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Messages - surfshaver

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1
Gear Talk / Re: Slowing down the Super Frank
« on: April 15, 2018, 06:33:36 PM »
My 2 cents is that if the board is good for most of your conditions most of the time, don't worry about it being less than ideal for bigger stuff.  It is a low rocker, fishy skaty board but Jimmy shapes great soft rails that are really smooth and still high performance.  I'd use it as a thruster for sure in head high conditions as it will give more stability and positivity, especially if your back foot is not positioned perfectly.

That said, unless your head high waves are grinding hollow reefbreak, the board should handle it fine.  It's got a narrower tail than most tomo/short wide models.

Bigger fins are not a good idea for bigger waves.  They will just make you track more.  Bigger waves = more speed = more lift.  Smaller fins are better as they have less lift and less drag.  The important thing in bigger waves is the rail.  I have tried smaller fins -- standard surfboard size -- and find them much better than most of the stock fins on high performance sups.  Get a medium or large futures thruster set and you will be good.  Try a medium quad size for smaller stuff.  Jimmy's stock fins tend to be bigger.

I think you'll be stoked!  I'd love to try the 8 footer.

2
Travel, Trips, Destinations / Re: Cardiff Sweeper paddles to Maui
« on: February 21, 2018, 10:40:01 AM »
I was in Kauai over Xmas and can give a bit of a report.  I hadn't been back in a few years, and SUP in general seems a bit less popular/prevalent than about 5 years ago.  I asked a local about this and he said "everyone is foiling."

While it's true that there seem to be some main areas SUP is accepted (Hanalei Bay on most/all reefs and the mellower beach breaks, Poipu area reefs), it seems that it's more of a thing where SUP is forbidden -- obvious places like Ha'ena (Cannons/Tunnels) and Kalihiwai (should I even be mentioning this place publicly?). 

I had two fun sessions at The Bowl/Flat Rock (6'-10' faces) on a rented sup -- one day was crowded and one wasn't.  I played by the rules and got some fun waves.  Zero hassle or attitude, and I only got faded once ;-).  That said, there weren't many SUP guys out -- less than 5 -- even on a very crowded day.

If you are a good SUP surfer and experienced in how to behave in crowds, then the main reef should not be a problem at all.  That said, I may have also been a little lucky as others have told me that if certain locals had been in the water at the time, they would have emphatically told me to exit the water.

FYI there are no surf-worthy SUPs available for rent anywhere on the island, as far as I could tell.  I ended up getting introduced to Titus Kinimaka's wife Robin, who let me rent one of Titus' old boards.  It was dinged up and waterlogged, heavy as hell but I still had fun on it.  Bring your own board if you want to surf!

If I had some time, I'd explore the west side of the island.  On the right swells some of these spots (Kekaha area) look like they'd be really fun on a SUP. 

I'd have to agree with the other comments that while Maui has less spots overall, seems like more of them are SUP friendly.

Aloha,

Alex

3
Sunova SUP / Re: Creek 8’7” on it’s way!
« on: February 21, 2018, 10:21:45 AM »
Bob, she's a beaut!  As you might remember I have the same board.  And as much as I like the "Gibson Les Paul Sunburst" colors, I think I like the blue/green even better!  Glad to see you're enjoying yours.  Down here in the Malibu area, we've had a wave drought for a while and I'm jonesing to get back out on mine. 

PS -- my one recommendation is: if you are using the stock fins, try smaller ones!  I am using FCS ARC larges and they seem to work great.  My good friend has an 8.10 Acid and he rides big NorCal surf on even smaller ones -- more like PC-5 (mediums).  We are both about 190-200 pounds.

It's counterintuitive, but the rails on Sunovas are good enough that they behave like modern shortboards.  Especially with the grip from the channels on the Creek you can go smaller.

Cheers

Alex

4
Gents--
I've finally got some time on the board and here are my first impressions.

TL;DR version: the board is reasonably stable while remaining responsive.  It has a very lively, loose feel with good flow but at the same time can handle steep drops in large, powerful surf. 

Specifics: it feels like the key to the board is the tail rocker/speed tail design.  I need more time on it, but it seems like the board has more rocker, particularly tail rocker, than other boards I've owned.

I need more wave time but so far I have been very happy with how the board feels on the wave. Fun!

IMHO the board is not as stable as you might think from all the talk.  It's not as tippy as the Acid and it's easy to stand on, but at my v/w ratio (1.27) the rails feel sensitive and it does seem to require more subtle movements.  It's definitely a performance board.  A user friendly one, for sure, but still a high performance board.  I had fun on it right away but i also have the sense I have a long way to go to push the upper limits of this board.

100% success for the intended design goal.  I'd say go down in volume/size for high performance, and go up in size for fun and wave count.

