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****elager said..
Hi guys, need a bit of advice... fairly new to sup surfing, started on a 9'6 vex profusion, then upgraded to a 7'11 evoke. The change in boards was amazing and my surfing has improved. I like the look of the mano and am loyal to the brand as budgets important and both previous boards have exceeded my expectations (the vex actually cracked my pelvis in a wipeout and board looked a lot better than me...!!) But unsure of size. I'd like to go 8'8 but nervous about the drop in volume. I'm 76kgs and find the evoke more stable than the vex and pretty easy to catch waves, but getting more adventurous on the wave (top to bottom, floaters etc) and think I can continue to improve moving to the 29" width. Looked at the 9'2 mano to keep the volume but worried I'm going backwards to something similar to the original vex... any advice would be appreciated??
Hey Mate, Firstly, great to hear you have been happy with your board choices. I myself am 75kg's and started on a 9'6 Vex Profusion (then went to a 9, 8'6 and now on a 8) and also own a 7'11 Evoke. In regards to volume (it obviously still depends on your skill level but if you are getting decent turns in, floaters etc I would imagine you are doing rather well) and on that basis the 9'2 Mano is going to be similar to what you are on (7'11 Evoke actually has less litres) whereas the 8'8 is your next step down in volume board.
Going on your weight and skill level I would suggest that the 8'8 isn't out of scope and would float you fine (maybe a little correction in your sea legs over the first few surfs but more than manageable).For me, when it comes to the Vex, Evoke and Mano. I find the 7'11 to be more stable than the others, even when compared to say the 8'6 or 9ft due to its increased width. At 32" wide the board is very stable and isn't effected by chop as much as the narrower boards. In saying that however, the Evoke is not my favorite board as I prefer the Vex and Mano for the improved performance through turns and sheer liveliness on the wave face (less weighty and turns on a dime).
In regards to the 9'2 Mano vs 9'6 Vex you will still notice a performance difference in the drop down as the board is more refined (even more so if your Vex is an older version).
If you are still unsure, I can have my personal 8ft Vex dropped up to Jason the manager of the Mooloolaba store for you to loan out for a day if your interested in getting a feel for the lower volume and narrower shape (I see your profile says your based in Tewantin just up the road) and so you can be confident in the Mano 8'8.
Cheers
Andrew- The Surfboard Warehouse