Loving my 8'10 PLACID
Super stoked about that, because.... I didn't like my 9'1 at all

It appears to me, that size matters with this board.
The nose on the 9'1 just reached the point where it seemed too big for me... not an issue at all with the 8'10
If you ride a 9'1 Placid or larger, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.... because I shouldn't have the the only opinion on Placids over 9'

I have found this to be true on several shapes.... love the boards under 9'0, but somehow they don't work for me at over 9'0.
That's important to me since most of my boards are over 9'0

Many boards are equally good, throughout the full range of sizes.
Seems more to do with each individual shape, rather than numbers alone.

supthecreek said..
Loving my 8'10 PLACID
Super stoked about that, because.... I didn't like my 9'1 at all

It appears to me, that size matters with this board.
The nose on the 9'1 just reached the point where it seemed too big for me... not an issue at all with the 8'10
If you ride a 9'1 Placid or larger, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it.... because I shouldn't have the the only opinion on Placids over 9'

I have found this to be true on several shapes.... love the boards under 9'0, but somehow they don't work for me at over 9'0.
That's important to me since most of my boards are over 9'0

Many boards are equally good, throughout the full range of sizes.
Seems more to do with each individual shape, rather than numbers alone.

Ooooo Creeky. I am sooo tempted!!!

AlexF said..
Creek, how many days do you get in a month regularly?
Because your ratio 1.2 is quite above the advanced mark.
And are these shown scenes the most choppy conditions you have to handle with the board?

Hi Alex

I live in an area where I can surf fairly often.
Much of the year my local winds are offshore
When storms roll through, I drive a few hours to breaks where the wind is offshore as the storm passes.

In July, I surfed 22 days in a row at home

I don't suffer choppy conditions much, since I usually have clean waves within reach.

Nice video Rick! Just out of curiosity what is the closest board in the Sunova range that would come close to the placid in your opinion?

Thanks

anchorpoint said..
Nice video Rick! Just out of curiosity what is the closest board in the Sunova range that would come close to the placid in your opinion?

Thanks

That's a really good question anchor!
I am making a video for myself, to compare the two I talk about in the end of my reply.... trying to figure out which one I surf better.

In the strictly "Sunova" range, my answer is:
None
(well, ok, there is one, down below... from the GenRation line)

The Placid is a stand alone shape, using a nice combo of:
rolled up tail rocker
Excellent nose kick
Super thin, step down tail
Wider through the nose: adds a LOT of stability
Plus
Size for size, the Placid is wider than most Sunovas

I figure people will question each shape, so here is my take
Using my 8'10 as the comp:

Placid..... 8'10 x 32.25 @ 135 liters

Skate...... 8'10 x 32 @ 141 liters - wide tail, low rocker, thruster only = totally different style of riding, more "skating" style of turns

Shroom.. 8'11 x 34.5 @ 160 liters ---- is much bigger than the Placid, totally different shape... my 8'3 is a better comp, but not as easy.

Creek ..... 8'10 x 30.25 @ 125 liter - much narrower, lower volume, much less stable. Better in big waves.
plus the channels and thruster don't seem to be as loose as the Placid. No Quad option.

Flash... 8'9 x 30.3 @ 122 liters - much narrower, lower volume but may surf somewhat similar with the same quad setup in decent surf.
I have my first Flash, but spent all summer on my other new boards because they are more stable
and the beach I surf has Great Whites every single day, so at dawn, I choose stable boards
original
Flow... 8'10 x 31.1 @ 131 liters - Similar stability but my 8'10 Flow seemed rather ordinary. I stopped surfing it years ago.
I am stoked for the 9'0 Flow 2.0 that I have coming... the new numbers and shape look awesome!


