Which could catch waves earlier in a break when there are highly unpredictable mushy wave peaks,

The Sunova Shroom, 8/3, 8/7, which touts its superior speed under paddle power and glide into waves,
("WAVE CATCHING ABILITY: Even with your paddle turned upside down, it will glide into anything..")

or,

The Sunova Skate, 8/6, 8/10
("This fish proved to be a barrel machine, able to paddle in early, take fairly late drops, hold high and tight in the pocket and was snappy off the top. It wasn't long until he had refined the design to suit stand up surfers, and the fish design took off."
"Others just simply need something to spread out their quiver and give them something fun to ride when the waves are not quite appealing for their standard shorty.
Let's take a look at some of the variety of fish's you commonly see out in the water and what they can do for you.
For the most part, there are 3 common elements of a fish design that apply to the majority of the boards you see out there. Short, wide and thick. This gives you plenty of paddle power, planning ability, and keeps you surfing tight in the pocket--maybe not? These design elements make a fish the perfect board for those smaller, mushy days, as it'll will allow you to get into weaker waves with ease, and float right through flat sections. However, these boards can be extremely fun and functional in good quality waves and waves of size.")

or,

A performance longboard, Style, Stylemaster, Nalu Pro 10, New Deal, est. 10 foot long

Of sizes of comparable stability.

I've got a Skate XL 8'2 x 31.75 x 126L and a custom Surf 10'4" x 28.5 x 140L.

The longboard paddles into waves way easier - no contest.

The Skate has to be in a more critical spot to catch, right where it's about to break wheras the Surf can be paddled into just about anything.

Once you are on the wave they perform completely differently. Skate is super loose and wants to turn all the time (no drive), the Surf wants to do driving turns...or set up for a nose ride...

I can say the same thing for a Nalu Pro, Nalu 10'6, Style, Runway regarding ease onto mushy waves.

I have a stylmaster 10' & a hypernut 8'6.
No Sunova's or ever tried one.

Stability of the HP is far superior in mushy onshore waves, and catches waves fairly easy. The best part of the stability aspect is been able to get into position quickly, piviot turning.

The stylemaster is really nice in clean waves but tricky in bumpy mushy on shore waves. Facing the oncoming wave the turning to position for the peak can be tricky due to instability.

For me me the extra width and stability of the HP make it the go to board in mushy conditions.

Had a short stint with SUP short boards (narrow nose & tail, not the parallel shape board) and regardless of the condition I found you need to be an intermideate to advance rider to have fun.

with 10ft longboard my wave count is high and I can catch almost every wave from 1ft to overhead surf and maybe one day ride those sucky beach or reef breaks .

I haven't tried all the Sunova boards, but since you asked which catches waves earlier, my answer is the the glide of the performance long board all day long. The more interesting question is once you catch the wave, which is more fun... I sold all my Surf SUPs except a 7'4 Hypernut and 9' Laird Surfer performance long board and on a small mushy day it is a toss-up. The longboard catches waves easier but the Tomo shape of the HN allows shredding on waves that you would just ride down the line on the longboard.

Sooo, if length makes catching much easier, then a Tomo type rear "half" for a long board, especially with today's light board constructions, might offer the best of both? Was the ease of wave catching described for the shorter Shroom, ease relative to other short boards, or, just some promotional filler?

The possible hybrid would be a performance longboard for mush.

My present board of 7 years or so takes some paddling skill and effort to catch waves early, 8/11 x 30 x 130, and some learning how to position, and it gets much harder with side-offshore wind. It is also fairly slow once on a mushlet.

Hi Billekrub

All my feedback is based on you looking for a mushy wave board.

First... forget the 8'7 Shroom.... it is too big for you, judging from your other choices. The 8'3 Shroom is a fun board in smaller waves and worth considering. I have never had any problem catching waves on my 8'3 Skate and I am 109 kg.

After reading your posts, I would recommend the 8'10 Skate.

At 32" wide, I believe you will find it more stable than the 10 x 29 Surf at almost the exact same volume. I feel it actually catches waves easier than the longboard, because of the wide tail and low rocker and excellent paddle speed.

