Topics

1

Gear Talk / Infinity RNB PPVC

« on: October 28, 2021, 10:16:09 AM »

Any thoughts on the Infinity RNB PPVC? Anyone surf both the pvc and the carbon versions and have a comparison to share? I'm thinking about picking up an 8'8 in the pvc construction - seems like a solid board at a good price. I have always preferred rounded pintails so I am curious how that tail will perform.

https://infinity-sup.com/collections/sup-surf/products/rnb-ppvc-carbon

from the website:

The Round Nose Blurr is one of our most popular performance surf designs of all time. Perfect blend of performance vs stability and a noticeably FAST board. This design bridges the gap between a traditional shortboard style outline and the  inspired parallel rail boards. This board allows riders to ride shorter and narrower board while maintaining similar stability of a board 1-2" wider. Features a slight single concave and a deeper double between the fins. Very versatile in the small stuff and can mix it up in some juice as well with the 5 fin option.

This construction is made up of ultra light CAD designed and CNC cut stringerless EPS foam blank that is wrapped in a high grade E glass shell and reinforced with PVC for strength and integrity. We add carbon for linear strength and flex control. This construction is very strong, durable and the way we have sandwiched up the materials together has proven to be performance driven. All finboxes and handles are installed with a high density foam anchor then capped for a nearly bomb proof install. Light, Strong and Performance minded.

2

Gear Talk / thoughts on Blue Planet Fun Stick (9’4)?

« on: July 31, 2021, 03:36:19 PM »

Hey folks. I’m thinking about picking up a Blue Planet Fun Stick (9'4 X 33 X 140L). The 9’4 140L and shape is what I’m looking for but I’m nervous about the width. I mostly surf thigh-chest beach break, so it’s a steep quick takeoff requiring an immediate bottom turn to stay in the pocket, hence the reason I’m nervous about the width. I primarily surf a JL Destroyer 8’5 that’s 30.5” wide and I love it, but only when it’s clean. When the wind and chop kick in, I struggle to stay upright in the lineup and usually stay on my knees until a set comes in. I’m looking for something with a bit more glide and catching waves a little earlier but also something a bit more stable for the choppy days. My Starboard Element is great but feels a bit too long at 9’8… but I like the 30” width and find it totally stable in all conditions. Thoughts?

3

Gear Talk / if you could only have one board (2021 version)

« on: July 20, 2021, 01:22:45 PM »

Was just cruising around the forum and found a great thread from way back where everyone chimed in about the one board they would keep if they could only have one. I haven't found that one board yet... still hunting, which I guess is why I'm curious what y'all would say!

My Starboard Element 9'8 is stable and fun, but I always want more out of it. My Jimmy Lewis Destroyer 8'5 is super fun on a lot of various wave types (small or big, mushy or steep and fast, etc) but I struggle with it on choppy/windy days. I'm guessing my one board is somewhere in the 9' range, can turn on a dime but also race down the line and is stable even on choppy/windy days. So what's your one board? Or are you still on the hunt like me?

4

SUP General / Jackson Close sup longboarding clip

« on: November 12, 2020, 06:04:03 AM »

The clip is from 2016 but I just found it last night and thought I'd share... his smooth style, the music, the perfect waves... I love it, hopefully you do too.

5

Gear Talk / JL Super Frank vs Destroyer

« on: October 29, 2020, 11:35:11 AM »

My main ride right now is a Jimmy Lewis Super Frank carbon 8'6 (32 wide, 141 L). I'm 5'11 and 195lbs (without a wetsuit).

I love it but have a few things I wish it was better at:
1. catching a wave earlier - wish it had more glide / could track straighter so i didn't have to catch the wave at its peak
2. feeling stable on a bigger stronger wave - it's a pretty skatey board so on chest+ waves that have some oomph to them, you feel like a kid learning to ice skate... you think about cutting up the wave and your rear skids out real quick

I have the opportunity to pick up a Destroyer 8'5 (30 wide, 130 L). Would this solve my issues? The shape of the board lends me to believe it would. Thoughts?

6

Classifieds / WTB: Jimmy Lewis Striker 8'11 (Mass/NH)

« on: October 27, 2020, 08:27:38 AM »

Hey folks. Anyone have a JL Striker 8'11 laying around collecting dust in New England? If so... sell it to me? 

