finally got to try my new 7'6x26.5 82.5 liters sunova Kanga! 61yrs young 175cm tall 63kg for reference. I always wanted to try another sunova after learning on the speed model. I struggled between choosing Kanga, flow, or creek but settled on the Kanga since the listed version is closest to my preferred dimension being just a bit wider but also more pulled in nose so the surface areas are similar.
My review is relative to my other 2 7'6 boards that are slightly smaller and I only had 3 sessions, so take my comments pro and con with a grain of salt. Note that the larger Kangas are going to be a much different animal but I think the tails will react somewhat the same across the range.

I'm including some video 1st I was running my small quad rears and really struggled on the turns for control and couldn't put my foot far back, frustrating. Also my best ride was accidentally shot in time lapse mode which makes it look faster than it was. The 2nd video it was super bumpy and high tide with not much to work with. But I had another day with no video where I had the correct thruster set and was able to make some turns I never could before and was super stoked.




This board has the outline, volume and thickness shifted further back than I am used to and it felt nice on the takeoffs and helped me to get my foot back while still having the board trimmed. Standing there is nice support for your back foot and good secondary stability if the board tilts too far one way. Keep in mind this is still a small unstable board but everything is relative. As far as turning it felt more short board fin driven than a rail driven board, worked best as a thruster with bigger front fins.

Pros:
Feels great on top turn with a lot of release
Pivots well
Drops in easily on steeper waves
A lot of performance relative to the standing stability
Grips the wave face well

Cons:
Slower paddling, maybe due to outline not sure
some resistance to getting the rail buried at speed
little slow feeling on fat sections
slightly harder to pump for speed down the line
doesn't balance when holding from handle, it was installed too far back, annoying
Handle is giant, bring back the pull out handle! If you have large hands or gloves it might be good but the lip isn't that large.

I'm glad I got this board and looking forward to getting more days on it. Wish I had ordered without any handle or quad sides and an adjustable long rear fin box. If I was to go custom I would make it just a little longer thinner and narrower.

First of all my compliments about surfing a board this small, I only can dream of that but only the age is the same.
Don't know it's the thickness of the tail but I would suggest to play with the fins, heard some very good storys about Quoba fins in different sizes. Maybe it would help to make more use of the rails, also move the feet more than you do in de video if you can.
Surf looks really good, great waves and no crowd wooow

Thanks, I tried the quobbas and not saying quobba isn't a magic fin for many people, I just didn't find them to be the very best for me on most boards I tried including this one due to the size and template. If you are looking for a fin similar in size and template definitely get quobbas, nice WA company they cost the same or less and they sponsor Sebastian Gomez, check out his 2024 puerto Escondido video on YouTube amazing what he is doing and on those fins.This is what I use for front fins on all my round tails and they have been a game changer for me on 3 different sups www.surfnvs.com/collections/apex-twins/products/stu-kenson-twin-s-apex they also come in a larger size I haven't tried. These fins are more upright and pivotal so they won't carve/hold quite as long at the end of the turn. I first found these fins looking to replicate as close as possible the size of the great front fins that came with my new deal longboard which infinity doesn't seem to sell these fins anymore.

Anyway I didn't want to bog my long review down in fin stuff, but you are right fins can make a board, and it reminds me I still have other fins I want to try on the Kanga.

Also these waves are worse than you might imagine especially for performance short board surfing which is why I really like to sup there.

I also wish i could surf that size board me 100 kgs it would be ok on one foot ,

I have a insane that did have a few issues similar to what you have mentioned ,
I would play with the fins ,first off I find quobs a little stiff for me ,I like flexible fins
Pumping the board you can generate more speed and angle the board easier as the fin doesn't grab you
as you turn you can ez into the turns better ,Shaper AM1 are awesome fins for this ,
Also found some flexible Kelly Slater Quads ,my insane is also a pin tail ,I like the Quads better
more speed ,get the right size for your weight ,once you find the right combo its a different ball game .

Thanks sisurf, for your take on your Kanga, it is always good to hear thoughtful feedback, with video as well.
Nice waves you have to surf, yewwwwwww!

Great review and vids. You are ripping mate. Also I watched your videos before reading and I thought, "Damn, look at his speed on the first wave"

Great review! Those look like the kind of conditions I like my New Deal in - softer faces with some size and long paddles back to line up- curious how you see this fitting in your quiver. cheers

I hope to use this board as a performance all arounder from shoulder to around head and a half high waves. I wanted something a little sturdier for travel and it should pair well with the new deal longboard. I definitely could have used the new deal for bigger mushy waves, the trade off is it doesn't like to turn around quickly and make a steeper drop, you really want to roll in early. I've used that new deal in really big surf, but it will also bounce around at high speed. The smaller new deals have much more nose rocker. Since it's new I'll probably be using the sunova on days I shouldn't until I get over the urge to try it.

lm going to try some flexible fins in bigger surf, I have a lot of fins to try still!