I have just transitioned from a flat deck 32" Starboard wide point to a 29" domed deck Speeed and although I can tell it is an excellent board by the few waves I caught on the weekend I am struggling with foot placement.

I am going to persist but any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Antho, Hi, had my newly delivered 8.5 Speed out over the weekend, the narrower domed deck did take getting a bit of getting used to, I stand in a stagged stance, but found you need to have your feet closer together width wise, there is a sweet spot & once you find it, no problems. Made an effort when on a wave to have back over the fins & it turns on a dime.e

Thanks TWs, I will give that a go.

When paddling hard for a wave and once on a wave the board was as stable as a rock,

however it was the paddling out and waiting for a wave that was doing my head in.

I place my front foot with the heel at front of the handle, and the back foot, toes near the back of the handle.... slightly open.... narrower surf stance.

I find my board most stable when I weight slightly forward to take advantage of the wide scoop nose.

The harder I paddle, the more I lean on my front foot...

The Speeed, while feeling tippy, is oddly easy to manage..... It seems that "corrections" are smaller, and more effective than corkier boards.
I really like the "feel" of control I have on this board

The speed spot is just behind center...... and the carve, is back foot on the stomper.

Select to expand quote

supthecreek said..
I place my front foot with the heel at front of the handle, and the back foot, toes near the back of the handle.... slightly open.... narrower surf stance.

I find my board most stable when I weight slightly forward to take advantage of the wide scoop nose.

The harder I paddle, the more I lean on my front foot...

The Speeed, while feeling tippy, is oddly easy to manage..... It seems that "corrections" are smaller, and more effective than corkier boards.
I really like the "feel" of control I have on this board

The speed spot is just behind center...... and the carve, is back foot on the stomper.

After ten months of working the Speeed hard... both my 7'11" and 8'5" are pretty much as described by STC* - although.. I would suggest you not be frightened of putting your front foot further forward. ... If you have a surfing background.... forget its a sup.... and get in shortboard stance. As for when you are paddling out.... keep practicing...but, again.. it becomes easy to paddle out and over waves.. if you have your front foot forward.. do NOT step back as might have been your practice on other boards. Over time.. you will find that the Speeed can be "walked all over"... allowing you to execute pivot turns to catch a wave, and generally move around the deck. I think that its normal for a surfing sup to have a domed deck, btw (not that the speeed is overly domed), - so I can see you are still making adjustments from your previous ride.


*He picks up these things very quickly! :D

supthecreek and LordKuz thank you!

The very specific information you supplied was exactly the type of feedback I was hoping to receive.
I have only had the board for two days and plan to hit the flat water this week to really get my feet right.
Such a beautiful looking board and pretty light, I am determined to get used to it asap!