Messages

16

SUP General / Kalama vs Sunova Speeed?

« on: February 16, 2024, 06:15:19 PM »

Wing foiling has been pretty front and center for me over the last year since I live in the gorge but I'm missing the waves a bit and am looking to chase our local beach break again this year.

I've had great success riding my 9'2"x30" 126l Kalama in past years. It's stable in the nasty wind chop and washingmachine ocean conditions that are the norm here. I really like the quad setup on it as well. However, I've had a glimmer or two of more performance oriented longboards in the past and my mind is wandering towards a new ride.

I'd like to go narrower, I demo'd a 28" board (NSP DC Super X) and was stoked on how fast that board got rail to rail in comparison to my Kalama. If I could find another quad, I'd steer towards that as well but quads seem uncommon in the industry. I have zero desire to go longer, but I also don't crave anything like the misery I had on a 8'2" Quatro Carve Pro. I want to score tons of waves, go fast, and I don't mind moving up, down, side to side on the board to optimize my turns and experience.

So... I'm wondering if the Speeed checks these boxes? My weight seems to fluctuate between 90-100kg when fully soaked in winter vs summer gear so I'm thinking the 8'8" 123l would be the easiest transition. Drops 6" of length, 2" of width, but only 3l less than my Kalama (does this mean super thick rails?). I've comfortably paddled down to 108l on a 9'x28" Kalama but worry that the 8'5" x 27.5" 113l Speeed would feel drastically less stable out the back and would sacrifice too much on the catch for my taste, but I'm open to hearing if I'm wrong about that.

Any thoughts, comments, direction folks can give me?

17

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Sunova Carver Unboxed

« on: January 20, 2024, 02:55:56 PM »

21.5 is great.  I also have a 21.  Don't notice the 1/2" difference at all.  22 wouldn't bother me either.

22" doesn't bother me in the air, but it bangs my knee when I carry it  that's why I like narrower.

18

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Sunova Carver Unboxed

« on: January 17, 2024, 11:46:59 PM »

How is the 21.5? I really liked my 21, my 22 not so much.

19

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Sunova Carver Unboxed

« on: January 17, 2024, 07:08:15 AM »

Saw this review about the carver so I figured I would add it to the discussion.

I recently tried out the Sunova Carver 6.2 Custom 79Ltr board, pairing it with an Axis ART Pro 1051 foil and a 4m wing for some short downwind runs. Normally, lifting my board with a 4m wing and the 1051, particularly in open ocean swells around 20-23 knots, has been a struggle. However, the Carver has been a game-changer. It’s still a bit of a sinker for me, but I can stand on crunch down to get it flying. When it’s on the surface, it skips over the water to gain the speed necessary to engage the foil. The speed it generates is unbelievable.
Recently, I took it into some waves, using the Axis Spitfire 780 and 720 with a 4m wing in winds between 22-25 knots. Surprisingly, the Carver allowed me to generate enough speed through the chop to get the foils flying. I was blown away by how easily I could downsize my foils by 1-2 sizes thanks to the Carver’s narrow size and length, which enable it to plane incredibly fast.

Impressed by the performance, I couldn’t resist going back to the foil shop today and acquiring a 5.2 with stock measurements as well. As a heavier rider at 6.5ft and 107kg, I’ve designated the 6.2 Carver as my go-to for light wind conditions. If the wind picks up beyond 20 knots, I’ll switch to the 5.2 for an optimal experience. Totally stoked

That's awesome that it's working so well for ya. Have you had many days on the 5.2 yet? My buddy got that one so I'll get to try it this spring.

20

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Sunova Carver Unboxed

« on: January 15, 2024, 03:21:41 PM »

You need the larger board to start the smaller foil in light wind, it's your prefered way to foil, enjoy. Tried the 85L range, doesn't work for me, doesn't suit my style. I'll save my 710 for (very) windy days. It is not my preference to use it in lighter winds regardless of the fact I can start it with my larger board. It's just not as much fun. A single board won't work for me but nice to hear you've found one that works for you.

The performance gains are at all wind speeds, I didn’t buy this as a lightwind specialty board and while I appreciate that it can fly well in light winds, I never said my goal is to just use it in light winds. Those same benefits translate to higher winds.