Ok.... there is another Sunova that does compare:
from the GenRation line by Sunova
SP25...... 8'11 x 32 @ 150 liters - Pointier nose, more volume, but the Placid is easier for me when I am tired.
I do believe the SP25 surfs slightly better, somehow smoother and more snap in turns.
The Placid is more forgiving with more beef in the nose.
Since the SP25 was designed for a world champion Sean Poynter working with Bert Burger for almost 2 years, I would expect all of the above!
GenRations (by Sunova) can be seen on their own website
genration.com/collections/boards

my 8'11 SP25 and 8'10 Placid are very different boards but have a lot of similarities when surfing them


SP nose is thin and pointy Placid nose is wider with more meat
SP tail is thicker and a bit wider Placid tail is very thin and stepped
both have 5 fin boxes

Hoppo3228 said..
Hey Rick,

Can you tell any difference in the flex / smoothness between the Paulownia and the Balsa boards?

Cheers!

Hi Hoppo

I cannot.
It was something I looked for when I got my first TR3 Sunovas, but no difference that I can tell
except one thing: they are lighter... at least the boards I have.

I have a custom on the way in vapour lite so should be interesting to see how it turns out. My new custom Flow is in team construction and light and seems as tough as usual.

I have never asked for a board in a specific lay-up schedule like Vapor.
My waves are pretty crunchy and I have no problem with standard Sunova tec.

I have been told that it is possible I have actually gotten boards in "Team" build.... but I have never asked.

I don't think standard GenRation boards are glassed lighter... but ALL boards can be any lamination level at no extra cost.
GenRation boards are generally more volume at any given size, so they would be heavier than another Sunova at same length
Flash 9'0 = 133 L
SP25 8'11 = 150 L
Wedge 8'11 = 153 L

The advantage is you can ride a shorter GenRation
Flash 9'0 = 133 L
SP25 8'8 = 138 L
Wedge 8'5 = 129 L



To keep thread topic in my reply..... here's another shot of my 8'10 Placid

Hoppo3228 said..
Thanks. Nice pic too

Have you tried the placid as a MR twinny+1 and as a thruster? I noticed only quads in the video...

I first rode my 9'1 as a thruster, cuz I have always been a thruster guy....
Have only ridden the 8'10 as a quad with 3.5' rears, because I totally love that fin set up on the Placid.

I have recently decided to throw my MR Twins in the 8'10..... but the wind has been howling onshore for a week.
This board may be perfect as a Twinzer, hopefully I'll get a chance to find out before even I am forced into a wetsuit
I won't run a nubster center at first.... but I do have a kinda cool new one to try!

At the moment, my plan is to lose weight, so I can ride it on clean winter days, but it's already underwater

slsurf said..
What model fins are the 3.5 rears you use? I was thinking of trying 2 symmetrical center trailer fins.

I have used both standard sides and center trailer fins.... I can't tell the difference, I think because they are so small that it's hard to notice.
My main goal with small rears is to loosen the tail so it will drift reliably when I need it to.

My smallest rears are old fiberglass sides from a original 12'6 Starboard Cruiser (2007?)
They are the red/black chipped ones. They are symmetrical center fin style.... shorter base

The black ones are really old plastic asymmetrical sides 3.6"... longer base. Very flexy and slippery fun.

All my Futures Quads in my GenRation boards are Ho Stevie sets with the same stats as the FCS in pic #2
Difference being is mine are fiberglass honeycomb Futures

This link is to plastic HO Stevie fins.... all they have in stock at the moment.
They probably ship to OZ... these fins are light and small.
hostevie.com/shop/surfboard-side-bite-rear-trailer-fins.html

slsurf said..
I'm a little leary of flat sided fins for the rears, but I heard it can work in some setups.

They work if you have your rear foot on the kicker, otherwise they can feel a bit stiff.

However, just sanding to round up the inner leading edge will make them behave nearly as smoothly as 80/20 or 70/30 fins.

Its getting into bumpy surf season, so I haven't tried the small quad trailers yet. Instead I've been experimenting with a 16mm single fin on my bigger board (7'10 x 27). So far I think that might be a better option for me in bumpy conditions and/or bigger surf. The single fin tracks better paddling and I get a nice pivot off the top turn, actually easier than a quad for me to cutback. I ended up using the little fins I was going to try in the quad as side bite front fins for the single. Comparatively found the quad a little faster feeling and more reactive rail to rail down the line.

Anyway if I ever get a smooth day again to try out the smaller trailers on the quad I'll post result....