I have been reading the other post from cantSUPenough about 'length vs width vs thickness' which is answering some of my questions
I have been browsing through all the forums trying to shortlist a good beach break board.
I am 80Kg and the wrong side of 50 and have been SUPING for a few years.
I have a few boards, Nash Nalu 10'6" and a JP Surf Pro 8'10"
I will keep the Nalu, depending on the brand/style of board may keep the JP.
The JP is a great board in clean conditions, when the surf is a little bigger.
I want a board in the 7-8 foot range about 105-115lt. I don't think I can go any lower than 105lt for my ability and the JP is 126lt.
There are lots to choose from which is good but confusing:
JP Slate, Naish Raptor, Mignon and other Vangard Shapes, Bam Bam, Sunova Slate etc.
The new Stubby may be a bit close to the JP and then there is the Nut, which I don't like the look of the shape but hey it might be the one.
Some of the other styles like JP widebody, Naish X32 and Bam Bam I think may be too wide with lots of curve in the rail which make it turn but looses stability. I would need to increase length for stability which may defeat the purpose.
I know the Raptor is wide but it's considerably shorter than what I could ride a JP widebody/Naish X32 due to the parallel rails making it more stable for its length.
I haven't seen any of the Mignon/Vangard boards apart from on this forum but they apear quite thick in the rails and tail area.
I will demo where I can and I am lucky to have a few good board shops nearby to do that.
Any ideas to shorten the list would be appreciated.

Hey mate - maybe also consider the Gulliver VBOX &/or Gambler. These 2 boards have nice thin rails & although I don't own either of them personally, I have demo'd them + I've only heard good things about them. If you want short (closer to 7') then probably the Raptor &/or Hypernut are your best options otherwise I guess the best thing is to demo whatever boards you can at your local board shop. Alternatively, speaking to Simon or the guys from Deep about a Minion is another a good option. Good luck.

Hi Flyinghigh, just follow what SUPing said and I wld add this : you have to consider that wave condition are clean (offshore or glass) while surfing your home beach break. So stability is not a prime goal you will be able to stand on your 7' 28" 90 liters after sometimes, that's worth to pay this due; shape of surfing aptitude come in first, shape of stability come in second . At 80kg I reckon you can SUP on clean beach break with 7' 28" 90 liters on Minion, Gulliver, hyperNut or Vangard of others of that kind .
About thick tails of those kind of boards you have been right to point on, the only solution is to demo the shortest board of this kind of Vangard's , the shortest and narrower board will allow you to bury rail of that bluddy thick tail. That's inescapable IMO otherwise try the PaddlePop which is a good compromise of stability and surfing aptitude

There is more to do on fins too rather than tail shapes. C-drive fins would be a good solution to minimize the water surface contact to bury rail deeper

If you want one of the Vanguard shapes, get a Deep or Gulliver as they have been doing them for a couple of years before the bigger names joined the wagon, both do customs an Gulliver do a few different size production models, and their Australian companies.

Buy a quality brand in my opinion..better resale and R&D.... This is one of the best new boards for 2016, with a flatter rocker, designed by Gerry Lopez to maximise flow.

www.naishsurfing.com/product/hokua-8-6-gtw/

Hi Garethg, Flying high was asking for a good beach break board...This GL is certainly a good board on a reef break but not really at its best at a beach break.
I reckon choosing Naish, Raptor would be a better choice.

Not sure I agree. the Naish 8"6 is an all All-Rounder and talking to a guy in the surf last week who has recently bought one - reckons it was the best board he has ridden.

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Kami said..
Hi Garethg, Flying high was asking for a good beach break board...This GL is certainly a good board on a reef break but not really at its best at a beach break.
I reckon choosing Naish, Raptor would be a better choice.

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Garethg said..

Not sure I agree. the Naish 8"6 is an all All-Rounder and talking to a guy in the surf last week who has recently bought one - reckons it was the best board he has ridden.

