As I mentioned in the Merimbula 2017 thread, I paddled a Sunova 12' Search demonstrator board up there.
Going to Merimbula, I was not in the market for a new board, particularly not a surf sup.
For some reason related to my own weirdness, the older, obscure stuff interests me more.
I of course looked at the new stuff on offer on Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Chatted to AA, but Sunova in particular didn't interest me.
I have met Bert a couple of times in Merimbula, was impressed by him and loved his enthusiasm and passion.
Most of the surf range is and will remain beyond my abilities.
Helmy was demoing his private demonstrator "Creek" board, looked Ok, not for me.
I watched the BOP race on Sunday, had a couple of beers, was walking back to the unit to start packing up.
As I passed the Sunova tent, I swear something called out "Psst, Nozza"
There was no one there, but this board was lying there.


I had a good look, liked it, went and got Aloha Hugo to tell me to stop being stupid.
He came back, checked it out with me.



He agreed it looked nice, I probably would have left it there, but AA showed up and said "Take it for a paddle".
Shore break was bigger than I was comfortable with, there was probably a 15 knot cross wind and wind chop, I wasn't that keen.
Hugo said he would demo another board with me, we went and donned rubber, headed out.
I could barely stand in the wind chop, board was less stable than I expected - felt a lot like a 12' PSH which is narrower.
But I caught waves!
This may not seem like much, but my lifetime wave count is very low.
I could surf in, step back, turn it in the shallows, paddle out.
Moving forward and back seemed easy - I could even move too far back trying to get on a wave and stall it.
Still unconvinced, conditions weren't that pleasant.
Was carrying it back up, AA was coming the other way, I asked if it was OK to take the board up to the inlet - no worries.
Well, one worry - it's close to a kilometer carry.
Trying that with a PSH Gun would near kill me, carried it up, swapping arms twice.
Felt much nicer in the inlet, I got more confident, paddled out the entrance, over the bar, downwinded back down to Main Beach.
Starting to be impressed.
Returned the board, had a beer with Helmy, went and found AA.
Said the board was nice, but I really don't like the balsa look, or the prominent signage.
He said "Order a custom then, any colour, any design, any tint you want".
Now I'm getting interested.
Sent myself away for a cooling off period in the shower.
Found myself sitting down and making some notes, basic colour layout, a couple of small tweaks.
Accessed my stash of paddle cash in the Kombi, went back up and found AA at Kerry's Bar.
He gave me a beer.
Showed him my sketch, handled over an amount of cash for a deposit.
Got back to Melbourne, work, starting to wonder if handing over an envelope of cash to someone in a Merimbula park was really such a good idea.
Then this arrived in my email........



Unbelievably impressed I can get my own custom from a major manufacturer.
Thanks Andrew, Dylan Burger, Sunova.
Now the wait......

oh maan!

Let us us know what it's like when you get hold of it, pics too ta.

Wow, what a story! I want one too! That is a sweet looking ride!

What will you do about a deck pad? Wax instead?

Select to expand quote

cantSUPenough said..
Wow, what a story! I want one too! That is a sweet looking ride!

What will you do about a deck pad? Wax instead?

Current plan is to do my own pad in red and white to match the board colours - I have ordered pads.
If I can bear to cover it up.
Or I have been thinking about hexatraction lately.

Rev 1 of the design, slight change to logo placement.

Love it. Cracking, versatile board from micro ankle snappers to major rolling mountains.

Nice. Red ones go faster! Did you change the shape or rocker,volume? What is the nose and tail rocker on this board. Which construction is it. Looks like a great all round board.

Select to expand quote

tarquin1 said..
Nice. Red ones go faster! Did you change the shape or rocker,volume? What is the nose and tail rocker on this board. Which construction is it. Looks like a great all round board.

No change to dimensions - I think Bert knows more about these things than me.
basic dimensions

Rocker I only know as what's shown on the drawings.

Nooza.... I like your style, awesome retro custom color!!!!
Funny how some things call to you, if you walk too close..... pissst, over here!

I have been having sooooo much fun on my 14' Search, that I started putting together snip-it clips.

Rocker pic.

Great looking board. Thanks for the rocker pic.

Dig the red panels.

Select to expand quote

Nozza said..
As I mentioned in the Merimbula 2017 thread, I paddled a Sunova 12' Search demonstrator board up there.
Going to Merimbula, I was not in the market for a new board, particularly not a surf sup.
For some reason related to my own weirdness, the older, obscure stuff interests me more.
I of course looked at the new stuff on offer on Thursday, Friday, Saturday. Chatted to AA, but Sunova in particular didn't interest me.
I have met Bert a couple of times in Merimbula, was impressed by him and loved his enthusiasm and passion.
Most of the surf range is and will remain beyond my abilities.
Helmy was demoing his private demonstrator "Creek" board, looked Ok, not for me.
I watched the BOP race on Sunday, had a couple of beers, was walking back to the unit to start packing up.
As I passed the Sunova tent, I swear something called out "Psst, Nozza"
There was no one there, but this board was lying there.


