need a large surf sup for smaller conditions and when it's super choppy ( which in Perth is a lot of the time) narrowed it down to a Sunova I think but wanted to gain some feedback on the Flow vs the Speed. Both same length and volume with similar amounts of nose rocker BUT totally different outlines. Spent a few days on the Speed and like it but yet to see a Flow in the flesh.

Any my info greatly appreciated

phil

I would say for the conditions you describe the speeed will be better. Traditional shapes like the flow tend to prefer better waves. Saying that I have had my speeed in solid waves and it rips.

Phil, my experience is with the Speeed and Flow at 8'10 and larger.

I always prefer the Speeed over the Flow in sizes 9'2 and bigger, for all conditions.

I had a winter to compare the 9'5 and 9'2 Speeed vs the 9'2 Flow... and the winner was clearly the Speeed IMO
The 9'2 Speeed seems to be a magic size for paddling speed... I was amazed how fast it moves off the paddle!

Some differences:
The Speeed paddles straighter and likes your weight forward, as you paddle into a wave
The Flow's curvier outline tends to yaw more and likes weight more toward the middle or back when paddling into a wave
Both are stable
Both catch waves easily

Personally, I like the larger Speeeds over the larger Flow, because I am not a fan of width in the back of any board.
In the longer Flows, the width, forward of the fins, is a bit much, for my taste.
It helps a lot in catching waves, and it creates a big sweet spot for a speed burst on a takeoff, but it doesn't match my bottom turn as well as the Speeed
At the 8'10 size, that width on the Flow is fine.... I like it a lot more than the larger size.

I have not had quite enough time on the 8'10 vs 8'10, in a head to head.... This is where I think the differences would start to get really fun, on both of them.
I had one good session on the 8'10 Flow.... enough to know that it suits me much better than the 9'2.... it felt totally solid in bottom turns.
The Smaller Flows skate more than the Speeed, and turn a bit snappier up the face.
I am really looking forward to more time on the 8'10 Flow

As far as nose rocker..... the kick in the Speeed nose is in it's own league, it never pushes under or sticks in, on takeoff.

Bert has done an amazing job designing these boards..... each one is a different experience, so it is up to how you like to surf.
I personally could justify having all of them.... they each offer a totally unique ride.

I have a speeed in 9.2 and you can't go wrong with that, fast, stable, corners like its on rails a blast, go get one

Thanks for the info guys especially SUPthecreek, very detailed and informative

phil

If your target is small waves and messy conditions then I would go Speeeed.

If you want fun on the wave I would go Flow.

(I have the 8'10 Speeed and the 8'7 Flow (and I am 90 kg) so not the exact comparison you are looking for.)

How does sizing work on the speed ? or litres ?

how does the length of speed compare to more conventional boards? would you get one shorter than normal or go longer ?

norm, I am comfortable on a size similar to what I would ride in a conventional shape.
The Speeed is fairly narrow with nicely foiled rails, so I can't go any shorter that the 8'10's I usually ride.
My normal conventional shape has bounced around 8'10, 8'11 with widths around 31"
The 8'10 Speeed is 29 1/8" wide, so the nose helps balance out the drop in width.
There are 15 less liters than most of my conventional shapes because of the foiled rails, nose and tail.

Hey supthecreek. I enjoyed your detailed reviews as always, but now I have a question which exposes my never ending lack of word comprehension. You used the term "skate" to describe the Flow, and I have heard that term for years with versions like "skatey" or "skateboardy". Even though I have usually nodded my head knowingly, I must admit that I have never really been clear about what board characteristic this describes. I understand terms like loose, stiff, slidey, grippy, guick, pivoty, drivey, and many more; but skate has been one that I have never had a clear picture of in terms of board performance.
When you have a minute, would you mind helping me, and maybe some other definition deprived sorts, by coming up with some ways to describe how this feels and functions, and maybe what some opposite terms would be.
Hopefully not hi-jacking this thread since this still relates to describing the Flow in relation to the Speeed.
Thanks Creek.

