Hi all
Just after some quick advice. I have a 8'8 Sunova Sp25 and I am looking at buying a 8'10 Sunova Placid.
I am heading over to Bali in April this year and I'm wondering which board to take.
I will be staying around Semiyak and Legian for a few weeks then moving to other area's.
Any advice would be appreciated. .
Cheers
Steve

I'd take the 8'8 SP25 and add some Quobba Mixed Thruster set fins to it.... but I'd also recommend buying a large center Quobba if it gets juicy. Plus your best Quad set of regular fins if you have some.
Sean rides it as a Thruster.

The SP25 is primarily designed for small to medium average waves, but will easily handle some good waves.
I have had good reports from people who used the SP25 in solid surf and loved it.
It may not cling to the face of a super hollow barrel, but for most surfing that we do on SUP, it should be awesome.

I have both boards you mentioned
I love my 8'10 Placid, but I would take my 8'8 SP25 on that trip because it is noticeably faster than the Placid.

Sean Poynter rides it in some pretty solid waves and does some serious hacks with it.
This wave isn't big.... but it shows how he designed it to ride.

I'd be taking the higher performance board ,which would be the more no nose shape SP 25 ,
And as creek says the faster board ,flow is worth looking at buying too ,I prefer the flow over the placid ,
have a good surfing trip Steve .

Thanks guys
Sp25 it is.

supthecreek is 100% correct. I have an 8'8 SP25 and in more hollow surf I put in the Quaobba fins in and the board is silly fast with hold. Have fun!

Thanks everyone for your advice. I throw these fins in the surf bag as well.
Cheers
Steve.

stevo - match the boards to the conditions and the waves. legian is a beachy closeout and seminyak is a log wave so the SP25 for legian and the placid for seminyak. i would take the placid and surf the many mellow waves around bali .they will be way less crowded and you will get way more waves

Thanks for that. Food for thought.

8'8 Sunova SP25.
For the last two days I wanted to see how the SP25 will handle lots of choppy water, strong currents, wind and lot's of jetski's and boats due to tourist season.
I must say it handled the above conditions quite well. The board was very stable and even picked up a few small waves.
Yep very happy man.

Select to expand quote

that guy said..
stevo - match the boards to the conditions and the waves. legian is a beachy closeout and seminyak is a log wave so the SP25 for legian and the placid for seminyak. i would take the placid and surf the many mellow waves around bali .they will be way less crowded and you will get way more waves

The Placid is fine in low power waves, but is better with a bit of push, IMO.
The SP25 was designed to maximize speed and snap in low power waves.
It is a groveler by birth... but excels up to head and a half, even though it's not designed to hold high and tight on a sucked up barrel.
The SP25 has very easy release of the tail, so it gains a ton of speed in mush.... and more in juice!

Steveo, I am stoked that you are you are happy with your SP so far.... just wait until you get some good waves..... yeoowza!

Thanks STC
So far I've had it in about shoulder high waves and loved it. However, I can see its got a lot more potential. I've now dropped from 102kg to 90kg and the board has better glide. Definitely my Bali board.

Hi Steveo,
im in Bali then as well at that time. It's early season so the swell will not be as consistent as it is from June on. You may have to hunt for waves which can make some of the less know breaks crowded. I haven't been there for ten years but surfed all around Indo on short boards.
Due to age, injuries and hip replacements I'm taking an 8' flow2 and a 8'2" Speed. Not sure if you have surfed there (I haven't on a SUP) but the waves are much more powerful and faster than here on the south coast of NSW.
The current can be strong and the sets inconsistent which can easily drag you deeper into the take off point. my advice to you is take the board (or boards) you are most comfortable with. most of all, know your abilities. I've seen many people over there surfing places they shouldn't be and dragged out to sea.
have fun
might see you there. cheers
nudger

Hi Nudger n Steve.
Im also heading to Indo in April but to North Sumatra and not Bali.
Interested in your choice of boards Nudger as my only board currently is a 8.2 Speeed and would love to have the Flow.
Whats your take on the difference between the two boards and which would you use for bigger and faster waves?
Tanna

Thanks Nudger,
The last time I surfed a sup there was about 4 year's ago. Back then I was riding the 8'8 Naish x 32. Like you, this time I'm older and a few more injuries. I think the SP25 should cover most waves. I've gotta say the more I ride this thing the more I love it.
Cheers
Steve.

Hi Tana,
The Speed every time for me in sucky, fast waves of any size. It holds in the face much better than any other board I've ridden. I look at a waves differently since riding speeds (that's been a while now, I've had 4 of them and still have 2. 7'11" and 8'2")
Waves that look like close outs now become makable. Fin choice makes a big difference. I've read all the forums on fins and bought the quobba fins and C fins. But haven't liked them much. I like the H2 fines but they are hard to get now. My set up which I don't change much any more for any conditions is the standard sunova 94's and a MR trailer. The difference between the two boards for me is, the flow is slower and harder to get into waves, it's not as fast as the Speed on the wave but it turns tighter and quicker. It also turns much better off the top of a feathering wave. The speed tends to bounce a bit off the top and sometime I fell like a passenger. I put that down to the flow having more rocker than the speed through the middle and the volume in the speeds nose. Both boards are good but I ride the Speeed 95% of time. In Indo I know the flow may not even get wet but it's a back up in case I break the speed. Nothing worst than being in a remote part of Indo, waves pumping and you don't have a board to ride. Take an extra paddle too. I've just come off a knee op and 7'11" speed I'm struggling to stand on it at the moment but if it comes good that will be going. cheers
Nudger

I am probably just echoing other people's comments, and I have only surfed Indo once, but I have surfed Maldives on five trips.

I would not buy/take the Placid unless you will be in mushy/lumpy waves and stability will rule over performance. The Placid is fun but the Flow is more fun and it is faster and will let you do more on the wave. I don't have an SP 25, but I wonder if the Flow is too close to the SP 25.

As per Nudger's comments, the Speed would be an interesting choice. I took my speed to Maldives once and it went well (but on my last trip I took my Flow). On the sucky waves where you had to drop and run, I like the speed. But you have to watch the nose on the drop, and when it comes time to turn the board you have to jump on the tail (mine was a 7'10 and I am 6'3 98 kg).

Thanks a stack for considered opinions and comments. Must say I love the 8.2 Speeed so encouraging to hear it's a great board for Indo.

Correction: Mine was an 8'10! I wish it was a 7'10 and I was skillful enough to ride it!

Must say before correction I was really impressed and questioning my ability when read 7.10 speed, 6.3 and 98 kg.