Standup Zone Forum
Stand Up Paddle => SUP General => Topic started by: abmatt on August 29, 2019, 08:29:25 AM
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I was lucky enough to pick up an 8-6 X 30.5 Super Frank Lean in the carbon version, lightly used. Initial impressions were well-made and super-light (below 16 pounds?). Set up with stock quad fins. Clean design: mostly white, with orange and yellow sunburst design on back third. Plenty of float for my recent alarming expansion to a stress-related 210-ish pounds (it's slowly on the way down!). The deck pad seemed a little slippery the first day, but I've gotten used to it. I like the ledge at the end of the kickpad.
Finally got the chance to surf it the last couple of days here in North Florida, two early mornings. Neither day had much power. The first was semi-lumpy, chest-head-high lines that closed out eventually. The next day was smaller, waist-high, very clean, super, super soft, no one else out.
The board: It catches anything, easily, as easily as my 10-footer. I think it's that wide point forward. You can slide your front foot up to paddle for our weak waves. But then some sort of strange mojo kicks in and it's like the board surges forward; I easily caught swells I thought I had little chance to make. One time I even gave up on a wave and stopped paddling -- the board just kept going and I caught it!
Once on the wave, even those soft waves, it just wants to play. A lot of my surfing lately has been longboard-style point-and-aim, cross-walk up and back; the Super Frank instead invites -- almost insists -- that you roller-coaster it, top to bottom, and it was so easy to do, even if I don't always have my rear foot as far back as I should. The turns got me through some of the threatened close-out sections, gaining needed speed even in slow waves.
I tried a couple quick cutbacks and it came around in no time. I think it's the light weight that must help. Also tried some cross-stepping, no problem, and got into a nice trim on the front third of the board (my longboard and longboard SUP roots run deep).
In short: An extremely lightweight board that will put a smile on your face, turning uninspiring waves into fun. Can't wait to get it on waves with a little more oomph and some bigger faces to travel across. A new board can change the course of your surfing -- and I think this is one that will do that for me.
Not sure why the pic is sideways, but you get the idea. Now let's get this hurricane out of the way!
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Nice score. You would think more places in florida would sell these but i have yet to see one. Having a board like that in Florida is a necessity. Nice write up and have fun.
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That board was on my list! enjoy.
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Yes nice score, I would pick up an 8'6" SF Lean in a heartbeat. Great board for small to medium conditions. Sold my 8'er. Still trying to decide if I should get an 8'6" SF Lean or go with the Destroyer MP 8'5"?
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Hard to go wrong with either, I figure. Exact same volume. I love the looks of the Destroyer; seems like a no-brainer fun all-arounder. I think it depends on what other boards you have. The slightly pulled in nose (but still wide point forward) of the Super Frank filled a hole in my 'quiver,' such as it is. But if a Destroyer came waltzing along somehow, I wouldn't hesitate ...
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Thanks for posting that, abm It sounds like the board has a lot to give you. JL is one of those highly respected labels that does not get enough attention here. Cheers.
Jim
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I'm still happy with my SF. I always look forward to using it whenever the conditions are favorable.
The Destroyer looks very tempting. I'd love to demo one for comparison.
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I have the 8x30 SF lean 115ltr and weight 80kg and I think it improved my ability to surf and the board is soo much fun. This board surprisingly takes off well on steep reef breaks, I'm selling my board as I'm moving down size for those Australian buyers?
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Super Frank is awesome, one of the BEST sups I have ridden. I don't understand why Jimmy describes it as small wave board I took it to 2x overhead sets last week on Maui and it was awesome.
Here are couple of pics in about head high surf on Maui, riding 8.0x30 Lean 115lt
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gzasinets, JEG: Nice to know it can handle some size and steepness. I kinda figured that. Good to have it confirmed. Thanks.
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Congrats on your SF!
in bare feet the pad Jimmy uses is definetly slick...especially when it wears in a little. in Booties its just fine.
if it ends up really bothering you- check out the FCS dimple pad- Especially in Florida when you may never be in booties.
I go from Bare feet to 6mm here in NJ and the dimple is the most versitile- (Yet doesnt come stock on any production board I know of)
Definetly also a 'hole in my quiver board' always on the lookout for a used one
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I've had my 7'6 X 31 SF out on a few head high days. The flat rocker makes it very fast and skatey which takes a little more ability to control in bigger surf than typically rockered boards. When it gets around shoulder high, I usually end up switching over to the Sunova Flow so I can lay out deeper carving turns.