For me at 200 lbs wet, the 115 liter board does not have much glide -- I need to work to get in the wave.  Any smaller and I think it would be too much work.  So its exactly the right size. 

A question for Rick: is the rocker, especially the tail rocker, exactly the same as the Acid?  I thought it felt like actually might have more tail rocker than the Acid.

Would love to know!


5
After much deliberation on what would be my next board, I decided on the 8'7" x 115 liter Creek.  It recently arrived, and just my luck I came down with a bad cold this week so I haven't gotten out on it just yet.

First impression is that this is likely the most beautiful board I've ever owned.  The "starburst" fade over the wood grain is gorgeous and with a highly polished surface, it reminds me of a 1958 Les Paul guitar.  I know I'm going to end up dinging it and the thought makes me a little heartsick.  As Rick has said, pictures do not do justice to this board.  Looks are less important to me than performance, but I gotta say, it's really purty.

Second, the channels in the tail seem so much larger in person and combined with the tail rocker that appears to start really early, it looks like the tail design will give this board a lot of grip and hook when you stomp on it.  Overall the rails are a bit chunkier than those on the Acid but are still tucked and hard.

The only demerit is the board seems a bit heavy -- 8.3 kgs is a pound or two more than similar performance shapes from other major boardmakers for an 8 and a half foot board. I'm sure the color coat and gloss coat add to this, as well as the extra foam in the full nose.  I'll wait to judge whether I will feel the weight on the wave.

I have been riding a 7'10" L41 Popdart over the last year as my primary board and while I really enjoy it and think I have yet to really get the most out of it, I will say my wave count has gone down.  It doesn't glide much so I have to catch waves closer to prone surfers, and it's a handful in choppier conditions.  I love it from chest high to 3-4 feet overhead, but I wanted something for windy afternoons, bigger waves, and crowds.

I rode an 8'8' Acid XL on some overhead days and loved it.  I agonized over deciding between the Acid, the new Flash and the Creek.  Tino at Sunova reco'd the Creek as the best "all seasons" board.  I'm happy to see pics of James Casey riding one in competition and good surfers giving it raves.

I wanted to share some thoughts about Planshape.  It's only one aspect of board design, but seems relevant.

Many of the first performance SUPs were basically blown-up shortboards, with pointed noses that are narrower than their tails.  The Acid is an extreme example of this, the Flow less so.  Some performance boards are basically the same in terms of nose and tail width: the Flash is an example, and I think JP Surf Pro and Starboard Pro models are like this as well.

Then you have boards where the nose is WIDER than the tail.  This is the Creek, the new Smik Hipster Twin, and of course, the most extreme version being the Speed.

I'm going to go out on a limb and say that the Wider Nose than Tail shape may be optimal for sup performance, as it enables you to paddle into waves earlier, and also because by definition most sup surfing is driving off the front foot more than the back, then using the back foot to jam turns.  A wider nose also makes for a more parallel rail line in the front half of the board, which increases speed.

It seems counterintuitive, but having the tail pulled in more than the nose may make sense for harder turning on a bigger board.  Many of the new school longboard styles, like Infinity's New Deal, also seem to follow the formula of narrower tail than nose.

Maybe I'm just rationalizing my decision on the Creek over the Acid.  Time will tell.  Once I have the chance to get it out on the water, I'll come back with thoughts from the test drive!






6
Sunova SUP / Re: "Creek" model video #2 with Size Range & Pics
« on: November 19, 2017, 01:33:01 PM »
Hi guys, just chiming in because I am about to take delivery on an 8'7" Creek.  I'm 85-90 kg wet (depending on wetsuit) and I've been riding a 7'10" L41 Popdart as my primary board.  I was choosing between the Creek and the Flash and went with the Creek after Tino weighed in saying the Creek was better for all conditions while the Flash was best for good waves.

I'm getting the board primarily for windier conditions, overhead to DOH plus, and crowded days.  Also as a one-board quiver for surf trips.  I love my Popdart but my wave count has gone down a bit on days with less than perfect conditions.  I'm super pumped to get out on the Creek and will come back with a ride report!

Cheers,

Alex


7
SUP General / Re: The Ranch to open?
« on: November 13, 2017, 06:07:41 PM »
Supsurf, I've thought about doing the same thing.  I've been out at Little Malibu a few times and found myself looking wistfully up the coast...I've heard some guys ride bikes when the sand is hard.  Cojo is definitely on my bucket list.

8
SUP General / Re: The Ranch to open?
« on: November 13, 2017, 03:06:31 PM »
Zooport, technically there are two ranches, Hollister and Bixby.  Bixby is further west and includes Cojo and Government Points.  Everyone who surfs there gets there by boat, even those fortunate enough to live on the Hollister Ranch.  Bixby Ranch was purchased a few years back by a real estate company owned by the large Boston-based Hedge Fund Baupost Group.  What Baupost plans do to with the property in terms of development remains unclear.

