Just chasing a bit of advice on which board to buy...

I am a heavy weight 108kg (height - 6'6) and looking at getting a new board purely for surfing. I currently use my wife's Starboard Whopper when surfing and I have pushed this to its limits in over head high waves. Plus I have a down-wind Naish Glide.

I enjoy the Whopper in the surf but am just finding it too heavy and large for the bigger waves plus it is slow and struggles to make fast sections plus lacks the turning ability that I am chasing.

I really want as short a board as possible that will perform well in good clean surf, whilst carrying my weight and being as stable as possible.

That said I have narrowed my choice down to a board in the 145L range and am fairly keen on either the 8'10 JP Surf Slate or the 9'2 Sunova Speeed.

Any advice on either of these and suitability would be hugely appreciated.

Hi Shi

Going as short as possible doesn't necessarily result in the best performance.
I see it over and over in lots of SUPsters.
There's a balance between length and performance, that is deceptive at times.

You are very tall with about the same weight as me, but stability may equalize if you are younger than my 70 years.
I do fine on my 9'2 Speeed, the float is there at 148 liters... but at you height, may be a challenge.
My 9'4 Creek is also 148 liters, but at a full 32" wide is more stable and IMO, more shortboard performance due to outline and rocker.

Both boards are very different and either will give you great performance in good or iffy waves.

I have plenty of video's on both boards at my YouTube Channel:
Well, the link didn't work... so on YouTube, search Rick Weeks "Creek" or "Speeed"


I have never surfed the Slate, so no info there, but it looks like a really nice board.

Cheers for that Rick

I have been looking at the Creek boards. They also rate highly on my list.

As for your videos, I have watched plenty of them and reckon you are doing a great job. Keep it up!

I am keen to keep it around the 145L mark as I don't want to much more volume. Will let you all know how I get on!

Im about your weight and have a JP wide body 140ltr 8'8. Its really good fun. I thought it would be a bit boaty but once on the wave it turns and swings really well. Having said that this is my first season on a SUP but surf and kite. I also have a 10' Waterborne170 Evoke which is awesome fun on smaller days but a bit of a handful. Would like to try the standard JP waves to see how they go. (both carbon)

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shi thouse said..
Just chasing a bit of advice on which board to buy...

I am a heavy weight 108kg (height - 6'6) and looking at getting a new board purely for surfing. I currently use my wife's Starboard Whopper when surfing and I have pushed this to its limits in over head high waves. Plus I have a down-wind Naish Glide.

I enjoy the Whopper in the surf but am just finding it too heavy and large for the bigger waves plus it is slow and struggles to make fast sections plus lacks the turning ability that I am chasing.

I really want as short a board as possible that will perform well in good clean surf, whilst carrying my weight and being as stable as possible.

That said I have narrowed my choice down to a board in the 145L range and am fairly keen on either the 8'10 JP Surf Slate or the 9'2 Sunova Speeed.

Any advice on either of these and suitability would be hugely appreciated.

Depends on the waves you want to ride. Over head waves on over 30 inch wide is a compromise. Been loving my 10 foot longboard style sup in anything lately.

Sorry to drop in and cross post, but pulling in for cover on the 10footer - pure styling Mr Hill and clearly getting accustomed to the new board.

Mr toilet-house - just order a hilly 10footer and pull into some heaving barrels = job done.

Cheers
Eski

Ahhh....Hilly. Was watching your videos and thinking something looks familiar. You're the dolphin dude.

Great waves man and well filmed!

So that's 10' Smik you are on?

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shi thouse said..
Ahhh....Hilly. Was watching your videos and thinking something looks familiar. You're the dolphin dude.

Great waves man and well filmed!

So that's 10' Smik you are on?

Yes the 10er. But I got better barrells on my 8 5 but the feckn soloshot filmed the sand in front of it.