Messages

1

Gear Talk / Re: NSP 9'8" Elements Review

« on: July 12, 2019, 01:56:37 AM »

Thanks a lot guys. I think today I will manage to see these boards live and hopefully make a decision 

Scalop
Glad that problems with paint chiping have gone. The cocoflax finishing looks beatifull ,on pictures at least.

Ichabod
What products do you use to paint your boards?

2

Gear Talk / Re: NSP 9'8" Elements Review

« on: July 11, 2019, 09:25:09 AM »

Hi Ichabod!

Yes, I noticed that also after asking you on this thread. Looks like we were in sync somehow 

Thanks a lot for the feedback Ichabod. I'm still to see the board live and there is very few reviews on it on the internet, but the ones I see, no one had something wrong to say about it. The problem with the paint, looks like it's common. If i go with this board, I hope that meanwhile they sorted that problem already.

Regards

3

Gear Talk / Re: NSP 9'8" Elements Review

« on: July 11, 2019, 09:04:23 AM »

 Hi Ichabod.

I'm evaluating purchasing this board (2019 model). I believe the shape is similar to yours but size 10'' and a more pointy nose.

https://www.nspsurfboards.com/product/elements-allrounder/

Any feedback you can give me about your experience using it in the surf would be much apreciated. Thanks a lot.

4

Gear Talk / Re: Another "What board" beginner question

« on: July 10, 2019, 02:29:25 AM »

Badger,
thanks a lot for your inputs, stability wise looks like the widepoint will be the best all around board and maybe the safest well proven option, but also the one that costs the most, even 2nd hand

Nalu-Sup
thanks for the help. Gong is in fact very popular here in Europe and they're prices are a steal. I believe they only offer free shiping in France, bue even with that added cost, they still manage to be very competitive. Without ever seeing or trying one, I would say that probably they have the best cost/efectiveness relationship in the market. For sure a real contender with the top brands and half their price.

Scallop
thanks for sharing your experience with NSP. The Coco ones look amazing, but they cost 60 or 70% more than the elements version.

Dusk-Patrol
Thanks for the inputs and for taking the time to compare the boards. The rails on the NSP look in fact thicker. Looking for the boards alone withou considering cost, the Widepoint probably would be the board that would suit me best at this stage.

SupTheCreek
Thanks a lot for sharing all the information. You were right - I already managed to get Jorge's phone and talked to him a lot. He looks like a great guy and remembers you very well. He is an NSP Team Rider and used to compete in the longboard national circuit. He told me that 80% of the time he surfs an 11' NSP Cruise, same board that you used but bigger... He have sent me pictures and videos of him doing pretty much every manouver on that board in all kinds of waves...The man swears by it and advises me the same board
I feel 11' is to much for me and the extra lenght might make things more dificult in the surf at this stage, so I'm considering either the 9'8 Elements Cruise or the 10'' Elements  Allrounder (main diference is the round nose on the Cruise and pointed nose on the Allrounder. Both have the rounded pin tail at this sizes). I'll probably be with him today at lunch time to check the boards and for the price he can do to me, it is a very very tempting proposition.

With all that said I think any of this options would be valid and each one has pros and cons. Looking at the facts, regardless of the chosen option, this will be my first board but with a great deal of chance, it won't be the last. So, this will be a board to sell in the nearby future and investing more at this stage means losing more € when reseling it...The NSP is by far the cheapest option, although maybe not the "best" board, but looks like it is very surfable and can be a great introduction to the sport, providing lots of imediate fun. I can sell it 2nd hand almost for the price that it would cost me new.
On the other hand Surf is more about passion and emotion than rationality. The more refined details on the Gongs or the Starboard for sure will allow better performance and maybe a quicker evolution. But I'm not sure if that is what I'm looking after at this stage and again I don't think this will be my last board.

Very hard decisions to make:)

5

Gear Talk / Re: Another "What board" beginner question

« on: July 09, 2019, 10:26:09 AM »

Hi all.

Thanks a lot for the sugestions and opinions.

The Creek, when I got the idea of buying a SUP some weeks ago, I typed "SUP Portugal" on youtube and one of the first video that was listed was one of you surfing on our beatifull SW Algarve coast. I watched some more videos from your channel, including the one you posted. I know Parede beach but I  usually surf in Caparica (south of the river few miles from Lisbon). I will give a call to those guys and tell them that it was you that forward me to them

So we have already two new options:

NSP Allrounder 10 or Gong Karmen 9'8''. I Believe there is a 2nd hand NSP Allrounder 9'8 listed for sale and will look into it also.

What worries me in the Gong NFA is it's width (a bit less than 31'') and the volume(140 l) which I think it might be a bit ambitious considering I'm new to SUP, tall and about 200 Lbs(90kg). I don't want to spend months learning to ride that thing.
Also, I will surf mostly on beachbrakes and our coast  is windy and many times conditions are chopy. So, not sure if a longboard style board is the best option for a one board quiver... I want something that works at least in 75% of conditions, its fun and easy to surf on knee to head high waves.

What do you think?

Thanks

6

Gear Talk / Another "What board" beginner question

« on: July 09, 2019, 02:07:37 AM »

Hi all.

I'm 39 years living in Portugal, Lisbon area. Started surfing already in my adulthood and in my last 6/7 years I've been riding a 9'4'' longboard. I want to try SUP Surfing.
I'm 6'4 and weight about 90-92kgs.

Second hand market here is mostly inflatables, big flatwater SUPs or small SUP surfboards.
Right now, this are my best options:

• 2nd hand Starboard Widepoint 9'5 - 9’5” x 32”X 4.3'' x 153L vol
or

• Brand new Gong NFA 10 - 10'0 x 30' 11/16" x 4 1/16" x 140L - https://gongsupshop.com/epages/box1707.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/box1707/Products/GON9SUPFNFA100

They are about the same price.

Main objective is catching waves and have fun, I don't do very advanced technical stuff. I usually surf knee to head high waves.
Having the option of doing the odd river paddle is a nice to have also.

What board you think it would suit me best, taking into consideration all above and in terms of stability vs surfability vs fun factor. Will they surf very diferently?

Thanks in advance