but it is somehow tippy and yet, very manageable.... if that makes sense.
Small corrections constantly work many more muscles than the super stable Allwave ever did.... but I am rebuilding my body, in a way I haven't seen yet on SUP.

Yes, I ache a bit... but less now than 3 weeks ago.... and I am rethinking my long held belief that "why struggle? Stability is the way to go"
I am very happy to find out I was totally wrong.... my surfing and overall fitness is soooo much better since riding my Speeed. Struggle with benefits!

I'm currently 97 kg

Last week I water swapped boards with a friend.
I got to ride a new 8'11 Allwave LTD in carbon at 150 liters
I was surprised that it felt huge to me..... the thicker rails, 2" wider than my Speeed (130 L.... 29" wide... foiled rails)
The Allwave and Speeeed are totally different boards.... the Speeed is a much more demanding and performance oriented board.
If you are much smaller than me, the Speeed should be very stable for you.... but I am at the higher end of the weight/age class for the 8'10 IMO

The smooth transition that you mentioned is exactly what I saw in Johnny Maya's video.... the tight effortless carve, that flows right into the next turn.
It feels exactly like that.
But don't be fooled..... My turns are becoming much snappier, as I learn how much more I can push it.
My young "ripper" friends say that my surfing is much improved on the Speeed.
When I get better waves (maybe in an hour!!!) I really expect this board to let loose

Thanks Piros... I'm learning more every day
ha ha ....I was waiting for the fly..... my daughter's camera has something on the inside of her lens.... so she switched to mine for some shots!


The pronounced nose flip makes the board really interesting.
Today it was knee to waist and glassy..... not a lot of push, so I was playing around.

I found I could take off on the nose, plant myself there and steer all over that wave face with my ankles.
The flip acts like a controlled stall, when you stand on it. It allows you to easily stay in the pocket on the nose and provides interesting control, not common to traditional noseriders. Now I'm all stoked up to play up there some more.... you can literally ride fairly straight down to the bottom and turn back up the face without pearling.... and the fins never slid out on the weak waves. (I put a big set of 5.5" sides in)

I feel like I have a longboard on one end, and a shortboard on the other.

Lucyloo said..
Thanks very much for the really informative response.I am currently at83 kg and have just sold my 8.3 x32 Hokua so im really interested in the next edition for me.Ive thought about the 8.8 Airbourne but keep leaning back to your vision.I tend to gravitate to the smoother slightly softer point waves down here on the Island as opposed to the punchier rippy beachies , and i think the speed would suit with plenty scope to push it a bit harder as you have indicated.Ill try locate a dealer in Vic and see if i can get a look at one.Many thanks for taking the time to respond Regards Richie.

SHQ BOARDSPORTS @ www.shq.com.au/

Frickin' Awesome.... when I heard about the 9'5, I told Martin that I would love a 9'2 @ 145 liters for my winters. Stoked to hear they have added this option!!!!
That size will open the Speeed up to a lot of folks in my area.... we tend to be older and larger than you Aussie young guns

Lucyloo said..
Thanks Wicksy.

If you are ever in the Westerport area, you are welcome to take a look at mine. I don't think they have them in stock at SHQ yet. Great board, but different to the Hokua and Airborne.