It has been yonks since I last took the camera out, so now I will subject you to the recording

The waves were bigger than they look! (I wish my surfing ability was better than it looked...)

(In case you are wondering, it was tough getting out the back so I exited waves earlier than I would otherwise.)

Great conditions though.

(Me: 6'3/192cm 95kg Board: Infinity Blurr V2 8'5 121L 30.5")

Cool video. I like the intro down the river to break and then the paddle back up the river.

looked like a great session

Darby I'm guessing!

How do you rate the infinity up against the sunovas?

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lam said..
How do you rate the infinity up against the sunovas?

The short answer: I love both boards (Sunova Placid 8'7 31.5 124L vs Infinity Blurr V2) but if the conditions are OK I will take the V2.

I have lots of other Sunovas, but my Placid is my Sunova of choice over the Acids.

Long story:

I have been having a lot of fun on my 8'7 Placid for the past 14+ months after riding Acids (and Flows and Speeds) of different sizes for a few years. 14 months ago I was finding it tough on the V2, mostly due to my weight. I was closer to 100 kgs... over the past year my weight went up to 107 kgs and the Placid became more challenging but still lots of fun. (It is quite amazing how stable that board is yet still fun on the wave). Then I dropped to 95 kg so I got back on the V2.

I am sure you are fascinated by my story of weight gain and loss!

The point is that, as you know, SUP stability is so weight sensitive and that session in the video was only my second session back on the V2. Two days earlier, at the same break, was the first session and I had an absolute ball!! The waves were smaller and a bit cleaner so it was easier to "throw the board around" (that's what I am doing in my mind, anyway). And that's where the V2 excels. It is lighter, narrower, and shorter than the Placid and just wants to play.

I love the Placid, but I still find myself moving my back foot from rail to rail to get it to turn quickly. On the V2 I plant my foot on the tail pad and it just seems to come alive. It feels like an accelerator peddle. The curve running lengthways on the tail pad fits under the arch of your foot and the kick pad stops your foot going any further. It just feels right. It turn by rocking my foot, not moving it rail to rail.

The boards feels tough and light, but I have not put it to the test.

if the conditions were a lot worse I would go back to the Placid, but on the day of the video, not that you can tell from the GoPro, it was a bit lumpy and many of the waves were overhead, so they were challenging conditions. It was really tough getting out (wave after wave to paddle through) so I prone paddled a lot. At first I thought I was going to be swimming a lot (from falling off out the back), but I was OK - I may have missed one or two waves due to an untimely wobble, but I had a fun session.

So, the V2 is in the car ready for the next session.

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cantSUPenough said..

lam said..
How do you rate the infinity up against the sunovas?

The short answer: I love both boards (Sunova Placid 8'7 31.5 124L vs Infinity Blurr V2) but if the conditions are OK I will take the V2.

I have lots of other Sunovas, but my Placid is my Sunova of choice over the Acids.

Long story:

I have been having a lot of fun on my 8'7 Placid for the past 14+ months after riding Acids (and Flows and Speeds) of different sizes for a few years. 14 months ago I was finding it tough on the V2, mostly due to my weight. I was closer to 100 kgs... over the past year my weight went up to 107 kgs and the Placid became more challenging but still lots of fun. (It is quite amazing how stable that board is yet still fun on the wave). Then I dropped to 95 kg so I got back on the V2.

I am sure you are fascinated by my story of weight gain and loss!

The point is that, as you know, SUP stability is so weight sensitive and that session in the video was only my second session back on the V2. Two days earlier, at the same break, was the first session and I had an absolute ball!! The waves were smaller and a bit cleaner so it was easier to "throw the board around" (that's what I am doing in my mind, anyway). And that's where the V2 excels. It is lighter, narrower, and shorter than the Placid and just wants to play.

I love the Placid, but I still find myself moving my back foot from rail to rail to get it to turn quickly. On the V2 I plant my foot on the tail pad and it just seems to come alive. It feels like an accelerator peddle. The curve running lengthways on the tail pad fits under the arch of your foot and the kick pad stops your foot going any further. It just feels right. It turn by rocking my foot, not moving it rail to rail.