I have the 10'6 Surf, 9'2 Skate and 8'3 Shroom.
I ride the Skate most of the 3.
Stable, light, fast and really, really fun.
(check out my "Skate Park" video on it)

The Skate has a totally different style of surfing than the SURF, as discussed earlier, but noserides well and has a more performance feel to it.

If the board will have to handle, steep hollow waves then the Surf is the call, because the Skate's wide tail and lack of nose kick become problematic in suckier waves, IMO. The SURF is a ripper in all waves.

You can find video's on all these boards on my YouTube Channel.
but it won't let me link to the channel here.

Highly unpredictable wave peaks tends to indicate you need to be able to reposition yourself quickly . A "shorter" long style board may be a good compromise. Long boards can be hard to turn quickly when positioning for wave.
The Sunova Steeze looks promising or a JL Striker . I have a Speeed 8.8 and it catches 1-2 foot crap easily but takes effort to move it around . Personally I don't have the chops to do cut backs and crap anyway so it doesn't matter . I like to ride it down the line and pump it up and down the face - nothing to fancy. Plus the Speeed 8.8 ?llows me to creep up the nboard when chasing a wave and the super forgiving nose kick saves my ass all the time. In chop it can be unstable but you get use to it.
Another option could be a JP Surf Slate but no in between sizes 8'2 or 8'10.

Note: I am 63 kegs , a hack , and prefer surfing 1-3 foot bay surf

I'll pimp the Shroom 8'3 or an 8'0 (I have both, the 8'3 is mine and the 8'0 is on loan)

Breaks near me are onshore crumble, 2-4ft most of the time. We get lumpy windblown chop too and a rip side/on current (sounds rubbish doesn't it, well it's not always like that or I'd move.. sometimes it's waist high glassy ramps too)

Creek knows his stuff and has offered his opinion, so I'd take that first.

But I'm going to offer up the 8'3 Shroom. It's a wide board and short (you'll see that on Sunovas site) but it's so stable and flickable and slashy when you want it to be. I've found quite a few things I like about it, in cross chop it just doesn't faze it, small shin high crumble and it'll surf it and turn on it, shoulder high and not curling it'll gather speed quickly enabling you to do something on the wave before you hit the pit so freeing up thinking time too, curly formed waves it kinda isn't keen unless you work hard at the drop at keeping the nose out of the drink but this means stomping on the tail and it'll squish and bob a bit because it's a wide tail so you'll have to set yourself up before committing to dropping in. Float, it has plenty but it's not corky.. it sits well in the water with some overlap wash on the rails. Paddles well and fairly quick for a wide board enabling you to quickly turn on the tail and dig for the next wave.. it's smooth and glides well and stable making up for badly placed feet and off balance torso's. The deck whilst looking a bit "odd" is perfectly formed for crumble riding, simply forget about it and move your back foot to steer it and it'll dig in and go wherever you want it too.. The fins (all 4) I think are a bit big, yes it's designed for crumble and you need that stability and drive but I like a looser tail so I've been playing with smaller rear fins (PCC7's out of my other Sunovas) and finding these to be a little more upright and a bit better at loosening it up...but... I'm back to the stock fins and happy with the turn and drive in the crumble.

Plenty of Stubbies out there to try, RRD Cotan and Fanatics Stubby and JP's Slate and Deeps Minion (can't get hold of Deep over here in the UK which is a real shame because I can see them being perfect for over here) all similar designs, so don't just go on the back of my opinion, try them out too.

But have to say, I love the Shroom.. it's just a helluva lot of fun.

All IMO, HTH's

The Shroom and the riding of it in lump n bump surf sounds like my fat arse Slingshot Space Pickle 32 1/2 8'6 with XL twin Cutaways.
Twins let the board flex with the chop, turn Asap to catch n drop, XL let's you walk it full length . Turns a crap lookn day into a great solo sesh.
Shroom sounds like it got moore vroom, need to try Sunova

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Gboots said..
Highly unpredictable wave peaks tends to indicate you need to be able to reposition yourself quickly . A "shorter" long style board may be a good compromise. Long boards can be hard to turn quickly when positioning for wave.
The Sunova Steeze looks promising or a JL Striker . I have a Speeed 8.8 and it catches 1-2 foot crap easily but takes effort to move it around . Personally I don't have the chops to do cut backs and crap anyway so it doesn't matter . I like to ride it down the line and pump it up and down the face - nothing to fancy. Plus the Speeed 8.8 ?llows me to creep up the nboard when chasing a wave and the super forgiving nose kick saves my ass all the time. In chop it can be unstable but you get use to it.
Another option could be a JP Surf Slate but no in between sizes 8'2 or 8'10.

