Hello,
Coming from a slingshot spacepickle 2014 /9.4/205 L and surfing mostly in max chest high waves, i am looking to upgrade to a more performance board cause i see the board now is limiting me. If it is bigger i go prone surfing or kiting.
So i saw the boards mentioned in the title. What are the differences in the water. I am 88 kg and would consider me as an advanced intermediate.
Thanks for your support.

I don't know the JP but I own/have owned the two Starboards. I found the Hero with it's wide football shape tended to yaw too much when I was paddling for a wave so I'd find myself sideways at the critical moment. The Hypernut on the other hand, with its indented waist on the otherwise relatively straight rail allows me to maintain direction while paddling for the wave. Beyond that, the Hypernut is more nimble on the wave in my opinion. I think it is a better option for your progression.

So that means the hypernut also goes in flat water better straight without changing paddel side too often? So the hn is also the better allrounder?

I would think an 8'6 Hypernut would be way too big for you if you are 88kg and advanced intermediate

You would be more like suited to one around the 7'8 size or even smaller

Definately try to demo one if you can

Go the hypernut. Best blend of stability and performance out of those boards mentioned.

205L is a truly amazing amount of volume to cram into a 9.4 board. You don't usually see that much volume on a sup under 11 feet long.

Is there a reason you are looking at those particular boards? With the wide body and hero you would be going from a beginner board to a slightly smaller beginner board. Id be a little worried that you wouldn't get as much of a performance boost as you would like. If you need to pick from the three, Id go hypernut, but there are probably better options out there for you.

I am about 90 kg right now (6') including suit and my 8' wood HN is quite stable and very reactive. I think I may be able to handle 7'8 but like the security of the 8' for handling in most conditions and higher weight after winter.

But if you are coming from 205L, 34" which is huge and very very stable (especially lateral), I would not jump directly below 8' unless you are supping mostly in clean conditions. Short board are different than your current type and need to adapt.

Note also you have much less glide on shorter board that you are used to.

Maybe 8' could be good size as transition if you are confident in catching up on your balance but best is always to try out before.

I urge you to check out the sunova speed 8.10.A superb craft at 130 ltrs and def will advance surfing enjoyment.My mate has the 8.6 hypernut and the sunover speed and i tell you the only one i see him on these days is the speed.But if you are keen on a carbonHN he will gladly move it on.Good luck.

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pampel said..
So that means the hypernut also goes in flat water better straight without changing paddel side too often? So the hn is also the better allrounder?

Ah, no I wouldn't say that's the case. The Hypernut is not an allrounder at all. I think the square nose is not conducive to flatwater paddling for an extended period.

Funnily enough I got to try the 8'6 carbon hypernut on flatwafter yesterday. It was a 20litre drop for me

Super stable
Paddles very straight and tracked well for such a short board and given it has a 4 fin set up
Did not glide so well but not much worse than the 9'5 speeed which was surprising

Not an all rounder but I wasn't cursing paddling the board for 90 minutes
i am 64 kg

So, I have been on the hypernut for a few months now. I would suggest I am an advanced surfer and when I go the first hypernut I was 105kg (I got the 7'8). simply put if it was smooth water it was a dream to surf. However, it was just a little too small. So I went up to the 8 footer. I have since dropped about 10kg and I reckon the 8 footer is probably a bit too big now. I reckon if you are around 90kg I would be grabbing the 7'8. It may be a small challenge to get used to but it would be a better long term board imo.

Thank you very much for all of your comments. Maybe the best is to try another board. So overall the hypernut in 8 should do the job best for me. I was just alittle concerned about the glide, cause like I wrote, I never paddle in waves bigger than chest. So in these kind of the waves, the face in not large enough to do radical carves or cutbacks. Are all these three boards that different?
I also tried the this slingshot board in 9 foot with 163 L and was amazed how good it turns and still is very stablehttp://www.nauticexpo.de/prod/slingshot/product-21978-474982.html

Okay so the thing with the Hypernut is that you don't sit as far out the back. It's more like you need to be where the prone long boarders would take off and you take the drop from there. So it's not about the glide or speed so much as you rely on the wave energy. At least that's my experience. Less than chest high waves are what the board is made for.

Just to throw in a curveball I would also suggest looking at wider surf sups in the 8'8 size, jp wide body, Naish hokua x32, starboard airborne, any of these could make a good fit

I recognized, that there is a board which could also be good for my needs. The starboard wide point in 8.10
Has anybody experienced the difference between this and the hero?
I think, it will come down to one of those twos, because I like to take of early and like some of you said, the hypernut has not so good glide and takes off pretty late.

Hi,

I think going to 8' or sub- would be too radical for you coming from a huge board and your weight.

I made the experience myself but again this is depending on the typical conditions you have at your spot.

Wide point in this range 8.5 to 9 or wide body even shorter could be a smoother transition.