The flatter rocker of the SF makes it harder to bury the rail and hold it there when turning. It gives it plenty of speed but turns are done in quick little bursts which is a nice advantage in smaller weaker waves but can be a handful on bigger more critical days.
In contrast, on mushy days the Sunova Flow can be so slow that it can barely get up enough speed to turn. That's where the SF comes alive.
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The SuperFrank is essential for East Coast waves, I would say that I can probably ride it 75% of the days that are surfable, with the other percentage being covered by a noserider/longboard type of board and a few days when it's longer period, bigger waves just to have a bit more size for floating. It will make you a better rider as it allows you a stable ride that catches waves easily in a smaller than normal package.
I have the 7'6" lean and love it, although I will agree about the pad. I'm in the process of taking if off now. I would venture to say for most people it's not an issue, I just prefer wax.
I've gone back and forth on it with respect to thruster vs. quad, I think it's going to stay a quad for now.
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I don't find the pad too slippery but I don't do a lot of radical maneuvers.
I run quad also. I switch to thruster now and then but always return to quad. Same with my Flow. It seems to suit my style of riding.
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The newer lighter colored pads on JL boards are slippery. The older black pads had much better grip. Idk why they changed? They really need to fix.
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I have no problem with the deck pad and it's reasonably grippy. I use the quad on below shoulder height and thruster above shoulder wave. Most of the time I use the thruster setup. On bigger days the 5th fin setup works good (nubster or toothpick fin) and just take the 5th fin off on smaller days which make the board more versatile on any given wave sizes. I think with my weight and board size 8x30 lean I could do with a smaller rear quad fin set than the standard JL fin set.
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The newer lighter colored pads on JL boards are slippery. The older black pads had much better grip. Idk why they changed? They really need to fix.
dont know why but the old pads did not last for me! 2 years and the thing was trash.
and i never lave my board out in the sun except in the water
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i actually have the old black pad and find it slippery (And it is wearing fast as others pointed out) Cant imagine the new pad.
at the end of the day....a pad is totally changeable. The contruction and performance of the JL board is fantastic. I'll happily drop another 100 bucks to get the grip needed on his boards
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I love JL boards and that's all I've been riding for the last 5 years. I have one board with the older black pad and another with the newer grey pad. The newer grey pad is definitely more slippery. Both have the diamond pattern. In comparing the two, the black pad has some texture on top of the diamonds but the newer grey pad has a smooth surface on top of the diamonds. I think the smooth surface on the diamonds is what makes the newer pad more slippery. I don't judge boards by the pads, however, I do appreciate good grip. If I can't get a pad with good grip, I'd rather have no pad (and add my own) rather than have a slippery pad that is dangerous and a pain in the a$$ to remove.
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I love JL boards and that's all I've been riding for the last 5 years. I have one board with the older black pad and another with the newer grey pad. The newer grey pad is definitely more slippery. Both have the diamond pattern. In comparing the two, the black pad has some texture on top of the diamonds but the newer grey pad has a smooth surface on top of the diamonds. I think the smooth surface on the diamonds is what makes the newer pad more slippery. I don't judge boards by the pads, however, I do appreciate good grip. If I can't get a pad with good grip, I'd rather have no pad (and add my own) rather than have a slippery pad that is dangerous and a pain in the a$$ to remove.
Exactly - the old pad (which I have on the B&B) and was on the Worldwide is great. I have most of the pad removed from the SuperFrank just trying to decide to go wax or with a OAM pad. This week I've been on my SuperTech, and while I love wax it does beat on your feet after several days of standing for hours (well I sit a good bit too, but still).
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I mentioned in my original review that the deck pad felt a little slippery but I don't even notice it now (bare feet, warm water). I think it was just an observation in comparison to my older board, which has a thick, super grippy and heavier pad on it. The Super Frank pad definitely feels more minimalist, which suits it, i think.
This morning, thanks to Hurricane Humberto, was my first chance to get some overhead waves on the Super Frank. Lots of fun. Was generally slopey and walled up rather than barreling, and the board did great, even on some late fairly steep drops. Jimmy's site calls the board a SUP groveler - if this is groveling, I'm all for it!
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I do appreciate how this board handle late drops on oh waves that even a kook like me can feel confident enough without thinking about PT for the next 6 months but the slippery pad is definitely an issue I’ll have to address. Had 2 close encounters due to slippage on critical moments.
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most of us don't do the big surf and the SF is a versatile board in my opinion from 1ft to overhead waves and those shallow late take off reef break. It's fast, and I have the lean version it's so engaging on the rails I thought I was on a gun shortboard.