Messages

466

Gear Talk / Re: booties

« on: June 13, 2016, 01:00:48 PM »

I am a cold water Sup surfer. Need warm booties 9 months of the year, tight fitting and can be difficult to get on and off. I have found that if I put bee's wax (Chaphans salad bowel wax........yes I am a wood worker) on my heels prior to putting the boots on it makes it simple to get on and off. I have not noticed any deliterious effects on the rubber and great to soften foot callus.   

467

Gear Talk / Re: Sunova Skate 8'10"

« on: May 27, 2016, 08:25:44 PM »

Thanks Creek for the Skate video!

You make the lines look effortless....beautiful and clean on small waves.....I can only hope that one day I will surf with even half the grace and style! I was out this morning on my Skate at 7am in even smaller waves and having the time of my life.

Cheers

Bob

468

Gear Talk / Re: Sunova Skate 8'10"

« on: May 26, 2016, 11:48:54 AM »

Thanks Creek for the review of the Skate. I was waiting with a a bit of apprehension wondering what an experienced surfer was going to post about this board. Good to hear your positive comments and look forward to the video.

Cheers

Bob

"An hour surfing is an hour that is added to your life"
Anonymous

469

Gear Talk / Re: Sunova Skate 8'10"

« on: May 04, 2016, 11:18:56 AM »

Thanks Surfafrica. Great video. Yes I will keep an eye out for you and your friend on the Sunova Speed. As well it looks like Mosh is getting a Sunova Flow that we will see soon out in the surf. Fantastic! I usually get out on either North or South Chesterman Beach early in the morning around 8am to avoid the prone surfers and the wind. I tow my board to the beach behind my Big Orange Bike. You can't miss it.

Cheers

Bob

470

Gear Talk / Sunova Skate 8'10"

« on: April 30, 2016, 08:46:03 PM »

I posted this on seabreze and thought that perhaps I should have posted it here. I would like to start by thanking Jim K from Extreme Windsurfing for arranging the importation of this board to Canada. Jim thinks this is one of the first Sunovas on our west coast and definitely the first that I know of here in Tofino. The board arrived in Vancouver unscratched. The packing of this board for transport was excellent. My thanks go out to the Sunova team in Thailand.   I am a novice SUP surfer with about one year of paddling a SUP, 61 year old male 5'9" and 69 kg (about 73 kg with winter wetsuit, boots, gloves and helmet). Ocean background of sea kayaking, surf kayaking, and wind surfing. Started on a 10' 27" wide Laird and a 9' 29" wide Fanatic fly that I could only flat water paddle. Both were too unstable as a beginner in the surf. Spent 8 months learning basic SUP surfing on a Starboard Whopper and two months ago sold the three boards for a 9'5" starboard widepoint. This winter I took two surf SUP lessons from Catherine Bruhwiler of Tofino Paddle Surf that were transformative. Catherine has been the Canadian women's surf champion (short board and long board) many times and is an ambassador for SUP surfing here in Canada.  The 8'10" 2016 Sunova Skate is 141 litres (written on the board), 9 kg (just under 20 lbs) with my luggage scale and 32" wide. It is a beautiful board and the lift handle makes it easy to pickup and carry compared to conventional handles. The fins supplied fit perfectly. <div>Day one. 15-20 knot side offshore wind. Choppy with 2-4 ft beach break. This board is stable. At least as stable as the 9'5" wide point side to side and a bit more stable front to back. Picked up the small waves easily despite the challenging wind and chop.
<div>Day two. 2-4 ft beach break. Small offshore breeze of less than 5 knots. This board is very stable. Able to paddle it through the beach break. The pointy nose slices through the foam piles. Tracks well with 6-8 strokes per side and pivot turns easily. It picked up the small waves with a couple of strokes, no pearling and I can move around on the board getting my back foot back with little effort. It is fast. Down the line it makes this "sizzling" sound that I have only heard before with my carbon kevlar Murky Water surf kayak. It is easier to turn than the 9'5" wide point. As described on the Sunova website, a lot of fun! For me a great board that I will be able to progress on. I can't wait to get out in the surf tomorrow. <div>Day three. 3-5 ft beach break. 15-20 knot mostly offshore wind. Yikes! Had to be in fairly late to be able to pick up a wave leading to a few spectacular "over the falls" type wipeouts. The skilled prone surfers were doing ok but I struggled with the wind. Not with stability but with paddle power at take off. Carrying the board in the wind was made much easier with the lift handle. It was good to get out in challenging conditions. <div>Those are my first impressions. I will try to write another note after a couple of months on the Sunova Skate. <div>Bob