Hi guys thanks for the add.
I'm after a heap of questions as I'm about to buy my 1st sup so here goes.
I'm in Bali atm learning sup, I started on a 10.4 which was a tank but crawl before I walk. Next day I went down size on a jimmy lewis stun gun 9.7 x 31 136 ltrs which I felt stable and caught a few waves. Tomorrow I'm downsizing to a 9'2"x30.25"x3.8" (124L) stun gun jimmy lewis.My aim is to buy either a 8.10 or 8.8 speed sunova8' 8" x 28 1/2 x 4 1/2 @ 123L |
8' 10" x 29 1/8 x 4 5/8 @ 130LHopefully tomorrow and while I'm here I'm hoping to manage the 9.2 stun gun.If I can handle the 9.2 stun can or could I handle the speeeds in either size.
I've surfed longboards all my life and now at 56 want to try something different. Am I correct in saying that the literage is important.
The shop wanted me to buy a style but reading reviews I'm not sure and to have to spend that much money then have to experiment with fins is a huge turn off.
Ok sorry for the long drawn out story but I only want to buy 1 board.
I'm 5.10 and 78kgs
Cheers

Will

Answer provided by the Sunova mascot:
Yes.
If you can handle the 9'2 Stun Gun, you can handle the 8'10 Speeed.
While the width will challenge you, the wider nose gives a ton of paddling stability and the nose kick make it very forgiving on the drop.
I ams 104 kg and the smallest Stun Gun I would be ok on is the 9'7.... but the 8'10 Speeed was my goto board for over a year.

It sounds like you adapted to SUP very easily, so although the 8'10 Speeed will suit you at the moment, you will soon be ready to downsize to the 8'8.

The 8'8 would be a challenge to learn on for sure, but if you are willing to do the work and suffer a bit.... the numbers work for you.

Will, welcome to the Breeze ... and SUPlife

Also, try and compare the conditions in Bali to what you normally would surf at home...

When i've been in Bali either the winds were slight or offshore - essentially very glassy conditions...which can make you feel like you've mastered SUP easily... then you get home and it's a howling easterly in Torquay and you can barely stand...

Just something to consider before choosing the board mate

Thanks supthecreek, I watched your videos and read your post that also influenced me.
I'll let you know tomorrow how I go.
Cheers

Hi
I recently got a Speed 8'8". I'm 50 and 70 kgs. Been SUPing for about 4 years and surfing for 35.

I find the 8'8" is very stable and I use it for harbour paddling with friends and family. It surfs well too, with good tracking to get a bit of glide up to catch the waves. While I could have got a much shorter Speed, I live in a pretty windy area and the extra stability is spot on for the choppy conditions I paddle.

Sounds like it would be a jump for you, but probably wouldn't take long to master.

Karl

Thanks karl and hoppo appreciate the comments.
Cheers

Literage is important, but it isn't everything when it comes to stability.

A fat board with low surface area might have the same literage as a wider, thinner board, but the second board will be much more stable. Thick boards can be "corky".

When you rock from side to side the width of the board is important. When you rock from end to end, the length of the board is important, but so is the shape of the nose and tail. The Acid, for example, is thin and has a narrow nose and tail, so it needs to be longer than the Flow, which needs to be longer than the speeed (just talking Sunova boards). But for this reason the speeds are generally narrower, for their length, as compared to the flow or acid.

When you get into it further, all those subtle differences will become more important. For now, you need to find the board that provides a bit of a challenge and lots of fun in your normal surf conditions.

So, when you are getting started the volume/literage is important, but if you can demo as many boards as possible then you will see how different the boards can be.

Hi guys
Just back from Sanur after 3 hrs on the jl stun gun 9.2.
Yep it was harder to catch a wave than the jl 9.7 only 4 in that time but found I was sought stable out there. The hardest part is catching and stearing the board.
For whatever the reason the instructor hates the Sunova brand. He is swaying to a surf jp nothing under 120 ltrs.
He said that if I get any less I'll get pissed off and never ride again.
I'm sure it's a matter of time and perseverance and it'll come. As I said before I don't want to have to downsize 6 months later.
Cheers

Four waves in three hours ? You should get on the speed !!!

Don't get me wrong I fell off heaps

I am 69, 5'8", 70 kgs. I owned a Jimmy Lewis stun gun 9'2" for a very short time. The elliptical pin tail, relative thinness, narrowness, rocker profile made for a very unstable and challenging ride. I sold it quickly. It would have been a great big wave tropical clean water sled, but not as a daily driver one board quiver.

It was actually more difficult to ride than my JP Slate 7'6" x 29" x 115 liters.

Demo those Sunovas in your home waters and see how they go for you!

If you like JL there are a number of boards that would be a lot more fun to ride, and to learn on. Striker, Super Frank, Kwad for instance. You need some width to start, surface area, and liters in that order IMO.

After struggling initially, I ended up on an Angulo 8'8" x 32" x 135 liters, and a Rawson 8'2" x 32" x 127 liter custom. Stable boards because of the width, planshape, and reasonable liters.

Beg, borrow, demo, rent, see what works for you. I am not in favor of the theory that a challenging board is your best choice initially. A stable ride is WAY more fun to learn how to paddle, turn, and SURF. If you are flopping and flailing you are practicing flopping and flailing..

It depend a lot on what type of wave you ride

i ride two very different waves ...one is slow and full ,maybe like the kuta wave .
so I use a 8,10 mana/30.5 133 litre ,because it has a flatter rocker and you need more speed ,and have more fun .

then I surf a gnarly reef break ,I need lots of rocker for the late take offs and very steep face and sometime chop .i use a x32 Hokua .9.1 /32

so look at your wave and match your board .just my thoughts .
tardy.96 kg.

Hi guys
Well day 3 on the jl 9.2 at Sanur, finally catching more waves which I'm glad still missing a few but at least catching them.
A few guys out are raving about their jp surf pros they obviously can ride they look good.
How do they compare to the sunova speed any info would be great please.
Cheers

Supwill

I will be in Sanur tomorrow for a week
I will have my 8.5 Speeed with me so if your keen you can have a try on it
I surf most days anywhere from Hyatt to Serangan so I'm sure I will bump into you at some stage

Hi dhusouth
I'll be at sanur tomorrow morning about 7 to 8 am, going out probably with bali kite sup school.
Which is located VILLA PURI AYU in Jalan Cemara 4b, nested between the Puri Santrian Hotel and Prama Sanur Beach Hotel it would be great to see your speed in action.
Cheers
Will

Supwill

Just landed
I will probably head out to Hyatt this afternoon
Will head out tomorrow morning around 8am

Cheersv

Well guys
I bit the bullet and boght my Sunova Speeed 8.8 custom.
Just want to thank Andrew from Balmoral SUP its awsome.
How do I add pics

Supwill... beauty, you didn't mess around

Let us know how you make out!

Well what can i say about the new Speeed.
It's frigging awsome, surfed at Manly yesterday conditions weren't the best but managed to catch a few waves.
It just glided down the face of the wave and truly at the bottom turn it felt like I was on air, it turned so easily and no effort at all.
Well thats it until tomorrow.

Hi guys
Can someone explain to me why my 8.8 speed has 123 ltrs where a style 9.6 which is 8 inches longer 1/2in wider and about 1/2 inch thinner has 118 ltrs.
Cheers

The half inch thinner on boards with domed decks, mate!

Wow! That is a beauty!

bob