Hi, having read a lot about the Sunova Speeed on here and the other forums, then watching the review in SUPboarder for the 8'5 Speeed, I fell for the look and quality shown on the board on the video, then watched all the other videos on YouTube by "supthecreek" and others, so I started looking for one to view.
I found Julius based in St Ives (www.standuppaddleboarder.co.uk) who looks after the brand here in the U.K. After a long weekend playing in the waves of north Cornwall, I got to know the board and its characteristics enough to buy one.

So I bought the 8'10....last Sunday.
I have to to say it's the best board I have ever owned, had the pleasure to play on and each day my skills increase.

This is forum has been a wealth of great information, I'd like to thank all the contributors who've posted reviews, posted videos, added comment and advice to those of us who sought a new board such as the Speeed. I'd like to thank Julius for bringing me on Brand and into the family.

Today was my maiden voyage into some very windy 1ft slop, but I just had to get out and get to know the board. I'm hugely surprised that I managed to both catch waves and spin the board with such ease, paddle into 20knts and actually catch these little lumps that formed today. My grin is huge and I'm so looking forward to some cleaner 3ft'ers where I can really get to grips with understanding the board.

Cheers all.

Thanks Buoy,

what weight and height r u . what board are you coming from ?

Ha ha SunovaBouy.... I know that feeling.... Stoked for you!

Awesome mate..enjoy the stoke

Hi guys,

Well I've been paddle surfing for a little while now, very happy with my board handling and can do a lot of no wave tricks (tail spins, I can just get in a grove and knock out 30+ on either tack before I get bored.. board spins to stand on the nose and paddle with fins in the air, transitions, balance, sharp stalls and very quick tail spins etc. I like practicing tricks, it gets me to understand all sorts of simulations and improve my board handling no end, you know just generally having fun etc.etc.
But big waves I have little experience in, shoulder high and I'm fine but head plus I just don't have the experience in yet, and that's why I chose the board and Julius to help me out in both areas. Cornwall here in the U.K. is well known for it's waves, like everywhere it has its main peaks but you can choose a beach pretty much whatever the mood takes you. Where I am on the South Coast (near the Isle of Wight) we get very soft crumble most of the time, waves with little push and form, the sort that appear either side of you then flatten out, then reappear/reform in front or behind you. So being able to handle a board and grab quickly a wave are skills you need here. On a good day we can get shoulder high but we have to wait for a low pressure system to come through then die quickly and leave the waves behind, this happens a lot during the Autumn through Spring but the Summer is normally flat.
I come from a very long sailing/water background (was brought up in Fort Lauderdale until 18 when the family moved back to the UK) and have been wave windsurfing for 15+ years, not to a great standard but I can hold my own and enjoy. But I've always been a light wind wave person, most of my wave sailing would be on 120ltr boards and 5.3's in 15knts, I just enjoyed the surf!! So when paddle boarding landed here about 10 years ago it seemed to fit with my lifestyle, but I confess not to pick it up then but leave it a little later before I bought a NahSkwell Kool 10ft mal paddleboard and then practiced on that learning skills and drills and bellyaches. Once happy/getting bored with that I then bought another NahSkwell but an 8'.10.. the board was billed as a wave/soft wave board and I thought this would be my go-to board..again I put masses of time practicing drills until I found the review on YouTube on the Sunova Speeed 8'5... and I kinda fell in love. Ok, so I needed some coaching, Julius I found online whilst searching for Sunova information and he runs a SUPSurf school.. oh joy! I could now not only be helped and guided properly and learn a lot, but I now get to try out Sunova boards.. what a great way to spend late summer here in the U.K. !! It took a very short time for me to realise that Sunova boards are more than a quality Brand, but more the passion for the Brand, the builders, obviously Berts immense experience but actually from all those folks that I have met through Julius who have bought the boards it's actually the people who ride them that I really like, there is definitely a community spirit and you're all such nice guys... and so very helpful.
So, I came away from Cornwall with a Speeed 8'10. Hardly any decision needed since I can tell this is the type of board I need to both progress on but also to enjoy in our very mixed U.K. conditions. Whilst I will continue to play here where I am, I will travel and learn breaks around the UK and this board has the ability to cover a myriad of conditions I will find on my journey. Obviously I want to become a surf proficient, where I'm able to hold my own in head high breaks like you can, and enjoy those rips and tucks wave riding.. that's my goal.
Weight? I'm 78kgs, 80kgs when wet, age.. the grand old age of 52... and 5'.10 tall, all my own hair but a couple of teeth aren't my own !
Taking all my experience, age, weight into consideration the Speeed 8'10 is perfect for me I think, I'd like a Soul or Acid one day, maybe next year when I've drilled the surf riding and become more confident in larger stuff.. as is the last few days on my Speeed have already taught me i have both the balance and skills to now engage the ripping to start.

Again, my choice was influenced by all of you guys who've taken the time to post reviews, post techniques and impart your vast experience with the Sunova boards (and your experience with previous Brands) So a huge thanks from me..

Makua Lodge is on my list!!!

Just an update..

The board is utterly fantastic. It'll catch anything, no I mean anything. My mates have salivated over it many times over the last couple of weeks and one of them has ordered a 9'5 Speeed too..

The board is flattering my "style" (not that I have much of a style) it's making me think more about my riding style, the way I position myself for the take offs, and is proving to be a fabulous choice for my very local chop fest... the cleaner more organised sets are just starting to come through here and those days of 2-3fters have proved just how good this board is to ride.

Got to say it, thanks again guys for all your posts and vids, invaluable information shared.

woooow that's a lot off information could be a bit much.
anyway glad you like the board have fun