Hi guys . Had a look at nalu 11 in gs , the gtw version looks awesome . Does it come with a recessed deck and thruster set up like the 10' 6 'gtw?. How does it compare up against the 10 ft mana. As a all rounder?

Hi John the 11' is a great all rounder ..
It does paddle faster ..than the 10 ' it can't turn as sharp on a wave as the 10' ..but stand up the back and she moves quite good ..
I always have the 11' on the roof ..if its flat ..covered ..small waves to 5 foot covered...it will hold a nicer line across the face of the wave
being a long board style ..it does catch waves easier ..yeah the wood looks nice hey.
GTW yes 3 fins ..

Thanks tardy for your view, I think that the Nalu 11 is a better all round board as you progress through the beginner stages, and into the advance stage.? Being 55 yrs of age I think it will be a one only board for me , more so than the mana 10 which I previously decided on which I might out grow?

Haha just scored a great deal on a second hand GT nalu 11 and board bag which has had very little use on Trademe last night. I have had a Mana 10 GT for a year John and wanted a board with better flat water capability. I don't know if I've outgrown the 10 or just feel like a change The 10 is a fantastic board in its own right but the Nalu might be a bit more versatile. I have had a bit of correspondence with Tardy re the Nalu and an old surfing mate of mine owns one and rates it very highly. One of the reasons I am getting the Nalu is I will be doing a little less surfing and more flat water paddling and cruising up and down the beach between waves as I have a knee problem that surfing aggravates.

Thanks for your view. My position is for more surfing than paddling, I mainly surf point. Breaks on west Coast Victoria . I need a good tracking board to paddle around wave sets . And catch waves on . And move to other beach breaks 100 mtrs away. I think it will catch any from 1 ft to 5 ft. I do really like the mana also . But I think for my age and type of surfing I do I will be easier and have more fun?

For a 10' tanker the Mana is surprisingly loose, but it is 10x33. I have had it in waves up to 5' with a bit of grunt and it didn't mind it at all - beyond that I'm not sure. I have paddled it a few kilometres on lakes, harbours and beaches and it cruises along quite acceptably but I imagine the Nalu will have a considerable edge in tracking and speed. I'm 63 and 103kg, surfed on and off since I was 12 and accept that these big boards are wave cruisers not performance boards, but I have a heap of fun. I learnt a heap on the Mana and would recommend it without hesitation looking forward to having fun on the Nalu now.

Thanks mate, it makes it had me to decide on which one. I am only after one board I am scared I will out grow the 10 mana in 6 months. The nalu 11 might be the answer ?

Well I outgrew the Mana in 12 but I used to get a new surfboard every 12 months or so, I own more fishing rods than I know what to do with, so I wonder whether we outgrow things or just want to try something new? The guy I bought the Nalu off does rate it as a better surfer than the Mana 10 and he has owned both and surfs Raglan which does have quality waves. Tardy has owned both so he might chime so has DJ.

Thanks Charlie Im having enough trouble decide ing what to buy with my next board ....
but I like the 11' better ..it is a bit more demanding to use ..
I don't think I will never out grow the 11'..it's my do it all board ..
if Im leaving home and don't know what the conditions are ,I will throw the 11' on it does it all.
I like to surf the 11' rather than the 10 ,I feel it will handle a bigger wave being thinner ..I also like the pin tail .
Ive done floaters on mine ,a little hard to do big slashy moves off the lip ..but it feels good on the face ..and will make it around
a lot of section s..you just got to remember its a long board ,so surf it so.
if you haven't got a 11' Nalu you need one 175 litres @ 31 great combo.

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John1960 said..
Hi guys . Had a look at nalu 11 in gs , the gtw version looks awesome . Does it come with a recessed deck and thruster set up like the 10' 6 'gtw?. How does it compare up against the 10 ft mana. As a all rounder?

IMO it's a better all rounder than the 10' Mana..

I've just sold my 2015 GT and ordered the new 2016 GTW..

The 11' Nalu (almost) never comes up on the 2nd hand market - probably says something.

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HumanCartoon said..


The 11' Nalu (almost) never comes up on the 2nd hand market - probably says something.

I only sold mine because it was to a good friend who really wanted it..

He knew I'd be keen to upgrade to the new GTW wood look [like my other boards]..

