Hello all,
I'd like to start with a thanks to all contributors as I've learnt a good deal re sups in the last year or so. First post though.

Anyway, I am after some direct ideas about my next sup purchase. Started 9 months ago on a 10'6" 180L boatie type log (cheap but did the job). 2 months ago moved down to 10' 165L which felt smaller. I can turn both but the 10' is much easier and feels way lighter than the 15L would suggest. Both are suspect over 4 foot as they are flat and thick in the rails. I surf points mainly but also beach breaks. 8 foot waves would be my maximum wave size but 4' to 6' is ideal.

I am 5'8" and weigh between 85 and 95kgs but mainly 90kgs. Surfed for 20 years but had back issues keeping me out of water for 5 years until repairs meant I could sup.

Been to a few shops and the range of choices is a bit baffling. I appreciate paddling benefits but need to turn more. Also, I would like to feel a bit more solid in larger waves. So, will the Sunova Skate 8'10" (143L) float me and hold a rail when the waves are a bit bigger or would are Starboard Wide Point Surf 9'5" (153L) be better? I am keeping and eye on the litres as I can't turn if I can't catch waves. Also, the JP 9'6" pro looks inviting with 146L?

So far I think that anything less than 30" wide and below 140L would be too much hard work. I no sensible advice will be to trial a few but I am impatient. Also, if there are any waves I am usually in the water 5 times a week.

Ideas and feedback appreciated.

Fatso

hi mate

140 odd liters should float you easily, volume is just a rough guide so don't be to focused on that as design can play a big part in the stability of a board, what you need to do is demo some boards and find what works for you, even though your impatient you want to try not to rush so much, and find something that you'll be happy with

Jarryd

Mate I'm making that transition now. Coming off a 10 8 monster 200+ liters to now a gulliver 9 4 x 30x 4.4 at 143 L. I'm 6 foot and about 93kg and no expert. In the chop it was like starting again for me. Pretty unsteady, but day 2 was back in the groove. Just finding the sweet spots of the board. If this wind buggers off I reckon a few more days and I'll be cruising.

Check JP Aus surf wide body and Starboard wide point.!
Around the 8 8 mark.

Good for anything you will throw at them in those conditions and wave sizes.

DEMO!

That's the trick and caper.

Select to expand quote

Fatso said..
Hello all,
I'd like to start with a thanks to all contributors as I've learnt a good deal re sups in the last year or so. First post though.

Anyway, I am after some direct ideas about my next sup purchase. Started 9 months ago on a 10'6" 180L boatie type log (cheap but did the job). 2 months ago moved down to 10' 165L which felt smaller. I can turn both but the 10' is much easier and feels way lighter than the 15L would suggest. Both are suspect over 4 foot as they are flat and thick in the rails. I surf points mainly but also beach breaks. 8 foot waves would be my maximum wave size but 4' to 6' is ideal.

I am 5'8" and weigh between 85 and 95kgs but mainly 90kgs. Surfed for 20 years but had back issues keeping me out of water for 5 years until repairs meant I could sup.

Been to a few shops and the range of choices is a bit baffling. I appreciate paddling benefits but need to turn more. Also, I would like to feel a bit more solid in larger waves. So, will the Sunova Skate 8'10" (143L) float me and hold a rail when the waves are a bit bigger or would are Starboard Wide Point Surf 9'5" (153L) be better? I am keeping and eye on the litres as I can't turn if I can't catch waves. Also, the JP 9'6" pro looks inviting with 146L?

So far I think that anything less than 30" wide and below 140L would be too much hard work. I no sensible advice will be to trial a few but I am impatient. Also, if there are any waves I am usually in the water 5 times a week.

Ideas and feedback appreciated.

Fatso

Select to expand quote

momasfolly said..
Check JP Aus surf wide body and Starboard wide point.!
Around the 8 8 mark.

Good for anything you will throw at them in those conditions and wave sizes.

DEMO!

That's the trick and caper.

Anyone surfing the Sunova skate? Obviously in all the carbons weigh less but are they strong enough?

Moma, will these 8'8" boards still function in fuller waves? Further, can they run nicely down the line on those days that the point waves are firing?

Finally, why are the sups so expensive when most surf boards are relatively cheaper than 10 years ago?

Fatso

9'1" Hokua X32 Low-set rail, high volume, stable

Select to expand quote

momasfolly said..
Check JP Aus surf wide body and Starboard wide point.!
Around the 8 8 mark.

Good for anything you will throw at them in those conditions and wave sizes.

DEMO!

That's the trick and caper.

