intro & tell me what to buy!

[northshore_slider]

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.

[PonoBill]

Well, you're in the right place to try Sunovas. Hook up with Creek. He'll surely be popping in soon. Everything you need right there. He generally has a van full of Sunovas for friends to demo. And I do mean full.

[Dusk Patrol]

Hey North  I’m with you on the surf stoke. Just a thought… to keep your mind open about shapes wider than 30. The Element is a traditional (old school) shape… long and thin with straight-ish rails. A hybrid shape with some width (e.g., the Creek and other Sunovas, Naish Hokua, Starby Wide Point, Infinity Blur) might be the ticket.     

The TC Loose Leaf... I like the video of how it behaves on the face. You can surf like Tom Carroll too...
guaranteed : ) 

https://shop.surfindustries.com/us/surf/stand-up-paddle-board/surf/tom-carroll-paddle-surf-loose-leaf-v2-cx-sup/

[gone_foiling]

If I were you I would take a look at jimmy lewis superfrank 8.6x 30 that’s currently on sale for $849. It’s my favorite board so far out of all I tried.

[northshore_slider]

If I were you I would take a look at jimmy lewis superfrank 8.6x 30 that’s currently on sale for $849. It’s my favorite board so far out of all I tried.

The 8’6 x30.5” (narrow) is coming up at $1749 on their site. If it was $849 I’d buy it right now! Are you seeing that deal somewhere else?

[northshore_slider]

Hey North  I’m with you on the surf stoke. Just a thought… to keep your mind open about shapes wider than 30. The Element is a traditional (old school) shape… long and thin with straight-ish rails. A hybrid shape with some width (e.g., the Creek and other Sunovas, Naish Hokua, Starby Wide Point, Infinity Blur) might be the ticket.     

The TC Loose Leaf

Thanks for the input on considering a more modern shape that has some width to it. I’m a bit nervous to go wider so as to lose turning performance, but maybe I’m thinking about it wrong and the tail is really where I need it narrow.  I wish surf sups were easy to demo... I’d love to try it out before I fully commit!

The Tom Carroll Loose Leaf looks slick... similar shapes to the Jimmy Lewis Super Frank and Smik Twin Hipster, yes?

[gone_foiling]

If I were you I would take a look at jimmy lewis superfrank 8.6x 30 that’s currently on sale for $849. It’s my favorite board so far out of all I tried.

The 8’6 x30.5” (narrow) is coming up at $1749 on their site. If it was $849 I’d buy it right now! Are you seeing that deal somewhere else?

It is 849. Just click on the one that has sale label.

[northshore_slider]

It is 849. Just click on the one that has sale label.

I truly wish you were correct but the price changes when you make your selection (size, color, width). For the narrows... the 7'6 is $824, 8' is $849, 8'6 is $1749. For the wides... the 7'6 is $849, the 8' is $899, and the 8'6 is again $1749.

[gone_foiling]

you are right - I was looking at 8.0 for myself. I would call Jimmy to see what is up - maybe he'll give you a deal.

[northshore_slider]

you are right - I was looking at 8.0 for myself. I would call Jimmy to see what is up - maybe he'll give you a deal.

well now i'm wondering if i could handle the 8' x 31.5" x 127l... it feels insane to consider jumping down from 9'8 @ 153l to 8' 127l but now that i'm reading up more on them, it sounds like the SF is allows you to go much shorter than you'd think possible?

[gone_foiling]

Yes, SF is meant to be ridden shorter. You weight about 86kg and board has 127lt that's definitely enough float for someone who is intermediate level. Again depends on the conditions you surf in. I couldn't let go of this board when I tried one on Maui this past August. Waist high to well overhead sets - that board rocked it. Thinking about getting one for myself but have a shitload of stuff already.

[northshore_slider]

Yes, SF is meant to be ridden shorter. You weight about 86kg and board has 127lt that's definitely enough float for someone who is intermediate level. Again depends on the conditions you surf in. I couldn't let go of this board when I tried one on Maui this past August. Waist high to well overhead sets - that board rocked it. Thinking about getting one for myself but have a shitload of stuff already.

Very interesting. Wish the 8'6 was on sale like the 8' but this definitely has me thinking. As for the conditions I surf in, I try to get out there if it's anywhere above 2' and not a windblown choppy mess. My local spot is typically somewhat small mushy waves (2-3' on average) and usually gifted with offshore winds but when hurricane season rolls in (Sept/Oct) it can be chest/head/OH and if that is combined with light offshore winds I am out there. My ideal waves at this point with my skill level where I feel slightly pushed outta my comfort zone but allows me to actually make some turns and play on the face of the wave is the 3-4' range.

[PonoBill]

At 190 an 8'0"X31.5" is just fine. Yes, it will challenge you, but it's not too small.

The price is silly, they must have a bunch of them gathering dust. I'd say get it and work on being comfortable on it. I have an L41 8'8" that I thought I would NEVER be able to ride well. About the tenth time I tried to ride it was at Rincon (the California version, not PR) and I had a surfing day that will forever be imprinted as long as I'm on the right side of the dirt. I'm 235, 6'2" and 72.

[burchas]

you are right - I was looking at 8.0 for myself. I would call Jimmy to see what is up - maybe he'll give you a deal.

well now i'm wondering if i could handle the 8' x 31.5" x 127l... it feels insane to consider jumping down from 9'8 @ 153l to 8' 127l but now that i'm reading up more on them, it sounds like the SF is allows you to go much shorter than you'd think possible?

As far as float and comfort the 8' x 31.5" would perfectly fine for you even if you have only decent balance.
I'm riding it at 190+ in windy/choppy conditions, not spending too much time in the water. Bought the classic construction but I could swear they sent me the carbon, the damn thing is so light and it can take good beating.

You'll be going back to catching waves MUCH later though, only this board is happy to turn and carve at will.

[nalu-sup]

I think that either the Flow or the Creek in an 8'10 would fit nicely for what you are looking for. I am going to suggest one other option: the Blue Planet All Good at 8'8" by 31". The width is mostly up forward for stability, with a nicely pulled in tail for performance, similar to the Jimmy Lewis SuperFranks. Although this year's model is only 120 liters because the board is quite thin at 3.75", I believe that the 2020 model is increasing to 4" thick, which brings the volume up to 125 liters and they are supposed to be available this month. It is one of the best boards I have found in terms of combining stability due to the width up forward, with amazing performance on the wave due to the pulled in tail and very thin rails. They will ship from Hawaii to any major airport for free, and the heavier construction is a great price at $1299. My current quiver is an 8'7" Flow for when it is perfectly glassy, a 9' X 31.5" Tabou for when the water is really messy with current or wind, and the All Good for everything in between which is the majority of the time.