How about the 9' 5 mana gtw for a 105 kg guy. Doing 80% surfing the and rest flat water. For a one only board person. I think it will be a challenge from the 10' in the short term . But a bigger guy would really through it around and have that short board feel also? Would like to hear some views please.

Am I the only one who doesn't much like a wood look? I bought a 2014 wood Nalu GT but actually preferred the way that year's GS, or certainly the 2015 GT, looked.

But I can see why people might like them. I guess that it's another one of these things about which there is little consensus, maybe.

I'm considering getting a Nalu 11... There's a 2015 at a tempting price, and I figure it would be good for the fat long waves that break a very long way out, here. What do you think? They can go for 3-500 metres without hardly breaking. Actually, I GPSed one ride recently and it was over half a mile. There is also a lot of water moving around so it gets quite tricky stability-wise if your board is narrow. I was particularly impressed by that picture of Robbie surfing a bore wave in somewhere like China on a Nalu 11. Bore waves tend to have a similar shape to the ones here.

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Area10 said..

I'm considering getting a Nalu 11... There's a 2015 at a tempting price, and I figure it would be good for the fat long waves that break a very long way out, here. What do you think? They can go for 3-500 metres without hardly breaking. Actually, I GPSed one ride recently and it was over half a mile. re wave in somewhere like China on a Nalu 11. Bore waves tend to have a similar shape to the ones here.

I think you have answered your own question. Buy that 11' Nalu, you won't regret it.


(fret not about stability my English friend, I am a tall man and very fat and even I can ride an 11' Nalu)

I guess it depends it depends on your paddling and surfing ability. I can paddle my wife's 9'5

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John1960 said..
How about the 9' 5 mana gtw for a 105 kg guy. Doing 80% surfing the and rest flat water. For a one only board person. I think it will be a challenge from the 10' in the short term . But a bigger guy would really through it around and have that short board feel also? Would like to hear some views please.

It depends on your surfing and paddling ability, I can paddle my wife's 9'5 Mana fine and I'm 103kg and 5'11. SUP the Creek has footage of himself surfing one and carving at 100+kg so it's quite doable. I found as a beginner paddler and experienced surfer that the 10 was a good starting point.

Tanks charilef , I think the mana 9'5 will be a challenge in the short term, for long term gain. Meaning the 10 will be outgrown shortly. The mana 9'5 will be a keeper for a while as you get through the learning stage, i hope so ?

I am sure you could come to terms with it in time. The 9'5 is quite doablie for someone your size. I picked up my new second hand Nalu 11 today and the guy I bought it off, a very experienced surfer, spent his first year on a Mana 10. We agreed that they were great boards to start on and the hardest part of SUP surfing was actually catching waves. I spent the most part of my first few sessions eother falling off the front of the board because I missed the wave or off the back because I caught it, the extra volume of the 10 was helpful in the learning stakes, I'd already ditched an 11' NSP after 2 months of owning it at that stage. Guarantee no matter what you get you'll be looking for your next board within 12 months

Got to try my new/second hand Nalu 11 today. The guy I bought it off had 3 other SUPs so it had very little use came with a bag and rail tape and I saved quite a few $$ on a new GT Nalu. Went for a paddle on Lake Karapiro at the National rowing center felt quite cool paddling along the 2 k lanes. The Nalu leaves the Mana dead in the flat water stakes I'm very impressed with the glide even into the breeze. Hope to try it in some waves this weekend.


Sorry about quality of image taken with IPhone.

Thanks charlieF, great looking board let me know what it goes like in the surf compared to 10 mana. I am still deciding between the mana 9'5 gtw or 10 mana or nalu 11 gtw. Most likely it will be between the 9' 5 and nalu for the allround ,board mainly surfing . One board only for me!

Nice Charlie ..good score being a GT.
i sold mine to a bloke ..due to I wanted the new 11' GTW.. He drove in his shed with two boards on ..with the Nalu on top .
to low ..he has bent it ..( he only had it for 2 days )
Anyway you will love it ..it's great on the flat and leaves the mana for dead for speed ..
It also goes through waves so easy with the rocker ,it just rides over them compare to a short board ..
surfs great.paddles great .
It does it all..
try it as a single fin on the flat Charlie ..heaps more speed ( less fins.. less drag. )and the 9 inch fin is big enough .
when I surf mine I use a 6.5 rear.a lot looser .try the one out of your mana .
enjoy.you will end up with two John .go the 11'Nalu first.you will have less dramas learning.