HI Garethg
Thanks for the suggestion, I hadnt considered it as I thought along the lines of Kami.
I think it would be an awesome board.
My ability I would suggest is lacking compared to yourself and the surfer you saw on the Naish 8'3"
I will have a look at them but I think it will be a bit similar to the JP 8'10"
All good, thats why I put out the post for new ideas,
Thanks

Kami
I really love your enthusiasm for the short SUPs, the conditions arent that smooth/clean when I get out as I cant get there everyday to enjoy the best conditions.
Its a bit hit and miss, so 7'x28" 90Lt, I can only dream about at the moment.
Never say never though. I havent ridden the new Mignons so its a leap of faith to go too small and there arent any local shapers like DEEP nearby which have boards which I could demo.
I hope to demo a board or two mid week.

Where abouts are you located?? I am going on the road next week with the hypernut range???

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Surfrod66 said..
Where abouts are you located?? I am going on the road next week with the hypernut range???

Newport, Sydney

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Kami said..
Hi Garethg, Flying high was asking for a good beach break board...This GL is certainly a good board on a reef break but not really at its best at a beach break.
I reckon choosing Naish, Raptor would be a better choice.

I agree with Kami. It is not a problem with Naish per se, but these kind of shapes (pumpkin seed) need to be "in the revs" to perform well, and it is often hard to keep the board in its intended tempo on fickle beach breaks. Something with wider one-foot-off and a faster rocker (like the Mana) will be better to have more power available at any time. If you read Naish description, it definitely describe it for "down-the-line surfing".

With a more compact shape, you can reduce length and with the same stability, and safer takeoffs (which is important for beachbreaks) as wider noses and more parallel rails allow you to improvise last second take off without worring about digging a front rail.

Just to say...you have it wrong re the JP wide body losing stability due to the tail being pulled in.....I think you mean that rather than "rail"? I have one and it is very stable and a top beach break board. They are really fun boards and forgiving too. The 2016 versions look even better. If you get the chance try one. The Vanguard shapes look fun though.

I can recommend the x32 Hokua in beach breaks ...the 32' wide shape makes it loose and easy to throw around
in beaches . Very stable ..they are also not to fussy where you put your feet ..

Don't want to troll the thread but just look at those dims of SUP, it has been one of my favorite on my home beach break for few years now.

I had the jp 8'2 x32 wb in the older dims awesome board up to 4' then it got really skittery I'd say that the new one with extra fin box and pulled in tail would extend the range out a few more feet. Now on the 7'6 ×29 slate almost as stable as the wb just alot faster carves tighter and way more bite in the tail

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Flying High said...
I have been reading the other post from cantSUPenough about 'length vs width vs thickness' which is answering some of my questions
I have been browsing through all the forums trying to shortlist a good beach break board.
I am 80Kg and the wrong side of 50 and have been SUPING for a few years.
I have a few boards, Nash Nalu 10'6" and a JP Surf Pro 8'10"
I will keep the Nalu, depending on the brand/style of board may keep the JP.
The JP is a great board in clean conditions, when the surf is a little bigger.
I want a board in the 7-8 foot range about 105-115lt. I don't think I can go any lower than 105lt for my ability and the JP is 126lt.
There are lots to choose from which is good but confusing:
JP Slate, Naish Raptor, Mignon and other Vangard Shapes, Bam Bam, Sunova Slate etc.
The new Stubby may be a bit close to the JP and then there is the Nut, which I don't like the look of the shape but hey it might be the one.
Some of the other styles like JP widebody, Naish X32 and Bam Bam I think may be too wide with lots of curve in the rail which make it turn but looses stability. I would need to increase length for stability which may defeat the purpose.
I know the Raptor is wide but it's considerably shorter than what I could ride a JP widebody/Naish X32 due to the parallel rails making it more stable for its length.
I haven't seen any of the Mignon/Vangard boards apart from on this forum but they apear quite thick in the rails and tail area.
I will demo where I can and I am lucky to have a few good board shops nearby to do that.
Any ideas to shorten the list would be appreciated.

Minion. Get one. I was out on almost full tide beach breaks this morning. Intense fun, and i ain't no super fit spring chicken.

I second the JP Wide Body for beach breaks. Outstanding combination of short board performance and forgiving stability. Turns on a dime and catches waves easily.

Have not been on a newer tomo/vanguard shape but own an L41 Simsup which is also a terrific beach break shape, though not as quick rail to rail as the JP. The super wide tail of the Simsup requires a lot of back foot movement to initiate turns.