21

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Sunova Carver Unboxed

« on: January 15, 2024, 10:02:40 AM »

It's not a sailing sport for me. It's a foiling sport so just driving a small foil with wing power gets kinda boring after 20 minutes. Without wave power to drive that foil, may as well go on a bike ride. I think the 2 knot difference is pretty close. Without a wind meter on my wing though...  there's really no way to quantify. Wind is very rarely steady. I'm pretty much always using the same size or smaller wing than the 65-75Kg guys with my 60L. Just enough wing to start is all that's necessary, apparent wind, pumping and wave energy do the rest and keep it more interesting.

One 64Kg buddy uses a 38L board which still floats him better than me on my 60L. Kinda hard to wrap my brain around that

Not sure where you comment about just driving around small foils and no wave power is coming from or how they relate to this conversation? Are you trying to say you only like to foil in strong wind? Even then, I prefer the use of a smaller foil and wing over a smaller board.

The 2 knot difference you're citing is a bit of a moot point though. Any time two riders go out at the same spot, they are relatively in the same wind. We wouldn't be standing there thinking "I'll do my water start where it's 2 knots lighter, and you can do yours where it's 2 knots stronger." The same rider using a neutral buoyancy kit vs a -30l kit is always going to be capable of using a smaller wing and a smaller foil with the added liters. If it was 2 knots stronger, as in my post about 14 knots going up to 16 knots, I would then downsize my wing to 3.5m or throw on my 550.

People can say that they like the submerged stability in the water of a -30l board, or that they prefer the smaller board over the smaller foil and wing, that's fine. However, I don't think they can claim comparable low end takeoff at any wind speed of the same foil and wing with a neutral vs -30l board.

22

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Sunova Carver Unboxed

« on: January 14, 2024, 12:08:58 PM »

For the moment, the 85l will be my one board quiver for winging. I know there are a lot of people that complain about neutral buoyancy boards in choppy water, but I just haven't had that issue. I ride everywhere from Rooster to Arlington in the gorge and just haven't had issues with water starts. I can, however, knee start, stinkbug start, and rodeo start.

You mentioned a 2 knot penalty? Are you saying you only need 2 more knots to water start with a 60l board? My experience has been quite different on that front. I tried the Omen 60l and yes, it was plenty comfy submerged under water, but it lost a huge amount of the low end that I desire. I undoubtedly had to size up both my wing and probably my foil to get up in the same conditions. The struggle with any on water balance is quite minimal for me, the benefit of riding my 700 and a 4.2m wing in lulls down to 10 knots with average 14 is HUGE for me. I didn't have any issue getting up on foil, but can't imagine I would have ever gotten up with that kit on a 60l of any shape.

Now, I will clarify that I am probably a rarity in that I absolutely crave the smallest wing and foil and am very typically out there on smaller gear than anyone else other than my board. I've ridden the tiny boards and they are cool, they make big foils feel smaller, but I prefer going the route of more board when I'm winging so I can enjoy super small wings and foils instead. I, personally, also have a huge preference for how a mid length turns in the air over how a shorter sinker turns. I like feeling the board, it makes me feel a lot closer to surfing than a tiny board does.

23

Gear Talk / Re: New Paddle Review, Black Project Surge

« on: January 12, 2024, 09:17:02 PM »

I have the same paddle purchased in 2020.  A lot of use in four years and still looks and feels new.  If it were to ever break I’d get the exact same one.

Same here. Awesome paddle.

24

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Sunova Carver Unboxed

« on: January 10, 2024, 03:12:54 PM »

Day 2 on the 85l Carver 5'10":
90kg rider plus wetsuit weight.
10-19 knots, average 14 knots.
Wing: 4.2m Cloud IX Ho'Okipa
Foil: Cloud IX fs700 w/Catalyst stab and 66cm mast.

Another banger of a day. This is the foil that I want to ride every day but I typically can't get it up without using a bigger wing. First try on the Carver and yes, I had to pump/work up my speed but I was never stuck taxiing around despite the light winds. The foil setup on a short mast, small foil, monoblock tail, all resulted in an incredibly fast high performance ride. There wasn't any swell to really push it in today, but this was super fun and will definitely give me something to grow into. No issues with gybes, even with the small foil.

Only bump I will note is this:
I did notice on my first session with the fs850 and a 76cm mast that the board was a little tippy. Today, on a 66cm mast and even smaller foil at fs700 it was clearly tippy. I fell off the side once or twice. Nothing to be disturbed by or to have a shocked and disgruntled experience with, but yes, this board feels a little more tippy than I'm used to.