7

General Discussion / transport sup from FL to MA

« on: October 26, 2020, 09:36:08 AM »

total long shot here, but I found a used sup in FL and want to get it up to MA... the board is in Madison FL, kinda middle of nowhere between Tallahasee and Jacksonville 

anyone traveling from down there at any point in the somewhat near future that has the ability to help me out? i'll pay you some reasonable fee for the transport obviously... alternatively, has anyone shipped a board and if so, any tips for the best method to guarantee safe delivery that doesn't cost a fortune?

8

Gear Talk / new fin setup for JL Super Frank

« on: October 26, 2020, 08:18:36 AM »

Hey folks. I want to try a new fin set up with my JL Super Frank. I've been running it with the stock quad fins but want to try it as a thruster / 2+1 setup. The reason I want to switch it up is because I feel like on waves that are 4'+ it's just super skatey and I want to have a bit more control when the waves are bigger and hefty... similar to how I've felt on my Starby Element 9'8 with a 2+1 setup. The waves on Saturday were head+ and my rear was slipping out on my initial bottom turn constantly. I would have to over-compensate and rely on my paddle for stability too much. The center fin box is a futures, so not a long box. I've been searching around but am struggling to find an affordable Futures 6" or 7" center fin that could accommodate the 4.5" side fins. Or maybe I just need to experiment with a nubster? I just have a hard time believing something that small would provide the level of bite I'm looking for on the bigger days. Has anyone messed around with fin configuration on their Super Frank (or similar shaped board)? Thanks!

9

Classifieds / Sunova Speeed 8'2 in RI

« on: November 20, 2019, 10:53:53 AM »

not mine, but figured i'd post it since it's a killer deal for a killer board:
https://providence.craigslist.org/spo/d/north-kingstown-sunova-82-speeed-stand/7023604468.html

10

Gear Talk / board bags

« on: October 11, 2019, 09:40:33 AM »

Hey folks. I searched around and mostly found old threads referencing board bags that were no longer available. I just bought a 8'6 Jimmy Lewis Super Frank and want to get a bag for it. Any recommendations? Brands I saw mentioned in other threads were Pro-Lite, SUP Sports, Vitamin Blue... thanks!

11

Gear Talk / intro & tell me what to buy!

« on: September 30, 2019, 12:38:38 PM »

Hey folks! First real post here so I'll intro myself first... I just started sup surfing a year ago when I moved to a beach town on the north shore of Massachusetts. I hadn't ever surfed before. I'm 39yo, 5'11", and 190lbs sans wetsuit. When I first moved to town I bought an 11' Vesl sup with the thought that I'd mostly flatwater paddle but then one day I took it out in some 1' waves and was completely hooked. I'm sure I looked like an idiot, but it was beyond fun... I'm sure you all remember your first wave. I haven't flatwater paddled since that day, bought a 3/2 suit so I could surf in the fall, then bought a 5/4 suit so I could surf all winter. HOOKED. This spring I wanted to see if I could take my surfing to the next (beginner) level and I found a used Slingshot Space Pickle 8'6" (31.5" wide and 136l) and it felt like a while new world being on a board that was 70 liters less and 2.5' shorter. While it was fun to experiment with and took a few sessions to get use to paddling into a wave MUCH later, I hated it because it was actually more difficult to turn than my 11' cruiser. It felt like I was trying to turn a sheet of plywood. Maybe it was lack of skill on my part, but I think the super wide & beefy tail didn't help. Then I found an older beat-up Starboard Element 9'8" (30" wide and about 150l) and I fell in love immediately. With a more surf-inspired shape and a pintail I felt like the board was doing what I wanted it to. I could turn, I could carve... it was a wonderful feeling to be able to "play" more on the wave face. The Element has taken my skills maybe somewhere towards intermediate level as I can now surf waist to chest high waves pretty comfortably and have been out on a few head high days and was able to pull it off.

So now I'm on the hunt again... I'm looking for something shorter (surprise!)... maybe something in the 8'6" to 9' range. I don't think I want to go wider than 30" because that's what my Element is and I like how it glides and how maneuverable it is - I don't have to shift my rear foot left/right to turn. I don't think I want to go longer than 9' because I want something a bit more aggressive/turny than my Element (which I'm sure I'll continue to ride on choppier/mushier days). I've been lurking on here for a little bit and see a lot of chatter about Sunova and am very curious about the Steeze in 8'10", Speeed in 8'10, Creek in 8'10 or 9'1 (although I wish they had kept the same wood tone as on their other boards - not a fan of the green tint). But I'm also totally open to suggestions from you all. Fanatic? Naish? JP? Another Starby? Cheers y'all... can't wait to start posting more, learning more, and sharing the stoke.