Just to let Supaholics know that, after muchos advice from this forum, I purchased a Sunova Speeed 8'10" and took it for its first surf this morning. Conditions were a little choppy with 3' waves, breaking left and right. I found the Speeed a fair bit tippy [after paddling my 9'6, 32 wide aircraft carrier] but ok as long as I kept moving. My first wave was a fast right and the board caught it easily and just flew! Next wave I ballsed completely [wrong position on the board, caught wave side-on, etc] Third wave was a left and after getting it I moved to steer from the back of the board and it was as though I was on my mal...fast, manoeuverable, stable and predictable. An absolute blast! A few more waves and I had to go in but, after this one session, I am stoked! I know there's a lot to learn [and not enough years left to do it] but I'm so glad I got this stick. Thanks to everyone for the advice. [PS: No, I have no financial or familial interest in Sunova. I've tried a number of boards and could have been happy with most of them. Sunova just peaked my interest]

Hey CaptainJimbo,

How much do you weigh?

Cool, glad you like the board.

I sometimes have balance problems in wave cross mush, the stuff that is leftover after the wave has past. I use the dig hard and paddle quickly to get out of it as soon as I can, only takes a good few strokes to clear it but it's well worth the effort.
Also bumpy chop is a pain, again watch for what's about to come and I've found digging a rail in that's closest to the chop will steady the board as long as you are paddling forward.

Turning off the tail is where this board flies, get your foot back either on or just passed the rear channels and it'll light up.

Going back to bigger or wider boards feels very odd now, almost like they're too big for the surf.

And I too trawled this and other forums for advice before buying mine, there are some great folks on here with vast experience.

Sunovabuoy would a 9'2 have made any real difference to stability .....or is the instability really due to the inherit design of the board ?

BRodd...I weigh 74 Kg and stand about 5' 9" [no idea what that is in cm] and am 69 years old. Still have plenty of strength but not as flexible as I once was. I'm sure the board is going to suit me fine. I toyed with the idea of a 9'2 or 9'5 but realised I'd be after a shorter board before long. I'll post more after a few more rides.
[ To all the grammarians out there I realise I should have used "piqued" rather than "peaked"...my bad!]
Also I don't think the board is inherently unstable. I'm sure it's just my inexperience and the fact that where I regularly surf there is a tidal current, passing boats, often backwash as well as waves! It's enough to test most of the Sup riders.

Yeah ^^ we have a rip on an ebb and if the Swell is running over it the mush gets bumpy, that's what I'm talking about.
Its not inherently unstable, no. It can be a bit of a wobble if you are not moving forward, that's what I've found. Also, I've a mate with an 8'5 speeed and he thinks the same, so we just get used to a wobble during the paddle out or post wave catch.
The 9'2/5 was never going to be my choice, for where I surf the 8'10 is bang on, in fact I'd go down to 8'8 and put up with more wobble just because the board is such good fun surfing.
My break is about 1/2 mile out on a sand bar, on the inside paddling out we do get rips and chop hence me bringing up the "wobble" point.
The board will always be in my quiver now, I simply can not envisage selling it.

My next board will be either a Flow 8'7 or Acid 8'10, I've yet to choose..

Oh, I'm 82kgs wet and 5'10.

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SunovaBouy said..
Yeah ^^ we have a rip on an ebb and if the Swell is running over it the mush gets bumpy, that's what I'm talking about.
Its not inherently unstable, no. It can be a bit of a wobble if you are not moving forward, that's what I've found. Also, I've a mate with an 8'5 speeed and he thinks the same, so we just get used to a wobble during the paddle out or post wave catch.
The 9'2/5 was never going to be my choice, for where I surf the 8'10 is bang on, in fact I'd go down to 8'8 and put up with more wobble just because the board is such good fun surfing.
My break is about 1/2 mile out on a sand bar, on the inside paddling out we do get rips and chop hence me bringing up the "wobble" point.
The board will always be in my quiver now, I simply can not envisage selling it.

My next board will be either a Flow 8'7 or Acid 8'10, I've yet to choose..

Oh, I'm 82kgs wet and 5'10.

I'm 6'1" and 100kgs and have the 8'10" Acid. At your weight/size I think the 8'10" Acid will be too big for you but will also depend on your skill level.