The boards feels tough and light, but I have not put it to the test.

if the conditions were a lot worse I would go back to the Placid, but on the day of the video, not that you can tell from the GoPro, it was a bit lumpy and many of the waves were overhead, so they were challenging conditions. It was really tough getting out (wave after wave to paddle through) so I prone paddled a lot. At first I thought I was going to be swimming a lot (from falling off out the back), but I was OK - I may have missed one or two waves due to an untimely wobble, but I had a fun session.

So, the V2 is in the car ready for the next session.

Thanks for that, you have confirmed what I have been told by another guy I know, who absolutely rips, so I wasn't sure whether it would just work for him as well as us mere mortals. Good luck with keeping the kg's off.

Select to expand quote

cantSUPenough said..

lam said..
How do you rate the infinity up against the sunovas?

The short answer: I love both boards (Sunova Placid 8'7 31.5 124L vs Infinity Blurr V2) but if the conditions are OK I will take the V2.

I have lots of other Sunovas, but my Placid is my Sunova of choice over the Acids.

Long story:

I have been having a lot of fun on my 8'7 Placid for the past 14+ months after riding Acids (and Flows and Speeds) of different sizes for a few years. 14 months ago I was finding it tough on the V2, mostly due to my weight. I was closer to 100 kgs... over the past year my weight went up to 107 kgs and the Placid became more challenging but still lots of fun. (It is quite amazing how stable that board is yet still fun on the wave). Then I dropped to 95 kg so I got back on the V2.

I am sure you are fascinated by my story of weight gain and loss!

The point is that, as you know, SUP stability is so weight sensitive and that session in the video was only my second session back on the V2. Two days earlier, at the same break, was the first session and I had an absolute ball!! The waves were smaller and a bit cleaner so it was easier to "throw the board around" (that's what I am doing in my mind, anyway). And that's where the V2 excels. It is lighter, narrower, and shorter than the Placid and just wants to play.

I love the Placid, but I still find myself moving my back foot from rail to rail to get it to turn quickly. On the V2 I plant my foot on the tail pad and it just seems to come alive. It feels like an accelerator peddle. The curve running lengthways on the tail pad fits under the arch of your foot and the kick pad stops your foot going any further. It just feels right. It turn by rocking my foot, not moving it rail to rail.

The boards feels tough and light, but I have not put it to the test.

if the conditions were a lot worse I would go back to the Placid, but on the day of the video, not that you can tell from the GoPro, it was a bit lumpy and many of the waves were overhead, so they were challenging conditions. It was really tough getting out (wave after wave to paddle through) so I prone paddled a lot. At first I thought I was going to be swimming a lot (from falling off out the back), but I was OK - I may have missed one or two waves due to an untimely wobble, but I had a fun session.

So, the V2 is in the car ready for the next session.

Thanks for that, you have confirmed what I have been told by another guy I know, who absolutely rips, so I wasn't sure whether it would just work for him as well as us mere mortals. Good luck with keeping the kg's off.

Nice to see your vid as always!
looked like fun waves and I also loved the paddling glass parts!

Great post CSE....

With that wider nose on the Placid what is like going down the wave face compared to a similar sized Acid (e.g 9.1) ?
The 9'1 Acid is way big for me but I use it when I want a decent paddler and for its size it is easier getting through white water with that pointy nose . It also rips down the face with ease

Very beautiful lineup. And I know what you mean about picking the right side at waves end. The tempting last reentry bash leaves you inside with a longer way back out.

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Good luck with keeping the kg's off.

Thanks - I need all the help I can get!

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supthecreek said..
Nice to see your vid as always!
looked like fun waves and I also loved the paddling glass parts!

Thanks Rick - it was a fun session. Hoping for some good conditions in a few days.

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Gboots said..
Great post CSE....