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obijohn said..
Hey supthecreek. I enjoyed your detailed reviews as always, but now I have a question which exposes my never ending lack of word comprehension. You used the term "skate" to describe the Flow, and I have heard that term for years with versions like "skatey" or "skateboardy". Even though I have usually nodded my head knowingly, I must admit that I have never really been clear about what board characteristic this describes. I understand terms like loose, stiff, slidey, grippy, guick, pivoty, drivey, and many more; but skate has been one that I have never had a clear picture of in terms of board performance.
When you have a minute, would you mind helping me, and maybe some other definition deprived sorts, by coming up with some ways to describe how this feels and functions, and maybe what some opposite terms would be.
Hopefully not hi-jacking this thread since this still relates to describing the Flow in relation to the Speeed.
Thanks Creek.

Bloody good question, I'll second that!

ha ha... I seem to make up words or terms to describe things.

This time it expresses what the Flow felt like when pumping down the line, when trimmed in the center of the board.
The curvy rail line lets you pump down the line more like a skateboard, in quick pumping carves to build speed. You only stay on the rail for a quick carve, then unweight, reload and pump again.

The Speeed has more parallel rails, so when pumping down the line, on the middle of the board, the turns are longer and more drawn out. On this board, the speed comes more from rail line "carry" than an ability to pump quickly.

Can the speeed be compared to say the hyper nut in stability i.e. Due to the straight rails nose ? I am wanting to get a 8'10 I have a 9'5 allwave 170 ltrs am 193 cm tall and 104 kg but I demo'd a nut 8'6 in glassy conditions ended up with sore legs from balance but was not to bad stability wise , can I just say I did notice punching through waves getting back out was tougher on the nut but I see the speeed has a much thinner nose . Basically I want someone to tell me to get the 9'2 or the 8'10 because this has been doing my head in for months now cheers K

Krist.... the Speeed does not lose a lot between sizes like so many other boards.
I am heavier than you and rode a 9'5 all winter. It was too big for me, but it surfed great anyway.

I will go on record by advising you, because of your height, to go with the 9'2.
I liked that size so much, I would be happy with it year round.... it paddles better than the other sizes and surfs easily and well.

The 8'10 at 29 1/8 wide and 130 L would be a workout, but I think, after the initial adjustment phase... the 9'2 will make you happy.

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supthecreek said..
Krist.... the Speeed does not lose a lot between sizes like so many other boards.
I am heavier than you and rode a 9'5 all winter. It was too big for me, but it surfed great anyway.

I will go on record by advising you, because of your height, to go with the 9'2.
I liked that size so much, I would be happy with it year round.... it paddles better than the other sizes and surfs easily and well.

The 8'10 at 29 1/8 wide and 130 L would be a workout, but I think, after the initial adjustment phase... the 9'2 will make you happy.

Thanks STC , i knew that would be the case just wanted to hear it from someone I trust with the Sunova boards what a shame my 5 month old allwave 9'5 2015 will only get $1000 trade in but interestingly I found out the pure is the same board as the hrs just a different paint job won't fall for that one again

Hi Krist i went from 8.10 allwave to 8.10 speed and all i can say is you will never regret the change.The speed is a superb upgrade,I finally got to ride an 8.5 speed recently and as STC remarks the drop in size makes little difference to the stability.The 17 ltr drop was no problem adjusting to.The 8.10 is my preferred of the two , i just think it suits the types of waves i ride regularly a little better.Im 85kgs and about 180cm so if you wanted to do the sums on ltrs to kgs to cm this may help.I have ridden the 9,2 speed many times and as STC says its a ripper board.Good luck and good surfing.

chop tends to bounce surface area off the face/surface of the water . speed has a lot of area squashed into a shorter rail line..the soul would work. dean

chop tends to bounce surface area off the face/surface of the water . speed has a lot of area squashed into a shorter rail line..the soul would work. dean

krist /normster -get the same litres as you usually get and take the matching length in the speed..match the model to the wave it is designed for & select your prefered literage.easy.dean