That looks awesome I'll check it out on line .

maybe the SMIK hipster twin could be the answer. from what i heard turns on a dime and they are quite short and narrow.
or maybe you should try the speeed. narrow and wide nose?
Some say wont go top to bottom, i recon they do if ya push em. the width of nose defo helps paddling into waves and also landing floaters (which i am still hit n miss at but yer)
re flexibility, i find the older ya get the more you gotta work on it. recon i do more work on it than surfing these days. at least an hour a day.
get into a decent stretching, warm up movement routine pre and post. add things like foundation training. helps loads.

With floaters ya need speed .and when you feel your board running out at the top ,thats the time to come down ..dont stay up there too long ..you do end up in a mess sometimes ..but have looked at the hipster.
All I remember about twins is they loose speed after the turn .so Scott reckons the small rear fin solves that .

ok so the speed is not a top to bottom ..maybe too much nose then .
yeah gotta stretch ..to flex alright .

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Tardy said..
With floaters ya need speed .and when you feel your board running out at the top ,thats the time to come down ..dont stay up there too long ..you do end up in a mess sometimes ..but have looked at the hipster.
All I remember about twins is they loose speed after the turn .so Scott reckons the small rear fin solves that .

ok so the speed is not a top to bottom ..maybe too much nose then .
yeah gotta stretch ..to flex alright .

I can comment on the Smik Hipster Twinnys. The acceleration out of the turns as you transition to the other rail is like no other board I have ridden and there has been over the years. I I competed recently on 8"2' x 30 Hipster and it was so stable (felt big for me) in 15knt onshore and it went top to bottom no worries. Message Scott and discuss sizes and widths as he can make one to suit you personal requirements. he even does a 8"6'

Note: I am not sponsored by Smik, and I pay for all my boards. I'm just a stoked customer that loves being able get exactly what I want and you even get to pick the colour scheme.

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Bender said..
I can comment on the Smik Hipster Twinnys.

From the pictures, yes the Smik Hipster Twinny looks to have this so sweet wider nose / pulled in tail combo.

That Gong looks fabulous.

What about a Deep Minion? They've just updated it too.. or Sunova Steeze could be an option or a smaller Speeed, say and 8'5 or 8'8..
I haven't seen a Smik Twinny yet but from the photos that looks good too.. And Infinity...

Are'nt we lucky having so many great boards to choose from ??

Great photos bender .and looks the part.
i did email Scott and reckon the 8,6 would be perfect ,and he also mention it really stood out as a great al round board
no matter what size wave .
good call.
I reckon it could be the answer .
the tail is really pulled in too .so it will grab the wave .I'll pop into the freo show and check it out in the flesh .in 3 weeks .
i need to take my time in deciding my next board .i kinda race in and have a shed full I don't ride now .but I like looking at them .
i checked the site has a 8.0 then 8.6 .I'm guessing yours is a custom .

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Tardy said..
Great photos bender .and looks the part.
i did email Scott and reckon the 8,6 would be perfect ,and he also mention it really stood out as a great al round board
no matter what size wave .
good call.
I reckon it could be the answer .
the tail is really pulled in too .so it will grab the wave .I'll pop into the freo show and check it out in the flesh .in 3 weeks .
i need to take my time in deciding my next board .i kinda race in and have a shed full I don't ride now .but I like looking at them .
i checked the site has a 8.0 then 8.6 .I'm guessing yours is a custom .

The 8 6 production Hipster is wide.

I am late to the discussion, but I settled on the Acid. It does have a narrow nose so probably less stable than if it was fuller, but doing steep drops and bottom turns (and punching out through broken waves) I like the narrow nose. And while I try to be a top-to-bottom surfer I think I only do that in my imagination. But after riding the speed (8'10 and 8'8), flow (8'8), X32 (8'8), and a few others (95 kg), I like the Acid - low volume, narrrow, sharp/thin rails, fast, nice to turn, but you need to go a little longer to get the desired stability/buoyancy. My 8'10 is 125L and 8'7 is 116L.

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hilly said..

Tardy said..
Great photos bender .and looks the part.
i did email Scott and reckon the 8,6 would be perfect ,and he also mention it really stood out as a great al round board
no matter what size wave .
good call.
I reckon it could be the answer .
the tail is really pulled in too .so it will grab the wave .I'll pop into the freo show and check it out in the flesh .in 3 weeks .
i need to take my time in deciding my next board .i kinda race in and have a shed full I don't ride now .but I like looking at them .
i checked the site has a 8.0 then 8.6 .I'm guessing yours is a custom .