For the record, I've never surfed Cojo or Governments but from pictures I can tell you they are both world-class waves when they're on. 

9
Gear Talk / Re: Need Advice -- Replacement Deck Pad
« on: November 12, 2017, 04:10:43 PM »
Newps, thanks.  How did you do the re-glue?  Did you sand/remove any of the residual adhesive on the deck of the board?  How did you keep the pad down once set?   Books or weights?

Thanks again

10
Gear Talk / Need Advice -- Replacement Deck Pad
« on: November 12, 2017, 01:00:49 PM »
Gents--  the deck pad on my L41 is coming off after about a year of use.  I have re-glued it with epoxy several times, duct taped it several times, and it just keeps peeling off.  It's now gotta be removed and replaced.

Options as I see them:

1. Wax and standard tail pad -- this is cheapest as I would not need to have the residual adhesive removed.

2. RS Pro Hexatraction and standard tail pad

3.  New full deck pad w/ tail pad

For those who have had to replace deck pads, or who just have experience with different set-ups, what do you think is the best option?  And for those who suggest option #3, what deck pad(s) do you recommend?

Thanks in advance!

Alex

11
SUP General / Re: Shot to the ribs... Just don't cough or sneeze.
« on: November 12, 2017, 12:51:44 PM »
Tall Dude, I feel your pain.  A few years ago I was sup surfing The Ranch (Lucky, I know..) -- powerful overhead reefbreak and howling winds.  I went for a closeout section off the lip on a thick one, and a gust of wind caught my board as it went over the back of the wave, flipped it into my side, and the crashing lip pounded the rail of the board into my side as I went down over the falls.

It was so painful I almost vomited, and had to crawl out of the water.  At the hospital the diagnosis was three badly bruised/hairline fractured ribs.  Getting in and out of bed was almost impossible for the first couple weeks, and sneezing or coughing unleashed staggering amounts of pain.  It was several weekds before the pain was manageable, and 3-4 months before I felt even close to normal.

You are living in a nightmare right now, I know but it will end!  All the best, and stick to NSAIDs!

12
Hey Asheville, I feel like I can weigh in here cause I'm almost the same weight and background/experience as you.

I think 110-115 liters is the right range where you will get the performance you want.  For the record, I ride one of the short/wide boards already mentioned here, an L41 Popdart.  7'10"x29 at 115 ltrs.  I rode it this morning at my local reefbreak with southern hemi swell and sets up to 3-4 feet overhead.  With waves that size it absolutely flies -- it feels like doing a downhill run on a skateboard.

Given your waves/conditions, I'd go for a version with less rocker than my board -- the l41 Simsup ST would be ideal for you I think.  This is a board that will get as much speed as possible on the waves you ride.  And as an experienced surfer you know speed is everything.

An alternative would be the new JP surf slate.  Similar design but with a tail that is more rounded and pulled in, with the purpose of going more vertical.  What the Popdart achieves with more progressive rocker, the new JP tries to get by pulling in the planshape.  But again, if most of your surf is below head high and on the mushy side, you want speed.

You can't go wrong with an L41.  Full custom for a fraction of the cost of a JP, Naish, SB, etc. and incredible construction.  I've had mine for a year and only have a couple of minor scratches.

Good luck!


13
Gear Talk / Re: HELP. I need to spend money on a new board!
« on: October 19, 2017, 08:00:28 AM »
I have an order in right now for an 8'7" Creek, so I'm clearly in favor of that one!  I also really like the look of both of Anon's boards.  I recently saw the teaser for the new 2018 JP Surf Slate, which has a totally new shape and one I find interesting.  It's now more of a hybrid between a squared off planing hull like the hypernut and a more curvy traditional shape.  It looks quite similar to Anon's Omni.

They make an 8'2"x30 @128 ltrs which could be a good choice as well. 

14
Gear Talk / Re: Nubster trial
« on: October 17, 2017, 07:24:08 PM »
I have been riding my L41 Popdart for almost a year now, and I have ridden it up to 8-10' in fairly fast reefbreak and I have never once felt like it would slide out or felt twitchy.  However I have not been pushing it to the limit in turns in the bigger stuff.  The controllers seem to work perfectly with this board.

I bought a nubster and it's been sitting on a shelf for months.  I should have tried it out during our last big south swell.  This thread has reminded me it's time to try it out.

15
Gear Talk / Re: Next board after Infinity Phoenix V2
« on: October 17, 2017, 07:17:08 PM »
Anon, I like the look of your Omni.  A board that looks somewhat similar is the new 2018 JP Slate.  They rounded off of the ends so it turns better but still carries a fairly straight outline.  Like the Omni, a hybrid between and egg and a planing hull.  Unlike on the Slate, on your model and Omni, the tail looks narrower than the nose, which I think is actually a good design choice for a SUP.

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