Preview of latest shape from Bert Berger of Sunnova.

[baddog]

Jeez, at my weight, I guess I've got no choice but to go 7'9".  What's the final word on the stock fins?  Burt must have got that sorted out.

[supthecreek]

Hey dog!
I would say the stock fins are ok.... I used 1 other set of fins and they didn't feel right for the board.

Bert has come up with a line of fins with 3D, but I have yet to see them.... I had a set of 3D's and liked them a lot.

So no definitive ideas on fins yet.

[Billekrub]

Thanks for your responses on the shroom.  I also reviewed the thread you recommended.

Frankly, all the discussion, videos and pics are not sufficient assurance to fully appreciate how I would find any of the shapes, especially without coming from a surfing background (mostly, wave sailing).  Though, will test a few in Sept. to better understand all of this.

I certainly need more board speed, both on and off the wave, spend a lot of time in small, slow, mushy, shallow waves, can balance well on 130 liter, 30 inch, 8/11 nose rider, full concave (slow) board, not a skilled pumper to generate speed.

In bigger waves with steeper takeoff, the 130 liter does come alive, one can weight the tail without bringing the board to a stop and get extremely radical turns by weighting the rear rail.  Otherwise it is slow going.

Notes of each shape for small, slow stuff, and even medium slow stuff.  Also, side-off wind quite common

###Speed--need to walk to the tail to do a sharp turn, but will have the most speed of all
###Acid--Flow is more appropriate, for starters
###Flow--is it fast enough and appropriate for the conditions, much faster than the 130?, stable enough?  IM rider can turn it more easily on the wave, easier to paddle in headwind?
###Skate--do not know, a bit unconventional for turning on larger waves, preempted by Speed?  Could be the most fun in low energy mush (fast), slower than the speed?, easier for an IM to turn?
###Shroom--greater challenge catching slow waves as early?  might be the easiest and most stable to pivot turn to position on a wave, also too fast in bigger slow waves?, might be the best turner in low energy waves--weighting those rear rails with conviction???  Still a very novel shape with the least known about it
###Style or 10/6 Surf--the Speed is more appropriate at first glance

[nalu-sup]

In reading your well thought out descriptions of different boards, I have a few thoughts to offer.
You mentioned that you have more of a wavesailing background. I have spent six months each year for the past 30 years windsurfing, and hopefully wavesailing, in Hawaii (mostly Maui) and Baja, so I can relate to that background. I would say that surfing the Flow comes closest to the feeling of wavesailing a dedicated waveboard. It likes you to drive forward and bury the whole rail, which should feel familiar to a wave sailor. I have wavesailed the Flow, and actually preferred the Speeed so far for wavesailing surprisingly enough, but I know that I need to try some different fin setups next time I sail it.
You asked about stability relative to your 130 liter 8'11". I can say that my 8'7" Flow would be less stable, but I would still call it a stable board for its size.
You mentioned pivot turning in front of a wave in relation to the Shroom. I have not ridden one, but I can say that being able to sink the tail is key for me in pivot turning, and that might be challenging on the Shroom. I have found the Flow to be amazing for pivot turns, though I do sometimes lose some stability if there is a lot of surge or cross chop.
I do find that narrow pointed noses are better for paddling into a headwind, so I would think that the Flow and the Acid would win there.
You mentioned low energy waves. One thing that I have found sometimes is that the very thin rails in the tail of the Flow can bog down while turning if there is not much speed, relative to a board of similar volume but with thicker rails.
I am sure that you will have fun demoing these boards in September, and look forward to your report.

[supthecreek]

Billekrub

After giving long consideration to your remarks, wave conditions and range of surf.... I am willing to make a recommendation:

9'2 Speeed

many reasons for that....
My detective work found your board, so I know your 8'11 x 30  gives maximum stability for those numbers.
The 8'10 Speeed would be more of a challenge in your bumpy conditions
The 9'2 Speeed is probably a good match for your 8'11 in the stability department

The Speeed will be MUCH faster, in all conditions than your board
It is at home in all size surf to 2X OH and it is so comfortable there, it can probably go bigger.