The 8 6 production Hipster is wide.

yeah i saw that .....after another look ..
custom ,or pimp your ride .

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Tardy said..

hilly said..

Tardy said..
Great photos bender .and looks the part.
i did email Scott and reckon the 8,6 would be perfect ,and he also mention it really stood out as a great al round board
no matter what size wave .
good call.
I reckon it could be the answer .
the tail is really pulled in too .so it will grab the wave .I'll pop into the freo show and check it out in the flesh .in 3 weeks .
i need to take my time in deciding my next board .i kinda race in and have a shed full I don't ride now .but I like looking at them .
i checked the site has a 8.0 then 8.6 .I'm guessing yours is a custom .

The 8 6 production Hipster is wide.

yeah i saw that .....after another look ..
custom ,or pimp your ride .

Custom from Bert or Scottie. I have one from each and they both excel at what I asked for. The Sunova is a big wave slayer at 9 6 x 29 super thin and pulled in. The SMIK is 8 6 x 30 small wave ripper.

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hilly said..

Tardy said..

hilly said..

Tardy said..
Great photos bender .and looks the part.
i did email Scott and reckon the 8,6 would be perfect ,and he also mention it really stood out as a great al round board
no matter what size wave .
good call.
I reckon it could be the answer .
the tail is really pulled in too .so it will grab the wave .I'll pop into the freo show and check it out in the flesh .in 3 weeks .
i need to take my time in deciding my next board .i kinda race in and have a shed full I don't ride now .but I like looking at them .
i checked the site has a 8.0 then 8.6 .I'm guessing yours is a custom .

The 8 6 production Hipster is wide.

yeah i saw that .....after another look ..
custom ,or pimp your ride .

Custom from Bert or Scottie. I have one from each and they both excel at what I asked for. The Sunova is a big wave slayer at 9 6 x 29 super thin and pulled in. The SMIK is 8 6 x 30 small wave ripper.

Might give smik a go ..I kinda like the carbon ...your 8.6 sounds sick .sounds like you have a great quiver of wave boards ...
your covered ..

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cantSUPenough said..
I am late to the discussion, but I settled on the Acid. It does have a narrow nose so probably less stable than if it was fuller, but doing steep drops and bottom turns (and punching out through broken waves) I like the narrow nose. And while I try to be a top-to-bottom surfer I think I only do that in my imagination. But after riding the speed (8'10 and 8'8), flow (8'8), X32 (8'8), and a few others (95 kg), I like the Acid - low volume, narrrow, sharp/thin rails, fast, nice to turn, but you need to go a little longer to get the desired stability/buoyancy. My 8'10 is 125L and 8'7 is 116L.

Hey cantsupenough.i think your 8.10 acid has 116 litres .
unless its a older model .just going of the freo site .
but you could be right about the length ,being more stable .
my 8,10 flow feels like I can have a party on it .

Yes, you are right... My 8'7 Acid is 106L, the 8'10 is 116L and the 9'2 is 125L. I have been mostly riding the 8'10 lately (gained a few winter kegs) and find the 9'2 just a bit too big. Hopefully over the summer I will get back to the 8'7. On a four week trip right now which is not helping with the fitness, fun or kegs...

Reading with interest as I'm in similar boat ?? 80kgs, intermediate, 53.
a few different things to think about.

I have a 10 stylemaster 135lts, 30" wide.

I bought a 8"6 hypernut, 132, 31.5 " wide.

I bought the HN to gain extra stability, as a lot of conditions I go out in aren't clean off shore.
The HN gives me the chance to catch more waves, as I'm on the board more rather than swimming.
Plus i can get it in to position a lot easier in a busy line up, less stress more fun.
I do have a high wave count because of the stability of the NH.

I do agree though , a smaller thinner board will give you a lot more performance, on the right day.
an excuse to buy more boards ??

Narrower would not have been a good choice at town beach today.........the rip was like a river

You just have to ask. Yourself ,want do you want another board for ...I will keep my 120 flow for good days eg..off shore and clean..as it rips ..but I need a step up board ...for the not so good days ..so maybe I'm gonna keep it above 30
I can throw a 130 litre board around no worries ,but to be sure ,I'll drop a few litres as I will have the wide nose ,maybe 128 .i reckon 8.4 or 8.5 wil also be a good size .to throw around ..
had a look at the custom page of smik,he has photos of a lot of custom boards made ..some nice colours ..

LIKE the twinny ...keep you all posted ..it will be a few months ..
thanks for all the help ..

Looks like another board on the way....I'm thinking of building a trailer .