Some advice please. I started SUP surfing earlier this year (no prone surf background) on a Starboard Whopper (10' x 34", 168L). I'm 6'3" and 82kg. I live in northern Tassie and surf knee to head height waves at a beach break on the north coast. Nothing flash, Bass Strait means the only waves are wind driven short period waves. I've had the occasional trip to the east coast which does get better waves.

I recently bought a Naish Hokua X32 (8' x 32", 140L). It's great, faster and looser than the Whopper. As the Naish is pretty stable I haven't taken the Whopper out since. The Naish has a fair bit of rocker and I'm thinking perhaps something more longboard style would be good for small days. Is it worth selling the Whopper or is that as good as anything for my break? If I do sell the Whopper what would be a good board to replace it with?

Any advice appreciated

Sell the Whopper. You will quickly realise the limitations of that board when you dial in the X32. Sunova Style is a longboard style or Deep have a nice one too. Or look at a flat water board for a bit of fitness and downwinding when there are no waves which is a different sport to get into?

Thanks Stev0, that's what I suspected, and I have been eyeing off the Sunova Style (I really like the look of noseriding, though I'd have no idea where to start ). I did try a mate's 8'6" 124L Sunova Skate and liked the look of the build, but the waves were too small to get a good feel for it surf-wise.

I'm not quite ready for a flatwater board or downwinding, I've done a heap of sea kayaking and whenever I try that sort of thing on a SUP I can't stop myself thinking I could go further and faster in a kayak!

Get rid of the whopper, unless you going to put on 50kg. There are lots of noserider type boards around 9'6" x 30" give Damien at Jay Sails & SUP in Hobart, he'll sort you.

dude, I had a whopper and sold it to down size and constantly kick myself for that. They are a great board that you can longboard surf in small stuff or ride in way over head. My thoughts are keep it and save for something between it and your shorter board, cause one day your toe will enter your ass for selling it

Think Shroom and never look back


Yep I was x 32

most definitely keep the whopper.........is a classic well proven design that is ideal for smaller days ......or really choppy days when hard to balance on anything else. And it surfs good on the big days too. It is wide......but actually quite low volume so has not got super fat rails.....is kind of a "performance wide board"

oh......82 kg......but maybe flatwater paddling with a kid or dog on the front......maybe tandem surfing with a friend?

you got a few crayfish pots to put out and pick up? Don't listen to those whopper haters

actually did catch a few waves on my whopper with another person kneeling in front......nice way to introduce other people to surfing

Thanks Gizzie & others, perhaps I can take the kids out for some tandem surfing! And I like the idea of getting a few crays, or perhaps using it as a platform to get some abalone. I was thinking I'd sell it to fund another board but perhaps I'll keep it a bit longer and sell some other toys instead. I need to make more effort to check out some demo boards.

Also realised I mis-typed in my original post - should have said Naish Hokua X32 (8'8" x 32", 140L)

Yea, if you don't need the cash, keep em. Great board to bring a newbie on, or to have fun in wind blown torn up messy surf.

when we progress on our sup journey we think we have to get to the smallest most performance driven board that we can possibly balence on.i started off on an 11'6" adventure paddle board 33 wide and 225 L. This board got me my first wave and my obsession began.ALong came an Avanti then an Allwave then an Evoke and have just purchased a new 9'Hypernut.All these boards have different characteristicsand do things differently to each other. sure the hypernut is fast and loose compared to the others but i think i would get tired off the same ride all the time.i love to get the 11'6" out on small days and remember what its like to walk to the back to turn it and then get to the front to trim the big tanker.This is in no way meant to be an advert for sup that i own but just an opinion to hang onto everything you can because they all add variety into your passion.in short keep the whopper, better to be looking at it than looking for it . sorry for spelling , its late.

ride on mickyj!