Thanks tardy, a nalu 11 gs as popped up for very cheap . Is it worth while going for a single fin board or spending more dollars on a tri-fin for surfing also. I also have a choice of a mana 9. 5 gtw or mana gs 10 for a really good second hand price. Might buy 2 for the price of a mana gtw mana ? It will cover all bases?

Nalu 11 GS surfs fine as a long board. Definitely worth considering if this suits your style of surf and surfing.

Cheers Tardy will try a few fin combos. Must admit with my longboards I used to take the side fins out and put them on the shelf until I sold the board, I liked the old school style - an 11 foot board might be different though!
Guy must be gutted driving into his shed with the board on top - apparently quite a few bikes get wiped out on those roof rack bike carriers when people drive into sheds, under trees, car park buildings etc
John I'm hoping the Nalu is going too be a 1 board quiver as I also have a fly rod habit and fly fishing ain't cheap unfortunately. Your idea about getting a second hand Nalu and Mana isn't so silly, it will give you an opportunity to try both in a variety of conditions.

Let me know how you go with the Nalu 11 mate . I also have a fishing rod addiction.! Cheers john

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John1960 said..
Thanks tardy, a nalu 11 gs as popped up for very cheap . Is it worth while going for a single fin board or spending more dollars on a tri-fin for surfing also. I also have a choice of a mana 9. 5 gtw or mana gs 10 for a really good second hand price. Might buy 2 for the price of a mana gtw mana ? It will cover all bases?

Yep ..two boards for the price of one ,sounds good...I think your got your eye set on that 9.5 mana ..I don't blame you ..it's a cool little board.
you will be very happy owning the two ..it will cover all bases.for what you want to do .At least you will end up with 2 good shapes.
And two very different boards to each other.

Having had my Nalu for a couple of weeks now I would have to say it definitely is a better all round board than the Mana from my point of view.
It paddles better.
Catches waves way easier.
For my money it surfs better, but you have to walk it long board style to get the most out the board.
You have to turn it off the tail on bottom turns or it takes for ever to drag it around.
It is not as stable as the Mana - I noticed yesterday when paddling past some cliffs the rebound from the waves meeting the swell was more challenging than on the Mana.
It is more responsive than the Mana on a wave - it's hard to believe a board 11' long actually surfs well.
It does have quite a bit of nose and tail rocker so it is not the fastest flat water paddler but significantly faster than the Mana with better tracking.
In saying all this I still think that the Mana GT 10' is a good board for a bigger paddler looking for an all round board to get into SUP. The Nalu is going to be my 1 board quiver for a while - although I sometimes like the idea of a dedicated flat water/ocean exploring board as well
BTW where do the board companies get the maximum rider weights for their boards from? Apparently I am 10kgs too heavy for the Nalu!

I think the weight is put there for first time buyers as a guide ..but for the expert paddler like yourself . .you can do it ..

Its a great board.the 11...allrounder... Did you try the 11.4 its actually harder to use, due to the 30 width ..but is a great flat water paddler and feels a lot longer
than the 11 to surf even though only .4 longer ...its a true walk the plank stick..but its fast.

love them both but the 11 is the pick.

I never tried the 11'4, my friend has one and I could see it had a lot less rocker than the 11, that and the inch less width put me off a bit. Also I got a great deal on the 11 it had been hardly used.

I let Anne have a paddle on it the other day and she appreciated the difference between that and her 9'5 Mana - so I introduced the idea of getting a couple of Glides or similar, going to take a bit of work

no your right charlie ..you got the right board . its more user friendly.the 11.
I can see this costing you another piece of jewellery...or shoes.for more boards..
go for it.

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Tardy said..
no your right charlie ..you got the right board . its more user friendly.the 11.
I can see this costing you another piece of jewellery...or shoes.for more boards..
go for it.

We are just getting the house painted and replaced the old wooden windows with aluminium double glaze ones, she's eyeing up some new out door furniture so I've got the bargaining power but we're broke now and my daughters getting married in Melbourne at Christmas Bugger start saving again, sold the Mana tonight tho so got some $$ in the account.