nicobrucker... I have literally just come in from a small session on the new casey flow 8'8. It was rubbish on shore rough and I mean ****e conditions. But sun is out and wanted to get a feel of the new board ( only 4th session).. Im 96+ kegs 55 Y/o and consume too many beers !!!
Iam blown away by how stable this board is, far better than my 9'1 creek ( sorry rick)..it was catching anything from ankle high slappers up the waves were so lumpy but the board handled it well and again was stable in the mush. Punching out through waves is effortless, still riding it as a quad as it is so much fun. Waiting for a good day to try it as a thruster back to back.
I really think it is the step, super fine rails, that give the board the stability with my weight the tail and rails are pretty much under water and I actually stand well in front of the handle.
I havent ridden any SMik's but there is a lot of love for them and scotty is a ripping bloke so Im sure he would be a great source of info for you. As they say in the classics demo demo demo.....My parting gift for you is that the casey flow WILL be my keeper ..

I'm 95kg and ride a 108L flow 2 and a 108L smik hipster ( not ridden a spitfire).

I also had a 8'10 flow for a bit but found it too big.

Both are very stable boards fast fun an agile.

The flow 2 loves its top to bottom surfing and hard turns. Its very easy to catch waves on with the wide tail and punches through chop very easily. It prone paddle really well with the narrower nose.

The hipster is also super stable with its wide nose. But the tail sinks very easily so you have to be slightly forward to find your balance point. It surfs unbelievably well it loves changing direction quickly and slides the tail with so little effort it is super super fun.

I personally think the smik construction is stronger than the new tr3 boards. But I would not hesitate to buy another tr3.

Nugdam said..
I'm 95kg and ride a 108L flow 2 and a 108L smik hipster ( not ridden a spitfire).

I also had a 8'10 flow for a bit but found it too big.

Both are very stable boards fast fun an agile.

The flow 2 loves its top to bottom surfing and hard turns. Its very easy to catch waves on with the wide tail and punches through chop very easily. It prone paddle really well with the narrower nose.

The hipster is also super stable with its wide nose. But the tail sinks very easily so you have to be slightly forward to find your balance point. It surfs unbelievably well it loves changing direction quickly and slides the tail with so little effort it is super super fun.

I personally think the smik construction is stronger than the new tr3 boards. But I would not hesitate to buy another tr3.

Wow 108 Lt is challenging for our weight isn't it?!
Which size is that? The 8'10 is 131 lt, big difference.
Do you think that from the 8'10 flow to 8'8 flow 126 lt will make a big difference in manoeuvrability?

Jeroensurf said..
I tried a couple of different sizes flows and only 2Smiks in that size (i,m 95kg as well) and the real different is in the approach:The Sunova,s feel like bigger surfboard shapes with the lower volume rail and more absorbing/softer forgiving kinda feel but do feel lower in volume as I was thinking looking at the numbers.The Smik very much feel to me a like a windsurfboard but not in a bad way. They surf pretty much like the better carbon starboards with a stiff, no flex but very precise and direct and feeling more performance because of that.
Imo is that construction and feel way more important as all the performance differences in wich one you gonna like.

Personal I prefer the Smik/Starboard kinda feel, but nothing more personal as boardfeel.

Jeron, you are spot on... in the past, most Sunova's were all a tad low volume, thin rail performance boards, that required a certain amount of skill or a larger size to be comfortable.

The new shapes are not only giving great performance, they are more stable, as bomberdave said.
Wider at every size, so stable while keeping the low performance rails.

Nicobrucker, another Sunova to give serious consideration is the Placid, as Tardy mentioned.
at 72 years old, I am very comfortable riding 135 liter Placid at 108 kg. (w/v = 1.25)

You would be super stable on Placid 8'7 x 31.5 at 125 liters.... and the board rips in the kind of waves you ride SUP in.
A very forgiving nose, that is a bit fuller, so volume is forward. Tail is thin with ample kick.
With volume forward, it sits well in the water and is super solid paddling and driving into waves.

Very loose and snappy with decent drive. A very relaxing and fun board.
I favor Quad set up with 3" rears.

I have never seen the new Flow 2.0, so I can't comment on that.
bomberdave said:
"Iam blown away by how stable this board is, far better than my 9'1 creek ( sorry rick)"
ha ha.. no worries my friend, the Flow 2.0 is supposed to be way more stable than the Creek enjoy the heck out of it!