Note: I am 63 kegs , a hack , and prefer surfing 1-3 foot bay surf

I demoed the Speed (8'10 I think) at Pacific Paddle Games. It caught waves surprisingly easy--like a longboard and when on the wave was really fun to surf. If I didn't already own the Hypernut I might have considered a smaller Speed. Nice board!

My King's 8'8" Punisher Tomo style with slightly chined rails at 8'8" x 30.75" x 3.75" x 108 liters will paddle easily into one foot mush if you want to grovel in slop. I prefer not to, but when you must it is awesome.

It also performs really well in juicier hollow waves.

I owned a JP Slate and still have an Infinity Longboard Style Sup which is great.

The elusive one board for junk. Many choices. My winter choice prolly different than my summer choice.

YMMV!

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Hoppo3228 said..
I've got a Skate XL 8'2 x 31.75 x 126L and a custom Surf 10'4" x 28.5 x 140L.

The longboard paddles into waves way easier - no contest.

The Skate has to be in a more critical spot to catch, right where it's about to break wheras the Surf can be paddled into just about anything.

Once you are on the wave they perform completely differently. Skate is super loose and wants to turn all the time (no drive), the Surf wants to do driving turns...or set up for a nose ride...

I can say the same thing for a Nalu Pro, Nalu 10'6, Style, Runway regarding ease onto mushy waves.

Hoppo,

So, could one imagine a Surf front end, with Skate aft end, that paddles into waves easier AND "skates"? A thin, and pulled in front to keep the weight down and minimize exposure to offshore wind, ~10 foot long to have great paddle speed and catch anything.

If you had a longer, narrower Skate, than the XL, with more volume, do you think this could improve wave catching without sacrificing looseness in mush?

If you were chatting with STC, how would you respond to his statement that the Skate catches waves as easily as his Surf? Maybe his conditions and experience differ?

Select to expand quote

Hoppo3228 said..
I've got a Skate XL 8'2 x 31.75 x 126L and a custom Surf 10'4" x 28.5 x 140L.

The longboard paddles into waves way easier - no contest.

The Skate has to be in a more critical spot to catch, right where it's about to break wheras the Surf can be paddled into just about anything.

Once you are on the wave they perform completely differently. Skate is super loose and wants to turn all the time (no drive), the Surf wants to do driving turns...or set up for a nose ride...

I can say the same thing for a Nalu Pro, Nalu 10'6, Style, Runway regarding ease onto mushy waves.

Hoppo,

So, could one imagine a Surf front end, with Skate aft end, that paddles into waves easier AND "skates"? A thin, and pulled in front to keep the weight down and minimize exposure to offshore wind, ~10 foot long to have great paddle speed and catch anything.

If you had a longer, narrower Skate, than the XL, with more volume, do you think this could improve wave catching without sacrificing looseness in mush?

If you were chatting with STC, how would you respond to his statement that the Skate catches waves as easily as his Surf? Maybe his conditions and experience differ? His Skate Park video is impressive; however, so is the small wave, small yet loooong and smooth and consistent--not even close to what I see on small mushy days. It does give the impression of a loose board.

Billiekrub,

initially you asked what caught waves 'earlier'...thats a longboard, no contest, if you are asking 'easier' then its probably an even call. Paddle speed is lower on a shorter/wider skate so when the wave approaches the wide tail it 'pushes' the board onto the wave- so you feel the sensation of speed, whereas the longboard's paddle speed is higher so you can glide onto waves earlier.

yes a longer, narrower skate would paddle faster...but 10' would be too long Imo.

A similar board to what you are imagining is the SIC Fish. Basically perfect for what you are asking right out of the box. 9'5" x 29.6" x 145L. I've ridden one, super stable, fast to paddle and skatey on a wave...or you could get Sunova to make a custom... ie. 8'10" x 30" x 145L...

Also take a look at the new Sunova Steeze. I think the 8'10" is 30" wide. More stable than the Speed.