It's time to try a new board, been on a Fanatic all wave 9ft 6 160litres for a while. I'm in the UK and where I live don't really get consistent surf , usually wind generated mush/ slop , but on the right day can be clean but usually windy.Also can travel for good surf. 95kg and 55 years young , sup surfed for 10 years Looking for something more lively, more responsive in the turn. Must be able to catch small weak surf, but also handle things when it's bigger nothing overhead though. Got the chance of a 8 10 smik hipster twin transformer ( with box for a foil) which I like the look of. Or would a long board style sup be a better bet ? More glide so easier wave catching for the weaker stuff. Any help decideing would be great thanks Jon

a 8'10" hipster is a pretty wide thing at over 32" wide... Should paddle much slower than a longboard sup... however, It will be snappy in turns if you get to the tail...

From what you have said i'd err towards a high performance longboard Sup. Can use in just about any condition and paddles much faster than a regular shape...

JL Destroyer 10", Smik Hipster LB, Naish Nalu S Glass etc

Good luck.

Where are you in the UK Jonnie? because the UK has lots of places with really good surf and what you discribe is more like the netherlands where I live.My wife and I go next week for a 2 week trip to Hayle-Cornwall, I have a similar weight and bring my Starboard longboardsup, Smik Hipster8.3 and Spitfire 8.6. If you want you can catch a few waves on tjhem and feel the differences.

Hoppo 3228 , yeah was kinda thinking a longboard sup would be the better way to go , something with a flatter rocker with plenty of glide , fast paddler and yeah something with some performance. Jeroensurf I'm in west Cumbria so waves get blocked by Ireland , but still get some decent surf with the correct variables , thanks for the offer Cornwall is 10 hours drive!! It does get busy down there!! North east is where I go for decent surf. Thanks for the reply's guys

Johnniebravo, Iam similar dimensions !! to you. If you are looking at a performance longboard dont discount the the sunova's revolution 9' as an option. I have the 9x30x126lt, its fast, allows for some toes on the noes fun and can really rip when back on the tail. Since purchasing this my old 10' style has laid idle in the shed! Defiantly a fun 'allrounder" style board.

Hearing good things about the smik bonza longboard,particularly paddle speed,and high line speed on the wave,IMO the sunova revs are to wide in the nose,especially when you go over 28 in wide .

Hi you really need two boards, Smik hipster twin And a Smik Style Lord. The style lord being a great all round board. I've had both and think the style lord is a great all round board while the Hipster twin bit more for waves with bit of size and speed. I've also surfed North east England waves back in 68 so I think I see your issues. I remember small mushy waves to absolute monsters. Good luck.

For the conditions you describe I would go with the shape like Jimmy Lewis Super Frank, Infinity RNB, L41 ST, or Tomo inspired shapes. They work great in mush but are also pretty good in bigger- shoulder or so - surf. I am 6'4 x 240 pounds and my go to board for small, short period waves is Custom RNB at 120l. Since you are coming from larger boards something around 130l would be perfect. I would avoid boards in 160l range as the high volume may be detrimental in chaotic wind driven waves.

Longboards don't really work in a short period small waves, which is usually the case for wind driven mush. You need a short but early planning shape - a groveler. I am a big fun of longboard SUPs but I would not use one in a short period mush. But if it is 15s+ 2 foot glass there is no better shape.

If it is often windy why don't you try a wind sport. Wingfoiling in 20+ knots is way more fun than SUP

We have been to Cumbria for MTB, that was awesome but the waves are as worse as we have in the netherlands.I wouldn't go for an Hipster. Its a really nice board, but need some speed in the wave and height that mostly lacks at such spots. For your conditions the Toma alike shapes like BigZ wrote are awesome. I got 6 boards, but in the slow short period waves with often chaos all around you an short stable platform that turns well is the bomb.So here in the netherlands I use my Hypernut7.10 ((i,m 100kg) by far the most. Our waves mostly are blocked by the UK with some rare once that come from a lower between Scotland and Norway and 6secc is a luxury over here. And wingfoil is indeed a great way to make heaps of fun in crap conditions, although where you live I would invest that amount of money in a proper MTB.

If you need one board to do it all definitely the 10"0 stylelord. The only two boards anyone needs are the stylelord and a SMIK hipster twin.

Hi all once again thanks for all the advice!! Yeah so a groveller type board to handle the mush , but also a early planer to make the most of the weak waves..The hypernut and fanatic stubby were on my radar , but thought they wouldn't have much glide to help catching the weaker waves , heance the thought of a longboard sup. Jeroensurf yeah mountain biked for years in the Lake District and still do?? Bigz I'm a Kitesurfer too and have looked real close at the whole foil/winging thing. Might try a foil with a kite first. Don't think it will ever replace the feeling of boosting big jumps on kite??also love to Kitesurf strapless On a surf board. The SUP board hunt continues??Thanks everyone ??

Select to expand quote

jonniebravo said..
Hi all once again thanks for all the advice!! Yeah so a groveller type board to handle the mush , but also a early planer to make the most of the weak waves..The hypernut and fanatic stubby were on my radar , but thought they wouldn't have much glide to help catching the weaker waves , heance the thought of a longboard sup. Jeroensurf yeah mountain biked for years in the Lake District and still do?? Bigz I'm a Kitesurfer too and have looked real close at the whole foil/winging thing. Might try a foil with a kite first. Don't think it will ever replace the feeling of boosting big jumps on kite??also love to Kitesurf strapless On a surf board. The SUP board hunt continues??Thanks everyone ??

I've got a groveler style board (super frank) and I think it catches waves almost as easy as my Longboard. It's also so nimble on a wave it makes small weak waves fun.