Hi breezers.
im looking to get the new 7'6 hokua carbon board... has anybody ridden last years model.. how did it go, strengths , weaknesses?
im going to run an 8'10 as my main board for when its good and thd 7'6 for when its small and fat.
thanks
I've been riding it for a few months now and the more I ride it the more I like it. I'm 10 kgs lighter than you but it will float 95kgs no worries. However, I wouldn't recommend it for fat waves at your weight. You will struggle to get it in to fat waves. It goes well in any size, big or small but you need to sit under the peak, short board style, turn and let the wave pick you up. You really can't take more than 2 power strokes to get you into a wave because of the yaw effect this board has. I sit directly in line with the short boarders when I'm on the 7'6. You also need to surf it off the back foot. Front foot surfers will find it a bit stiff. I use it more in low tide, peaky beachies. When the tides high and the waves are a bit fat or there's a big sweep and I want a paddling advantage, I go back to the 8'10. It could be my lack of paddling skill but that's my experience with it so far.
mmmm thats interesting Thomo. makes sense. might have had their uses round the wrong way.... :)
You might be better served with an 8'0 and a 9'0... Generically... Or even an 8'10 and an 8'2 or 8'4. Keep the lengths a little bit closer... not such a big jump up/down... Just my suggestion, but a few shapers will tell you a similar thing...
For example;
Whilst I have several boards, if I boiled it back to 2 longboards, this is the two I would have;
Regular Ride;
Step-Up / Semi-Gun / Gun;
Yes, I own both, and both go unreal.
I'm just saying you could think along the same lines... Regular Ride, and Step-Up / Semi Gun version of your regular ride....
I have not seen the Hokua 7'6" in real life, but from the specs it seems like a board designed for powerful hollow waves (lots of rocker, narrow tail)... the opposite of what you want!
For small and fat conditions, I would advise something with a very low rocker and a wide tail. The "Simmons" shapes will shine for instance in these conditions. With a very low rocker, even a 8'0" will take off quite early.
mmm, all very good points. ivd got a demo teed up next week on the new carbon one.... ill let you know how it goes
Ahem..........oops I told Colas not to use that as it sounded patronizing, this is not meant to be. My opinion is that a 7'6" is a short board!!!!!!:) Guday Tomo, I've been on holiday and getting some amazing waves so I've been using a phone. Will post and talk on SWAP in a week's time.
Just a question, why bother with a SUP at that length? If you have a physical impediment eg. Sparx has a dodgy knee, I can then understand it, and I'm serious when I say why so short? I don't think it's bad, in fact I think it's incredibly brave and difficult when you could use a prone board for hollow waves, is that the challenge? 
G'day Leroy,
Good to here you've been on holiday and getting some waves mate 
The "why not just ride a prone board" barb or in your case Leroy, question, is one that niggles me a bit. So here's my answer.
Prone surfing or crawling isn't everybody's holy grail. People who ask that question seem to assume that we would all rather be riding "real" surf boards if we could. Well after a lifetime of riding real surfboards, I made the decision a few years back to only ride SUPs. The reasons are many and varied but ultimately, I just have a lot more fun on a SUP and that's in any conditions. I've read posts where people say you should only ride a SUP in such and such conditions and swap to a crawl board when the surfs on or up or whatever. Who sez?? Can you tell me when I should be body surfing, kneeboarding or on a booger too? Crawling holds little appeal for me these days. There's millions of people out there who love it and others that both SUP and crawl and good on em. I just prefer the SUP these days. With regard to length, I'm just exploring what suits me best, the same as I did when I was a Crawler. Your always trying to find the next best board that'll some how make you surf much better than you are now
Thomo I meant what I said when I said I thought it was much harder to SUP a board that short. Not only do I respect you and Colas but admire your attitudes. It was certainly not meant as a barb!!! 
Sometimes I feel guilty about riding a SUP and I wanted to find out why you, Colas and so many others are riding very small SUPs. Therfore I hereby declare that even if my hip comes good, I shall never ride a short board, mal or booger. I'm an avowed exclusive SUP surfer from this day forth. 
Thomo there really was no disrespect meant in my question just interest. A Leroy question, I like that! !!!
Talk soon and thanks for your great answers Thomo and Colas.
Select to expand quoteLeroy13 said...
Ahem..........oops I told Colas not to use that as it sounded patronizing, this is not meant to be. My opinion is that a 7'6" is a short board!!!!!!:) Guday Tomo, I've been on holiday and getting some amazing waves so I've been using a phone. Will post and talk on SWAP in a week's time.
Just a question, why bother with a SUP at that length? If you have a physical impediment eg. Sparx has a dodgy knee, I can then understand it, and I'm serious when I say why so short? I don't think it's bad, in fact I think it's incredibly brave and difficult when you could use a prone board for hollow waves, is that the challenge?
Thats a fair question. I still surf a shortboard but find im getting very fussy, no crowds multy turn waves... ie i wont surf junk as its boring, supping is fun even when its grovelly because its fun paddling through the surf, trying to stand on little boards (at my weight) you get a bit of a workout. . thats why i keep pushing smaller. its s challenge.
Cant wait to test the new carbon 7'6 the shape looks great!! my understanding is the new Hokuas will be on the sunshine coast for testing next week!
I'd like to here your thoughts on the carbon version skebstebamel. I haven't weighed my board (2012) but I think it's pretty heavy for such a small board. That's not necessarily a bad thing. I think it helps a bit with stability in big surf and momentum down the line but is obviously a drawback when you want to throw it around a bit. Not that I'm capable of that sort of surfing these days 
Leroy, as I said I took your post as a question rather than a barb. All good . I think colas and skeb summed it up better than me though.
I've got 7"6 hokua 2013 didn't like it no glide and didn't float me at 84 kilo gone back to 8"2 wide point and 7"4 rush
Select to expand quoteYorksBoy said..
I've got 7"6 hokua 2013 didn't like it no glide and didn't float me at 84 kilo gone back to 8"2 wide point and 7"4 rush
Hopefully I'll get on the 2014 next week and give a bit of in site.
Select to expand quoteTh0m0 said..
I'd like to here your thoughts on the carbon version skebstebamel. I haven't weighed my board (2012) but I think it's pretty heavy for such a small board. That's not necessarily a bad thing. I think it helps a bit with stability in big surf and momentum down the line but is obviously a drawback when you want to throw it around a bit. Not that I'm capable of that sort of surfing these days
Leroy, as I said I took your post as a question rather than a barb. All good . I think colas and skeb summed it up better than me though.
Thomo I got a paddle today in very ordinary messy conditions... I think I had the idea of what I wanted the board for wrong.... I don't think it suits a heavy guy for messy conditions. It was a real struggle for me. . . I got a look at the 8'5 mana today also it looks really good. I think I may have to reconsider... Maybe the mana is a better choice alongside a lower volume performance shorty.... 8'10 carbon.. Maybe..
What were the stats on the new mana 8'5" as I'm also in the same boat looking for a short sup for beach breaks but has enough volume to carry the load...