With that wider nose on the Placid what is like going down the wave face compared to a similar sized Acid (e.g 9.1) ?
The 9'1 Acid is way big for me but I use it when I want a decent paddler and for its size it is easier getting through white water with that pointy nose . It also rips down the face with ease

Thanks Gboots!

On lumpy days the bigger nose of the Placid seems to get caught up a bit - you feel like you are hopping down the face. Lumpy wave faces are never fun, but the wider nose makes it worse than the narrower Acid and V2. I tend to ride my Acid on bigger days (OH+) at my favorite break. The length helps, the narrower nose and overall width helps too.

I think the bigger nose also stalls the board a little when it is smaller. Of course, being a shorter board does not help.

Racing across the wave is the Acid's specialty; it just seems to slice across the wave face. I have always assumed that was related to the shape of the rail, especially around the tail.

Two days before I took that video I was at the same break and had a really fun session. But I still have great vibes about a bigger wave that came through. It was bigger and steeper than earlier waves and I was in the perfect position on the wave. The V2 sliced across the wave - it felt fantastic. After a lot of waves in the 18-20 km/h range, this one was 23.8 km/h and it felt good!

Jason

Nice

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cantSUPenough said..

Gboots said..
Great post CSE....

With that wider nose on the Placid what is like going down the wave face compared to a similar sized Acid (e.g 9.1) ?
The 9'1 Acid is way big for me but I use it when I want a decent paddler and for its size it is easier getting through white water with that pointy nose . It also rips down the face with ease

Thanks Gboots!

On lumpy days the bigger nose of the Placid seems to get caught up a bit - you feel like you are hopping down the face. Lumpy wave faces are never fun, but the wider nose makes it worse than the narrower Acid and V2. I tend to ride my Acid on bigger days (OH+) at my favorite break. The length helps, the narrower nose and overall width helps too.

I think the bigger nose also stalls the board a little when it is smaller. Of course, being a shorter board does not help.

Racing across the wave is the Acid's specialty; it just seems to slice across the wave face. I have always assumed that was related to the shape of the rail, especially around the tail.

Two days before I took that video I was at the same break and had a really fun session. But I still have great vibes about a bigger wave that came through. It was bigger and steeper than earlier waves and I was in the perfect position on the wave. The V2 sliced across the wave - it felt fantastic. After a lot of waves in the 18-20 km/h range, this one was 23.8 km/h and it felt good!

Jason

I've never thought of measuring my speed on a wave .
i know if i am going fast like on BIG waves ,there is no fancy stuff ..eg,short cut backs etc.. it big moves and hang on for the ride ..
if i had a choice it would be medium speed waves ...only because you can pull a few more moves off ..

but as a all-round surfer it is good to surf all kinds of waves ,that was the beauty of a maldive SUP trip ,every wave was different
and the thrill was never ending ...2 years ago now ..i hope the world comes back to normal one day so we can enjoy these experiences once again .

Nice vid, looks like a fun session.

Great clip CSE and some really good surfing too man.
Any hints on the spot - doesn't look like your local???

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MangoDingo said..
Great clip CSE and some really good surfing too man.
Any hints on the spot - doesn't look like your local???

Thanks MD. Yep, not my local spot. A bit to the south-east. Think wombats.

It's my secret spot that is not a secret. But I often have it to myself or with just a few others.

And no, if you know where it is, this is not an invitation to tell everyone. Please.

Approx a week earlier I went out to the same spot (on the Placid) just as the sun was coming up. There had been a shark sighting (white pointer) not long before just a little further (1-2 km) down the coast.


I got out the back - easier said than done - and the waves were a good size - bigger than in the video - over my head and with real power. (Remember, this is from the GoPro which makes everything look small.)


This one closed out early (read, I was in the wrong spot) and put me through the washer...


Then the Jaws music started in my head. I was by myself, 500m or more from the beach, no helmet, and just a legrope between me and a very long sharky swim... I caught just 4 waves and went home with my tail between my legs.

It was a beautiful morning though.

Classic stuff CSE!
For sure man - not a word.