You do not have to run to the tail to turn..... with my front foot right about the handle, my back foot is right over the sidebites.... I simply shift my back foot from rail to rail to turn. As long as your back foot is at the "Bump down" at the sidebites, you can unlock the sweet Speeed carve.
I am re-posting a vid here that shows very clearly, that I don't have to run up and down the board to surf it. If I noseride it, yeah, I get to move around, but it is not required.

The bigger 9'2 size shouldn't put you off, because you will get a lot more turning performance than with your 8'11.
The 9'2 is the best paddler in the Speeed range, for me..... enough float without excessive width, combined with the parralell rails is perfect.

The Speeed is a workhorse that does everything exceptionally well..... but is slower to pump down the line, than a curvy outline like the Flow.

I would have easily chosen the 8'10 Skate for you....
The Skate became my absolute favorite small wave board.... super stable, turns are smooth and effortless. It carries speed well, but doesn't seem to need speed to function.....All in all, a great board....
The only reason I did not recommend the Skate was.... you mentioned bigger waves.
I have never ridden it in anything over 3', so I can't speak to its usefulness in bigger waves.
Otherwise, it seems perfect for what you are looking for.

I am hoping to get a 9'2 Skate at some point. I'm going bigger so I can use it in winter wetsuit and rougher conditions.
When that happens, I will make more videos of it.... such a fun board!



Notes to your assessments:
The Acid 
is for advance SUPster only. Period. It is very challenging to stand on.... very foiled rails and pointy ends make this board considerably more challenging than any other board in the line.
I ride an 8'3 Shroom, and all 8'10 Sunova's with ease..... but I work really hard on my 9'4 Acid (my favorite  board)

The Flow
is a board you need to ride in the smallest size you can, to get the performance.....
but can be ridden easily a much bigger size, by an intermediate, because the shape provides many benefits that help gain skills, while providing stability and ease of use.

In this video, on the 8'10 Speeed, you can see that I turn the board without having to move to the stomper.
My front foot is just behind the handle and my back foot is positioned over the sidebites (and "bumpdown")
I simply shift my back foot from rail to rail to get the best turn
It was the same on my 9'5 Speeed.... which I just replaced yesterday, with the smaller 9'2 for winter

[Tom]

Bill,
The Style & the Speed have a lot in common with each other... wide thin noses and more parallel rails. This allows both to paddle better than the Flow for longer distances, they don't yaw as much. This also makes them quite stable for their lower volume. The main difference in the two are the rocker and the tail. The Speed has more significant nose rocker which allow later and steeper drops but hinders nose riding. The tail on the Speed is less conventional which gives it its short board like performance when you get on the tail.

Style and Speed vs the Flow. All of Bert's boards surf well, its just that some work better in some conditions than others. The straighter outline of the Speed and Style require you to surf off the tail to do aggressive turns where the curvy outline of the Flow does not. The Speed and Style are fast and perform well down the line doing rollercoaster turns. The Flow can go vertical off a bottom turn, the Speed will if you're on the tail, the Style not so much. The Flow turns better than the Style and the Speed when standing more centered on the board.

Bottom line - they are all great boards and you'd be happy with any of them. THe 9'2" would definitely fill the bill.

[Billekrub]

Thanks v. much to all three veterans for your consulting advice and contributions in general.  It helps a lot.  No board line was ever described so well in the history of water sports, or a paddler's needs so carefully considered.  Never happens.

Nalu-sup, STC and Tom.

A bit light yesterday, howling today, tomorrow just right.  And some nice waves at certain tides.

[Billekrub]

Quote:  The 8'10 Speeed would be more of a challenge in your bumpy conditions

Indeed it was.  Not much hope of experiencing its potential in a short time.  Almost though, so the 9/2 is probably OK.