Select to expand quote

CarterSUPhysio said..
Mate I'm making that transition now. Coming off a 10 8 monster 200+ liters to now a gulliver 9 4 x 30x 4.4 at 143 L. I'm 6 foot and about 93kg and no expert. In the chop it was like starting again for me. Pretty unsteady, but day 2 was back in the groove. Just finding the sweet spots of the board. If this wind buggers off I reckon a few more days and I'll be cruising.

Carter,
haven't heard of Gulliver before but checked the website and the boards look good. Why the 9'4"? Have you had any waves above 4 foot yet? Is it okay to paddle if there is bait of chop?
Fatso

9 4, as for me I wanted to go surf specific, but felt I needed a bit more volume around the 140 L mark for my skill level and weight. The other thing that came into consideration was money - got a good price compared to some of the bigger names out there.No waves above about 2ft at the moment, but board feels fast and maneuverable with minimal weight shift. Haven't really flogged it yet though. As I mentioned, i'm still finding the sweet spots for just paddling and for turns. The first time I took it out it was really choppy, I mean, really bad and I struggled - the second time it was mildly choppy and wasn't too bad at all..I really think it's quite stable, just still finding the sweet spot!

If you are fatso.... then I am a super tanker

At 103 Kg I find 140 liters to be very ample float wise.... stability comes from many aspect of shape.

One thing that I have found, Shape matters.... numbers mean nothing from a surfability standpoint. I have tried many boards that looked good, had great numbers, but are dogs in the surf.

It sounds like you are really well suited for my favorite board, the Fanatic Prowave 9'6 x 31.25 @ 150 liters. Very lively in all size surf.
It is a very comfortable "Big Boy Performance Board" I bought it for big winter surf in snow country.... but was really surprised how well it surfs small stuff as well. Great paddler, super stable in crap conditions.... check out my full review in Board Talk (9'6 Prowave review)

Pretty easy on the wallet in the HRS version.

I currently own 4 different boards... Hobie 8'11 RAW, Fanatic 9'6 Prowave, Naish 10'6 Alana & Laird 10'6 Surfer

Select to expand quote

supthecreek said..
If you are fatso.... then I am a super tanker

At 103 Kg I find 140 liters to be very ample float wise.... stability comes from many aspect of shape.

One thing that I have found, Shape matters.... numbers mean nothing from a surfability standpoint. I have tried many boards that looked good, had great numbers, but are dogs in the surf.

It sounds like you are really well suited for my favorite board, the Fanatic Prowave 9'6 x 31.25 @ 150 liters. Very lively in all size surf.
It is a very comfortable "Big Boy Performance Board" I bought it for big winter surf in snow country.... but was really surprised how well it surfs small stuff as well. Great paddler, super stable in crap conditions.... check out my full review in Board Talk (9'6 Prowave review)

Pretty easy on the wallet in the HRS version.

I currently own 4 different boards... Hobie 8'11 RAW, Fanatic 9'6 Prowave, Naish 10'6 Alana & Laird 10'6 Surfer

Supthe and others,
I checked the review and it was good. I find the go pro vision a bit challenging but I got the idea thanks.

After a bit more reading and research I am thinking that the 9'3" pro wave might be the go at 136L. I am tempted by many boards and have considered wide point boards by JP 8'8" wide body, the Hokua Le 8'8" and the starboard 8'10' wide point. The wide boards look a bit prone to sliding to me and i prefer down the line a little more. I am keen to get better top hand turns going so i assume some trade off is required. Interestingly, a couple of guys locally on the really short boards tend to be a little squirty in their turns. When enquiring about the Naish Hokua LE the salesman said that they needed the quad set up to stiffen them up a bit. Is this the case with the pro wave? I had always thought the quad set up was to loosen boards? Do the wide boards tend to barge a bit?

Either way, I am still not going to be able to access a lot of demo days and i would prefer a one board fits all approach so was happy to here the 9'6" was so versatile. I am hoping the 9'3" might become that board for me. Also, no feedback from anyone on sunova?

Decision time soon as holidays approaching.

thanks,
Fatso

I have run my Prowave as thruster most of the time, and have been very happy with that setup in all conditions, really easy to draw out a long powerful turn, or a tight turn up the face.

The new 9'3 does look extremely inviting.

Good luck with your search... pics when you choose!

Hello from South of france

I'm quite the same as you, 178 cm and 94 kgs
I own a fanatic 9'3 prowave '13, full carbon board, very stable and dynamic in 1m (and more) waves. the stability is not anymore a problem after 2 sessions.
I'm thinking of buying a new longboard as the 10'6 laird surfer to replace my old fanatic 10'6 that i use in small waves. What can you say about it, does it goes on anything or does it needs some power to get manoeuvrable ?
Thanks

david