I had a good look, liked it, went and got Aloha Hugo to tell me to stop being stupid.
He came back, checked it out with me.



He agreed it looked nice, I probably would have left it there, but AA showed up and said "Take it for a paddle".
Shore break was bigger than I was comfortable with, there was probably a 15 knot cross wind and wind chop, I wasn't that keen.
Hugo said he would demo another board with me, we went and donned rubber, headed out.
I could barely stand in the wind chop, board was less stable than I expected - felt a lot like a 12' PSH which is narrower.
But I caught waves!
This may not seem like much, but my lifetime wave count is very low.
I could surf in, step back, turn it in the shallows, paddle out.
Moving forward and back seemed easy - I could even move too far back trying to get on a wave and stall it.
Still unconvinced, conditions weren't that pleasant.
Was carrying it back up, AA was coming the other way, I asked if it was OK to take the board up to the inlet - no worries.
Well, one worry - it's close to a kilometer carry.
Trying that with a PSH Gun would near kill me, carried it up, swapping arms twice.
Felt much nicer in the inlet, I got more confident, paddled out the entrance, over the bar, downwinded back down to Main Beach.
Starting to be impressed.
Returned the board, had a beer with Helmy, went and found AA.
Said the board was nice, but I really don't like the balsa look, or the prominent signage.
He said "Order a custom then, any colour, any design, any tint you want".
Now I'm getting interested.
Sent myself away for a cooling off period in the shower.
Found myself sitting down and making some notes, basic colour layout, a couple of small tweaks.
Accessed my stash of paddle cash in the Kombi, went back up and found AA at Kerry's Bar.
He gave me a beer.
Showed him my sketch, handled over an amount of cash for a deposit.
Got back to Melbourne, work, starting to wonder if handing over an envelope of cash to someone in a Merimbula park was really such a good idea.
Then this arrived in my email........



Unbelievably impressed I can get my own custom from a major manufacturer.
Thanks Andrew, Dylan Burger, Sunova.
Now the wait......

Pleasure Nozza! Such a good read! We always love the stoke we get back on the Sunova customs. So cool to see the development of such a styling board from concept to design drawings to the real thing. Loved your design sketch BTW!

It was this way up though.

Select to expand quote

Nozza said..
It was this way up though.

Must be a Mac thing. Why does it do that, hey Laurie!?

Slight design alteration - forward fin box for light wind windsurfing.


I found these blanking plates on line to fill the box when not in use.

Just ordered a 12" search yesterday and I think my wifey is packing my bags today

Select to expand quote

rockmagnet said..
Just ordered a 12" search yesterday and I think my wifey is packing my bags today

and I wonder what stage is Nozza?

You will live that board. Took 12 ft venom out to Bay today and it caught everything ......and it's a good thing that it paddles fast because when I saw what I assume was a Bull Shark about 20 m from me I didn't fall in and I was out if there in a jiffy

Select to expand quote

rockmagnet said..
Just ordered a 12" search yesterday and I think my wifey is packing my bags today

rockmagnet - order an extra bag too. You can live in it.

Select to expand quote

Gboots said..
You will live that board. Took 12 ft venom out to Bay today and it caught everything ......and it's a good thing that it paddles fast because when I saw what I assume was a Bull Shark about 20 m from me I didn't fall in and I was out if there in a jiffy

The Venom is simply the best:-)

Select to expand quote

JEG said..

rockmagnet said..
Just ordered a 12" search yesterday and I think my wifey is packing my bags today

and I wonder what stage is Nozza?

Waiting on final design spec. sheet, production wait is 8 to 10 weeks, probably mid February.
Will be worth the wait.
Hope to update with photos during production.
And if that wasn't the question, wifey packed my bags several boards ago.
Or several years ago.
Or several skiffs ago.
Still hanging in there.......

Select to expand quote

Helmy said..

rockmagnet said..
Just ordered a 12" search yesterday and I think my wifey is packing my bags today

rockmagnet - order an extra bag too. You can live in it.

No Sunova bag for the Search yet, but they are working on it.
So if you need an extra room added, let us know.

Select to expand quote

Smash1 said..

Gboots said..
You will live that board. Took 12 ft venom out to Bay today and it caught everything ......and it's a good thing that it paddles fast because when I saw what I assume was a Bull Shark about 20 m from me I didn't fall in and I was out if there in a jiffy

The Venom is simply the best:-)

I'm sure the Vemon is a wonderful board.
Deserves its' own thread.......

Final design spec arrived today.

Decent nose rocker . Nice

The Board exists!
Photos from inside the factory.










Thanks Dylan for the photos.

Looks awesome Nozza !!
Won't be long now?

Select to expand quote

supthecreek said..
Looks awesome Nozza !!
Won't be long now?

When are you coming out for a visit STC?

Nice.
My eyes are bleeding from trying to find my board in the background!

what a great idea ...a big wave board ...with some rocker ...
what a snake machine that will be