Still absolutely love the board and I'm wildly happy to be riding such a tiny foil, with a medium sized wing, in such light winds. It's going to be an awesome year in the Gorge on this beauty!

25

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Sunova Carver Unboxed

« on: January 09, 2024, 08:52:14 PM »

Well, tested the Carver today. It took all of 5 minutes for me to realize I should probably burn all of my other boards

Foiled up on my Cloud IX fs850 in average 13, lulls to 9 knots, and stayed on foil for 45 minutes without issue in the lulls. The light weight was a dream in the air. This board was not only easier to get on foil, but it was snappier rail to rail then my 5'3"x22" Kalama.

I don't know what else to say other than, wow, that's the best board I've ever ridden.

26

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Wings Icing Up, Does that Damage The Wing?

« on: January 03, 2024, 11:56:01 PM »

I've never tried it but do kites actually get wet and frozen in snow kiting?

27

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Sunova Carver Unboxed

« on: January 03, 2024, 11:19:54 AM »

The 5'10" is exciting to me too. I think it will give me a solid dimension to start working off of with local shapers so that I can go a little longer, or a little thinner, based on how this one performs. I'm seriously doubting that I'll pull my 5'3" out very often again either.

28

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Sunova Carver Unboxed

« on: January 03, 2024, 08:15:18 AM »

Very interesting. I never thought of using the balance point on the board. I checked my 6'1 E3 and 12" back is precisely where my Axis mast is centered. On deck, my stance is perfectly centered over the balance point. That's how I've been riding it for the past six months and I'm comfortable there.

 

Thanks for checking and verifying on your board. I've been using this method for a while but haven't talked about it much since when I initially mentioned it to a few people they told me it wouldn't work for most boards. In my experience, it's worked on every board I've tried and when I find a board that the predictive measurement makes the foil land outside of the tracks, sure enough, the board and that foil don't work together.

When I slowed it down and thought about it I figured of course you should base the box placement on a board off of where you would stand (directly over the balance point) since that is going to give you the most stability and the best forward glide. Measuring X inches from the tail to place the box never made much sense to me and I'm glad I've been able to check this on a few boards and am now able to direct shapers towards this technique as well.

29

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Re: Sunova Carver Unboxed

« on: January 02, 2024, 09:43:17 PM »

First, find the balance point of the board. I typically do this with my SUP paddle. Lay the board deck down on the paddle and find where the "balance" point is. From that balance point, I know that I like the center of my mast approximately 12" back for my foils. Quick and easy and the most reliable way of doing an initial foil placement that I've found.

30

Wingsurfing, Windfoiling, Wingfoiling, Wing SUP / Sunova Carver Unboxed

« on: January 02, 2024, 04:50:47 PM »

Well, the wait for me is over. My new Carver showed up today and I'm absolutely stoked to get it on the water. Packaging looked good and it arrived without damage other than a few cardboard indents to the deck pad that should refresh themselves over time.

I ordered the 5'10" x 20" 85l version that comes with a stock expected weight of 6kg.

I asked for 2 alterations:
1. No footstrap inserts. (I don't jump).
2. Vapor instead of standard construction. (I was nervous about this decision but I watched Berts old layup videos and felt like I was still going to end up with a solid board).
There was no charge for these alterations.

I threw the board onto the scale and it clocked in at 4.85kg or 10.7lbs which is obviously, significantly below the stock weight and is also over a pound lighter than my e3 Kalama 5'3"x22" 83l.

While I haven't ridden it yet, I calculated the landing point for the foil and it looks like it should land almost dead center in the box. This would result in a total of only 4" added in front of my foil instead of the full 7" (in comparison to the e3). This also means that depending on how the board actually balances in the water, I may be able to cheat the foil farther forward to drop the nose length even more.

Last, I was concerned about the vapor construction and have ridden ultralight boards in the past that gave me pause on how long they would last. My first impression on the Sunova Vapor layup is that it is still quite strong and the board feels just as solid as any other production board I've picked up in the past. Just lighter.

Once I can get a few sessions in on this board I'll write up a formal review, but straight out of the box I'm excited!

Thanks to Sunova for making great gear and thanks to Poseidon Standup for processing my order so quickly.