Author Topic: Smik Hipster Twin is ridiculously stable!  (Read 9404 times)

Hail SUPn

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Smik Hipster Twin is ridiculously stable!
« on: July 27, 2020, 09:40:27 PM »
I received my Smik Hipster Twin the weekend before last and tested it out over this past weekend. I mainly tested it out in flat water because I wanted to see how it sat in the water, where to stand on the board (if I could stand on the board), how it paddles etc. 

Board: 8’x30.5 @118L
Me: 5’11 175lbs. 38yo

I started SUP surfing from scratch about 3 years ago. I had minimal surf experience before that. I’ve progressed my way down from the all around style SUPs @164ish liters to my first dedicated surf sup, a 9’6 Sunova Steeze @145L. I’ve had the Steeze over a year and felt that it was time to get try and drop down in size but also get a shortboard style sup. After countless hours/days/weeks of research on different websites and forums I was pointed in the direction of Smik by Reuben over at Supboarder. So I reached out to Scotty Mckercher, who is awesome to do business with, and order a 8’ Hipster Twin.

I must say I was a bit unsure about dropping 27 liters in volume and 1.5ft in length. But as soon as I saw the board in person I could tell it was not going to be a problem. The board just looks rock solid stable. When I got it to the water and stood up, it was confirmed. I was expecting some serious growing pains to make a jump like this and maybe if I had gone with a different board I would have. But Smik lived up to the hype. I paddled it around for about 2 hours with zero issues. Afterwards I was thinking I probably could have dropped another size lol. At my weight, about the back 1/3 of the board was underwater. You just stand a little further forward than normal as most other reviewers have stated.

Next I took it out in some semi choppy conditions to see how it would fare. Once again it surprised me. It was almost as stable as my Steeze!!  This is only my second time out on this small board(for me) and I was already relaxed and comfortable in onshore semi choppy surf. I can’t get over how easy this board is to jump on and paddle.  Anyone looking to get a smaller sup and worried about stability, should definitely look into the Smik Hipster Twin.



Hail SUPn

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Re: Smik Hipster Twin is ridiculously stable!
« Reply #1 on: August 01, 2020, 04:33:47 PM »
I had a nice morning of slightly overhead surf courtesy of Hurricane Isaias. This is a really fun board!! The late take off ability of this board is incredible. It picks up speed really quick, turns on a dime, then picks up speed again.

There was one standout set wave I caught that I can’t stop thinking about. The swell was overhead and I was a little bit too far inside to get a good paddle into the wave. But I was in perfect position to catch the shoulder so I got a few good strokes in and I thought I was going in the washer. But as soon as the wave picked me up the board took off!!! That drop was so fun!! So I cut back up the face, and down again!! But the wave face was huge and glowing as the early morning sun was shining through it.

Badger

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Re: Smik Hipster Twin is ridiculously stable!
« Reply #2 on: August 02, 2020, 07:44:30 AM »
That board would fit nicely between my 8'10 Flow and 7'6 Super Frank.
Kalama E3 6'1 x 23" 105L
Axis HPS 980 / PNG 1300
Sunova Flow  8'10 X 31"  119L
Me - 6'0" - 165lbs - 66yo

Hail SUPn

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Re: Smik Hipster Twin is ridiculously stable!
« Reply #3 on: August 03, 2020, 06:35:01 AM »
I could see this board fitting into a lot of people’s quiver. From beginners(like me) looking to get on a smaller board that’s easy to stand on but still has excellent performance to more seasoned paddlers looking for a board that is fast loose shred sled!!
My overview is very basic and focused mainly on the stability aspect of the Hipster Twin because I thought it would be helpful for people who are looking to get a smaller performance board but are also beginners or worried about stability. There are better in depth reviews on the Zone and Seabreeze that are worth a look. But I do believe this is a really fun board at all skill levels

mrbig

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Re: Smik Hipster Twin is ridiculously stable!
« Reply #4 on: August 16, 2020, 11:46:43 AM »
Awesome. I own an 8'4" x 30.5" x115 liters that I use all the time now that I am surfing in North Florida. Have ordered a
Mongrel 8' without the foil boxes. May get it before I turn 73! LOL!
Let it come to you..
SMIK 9'2" Hipster Mini Mal
SMIK 8'8" Short Mac Freo Rainbow Bridge
SMIK 8'4" Hipster Twin
King's 8'2" Accelerator SharkBoy

Hail SUPn

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Re: Smik Hipster Twin is ridiculously stable!
« Reply #5 on: August 16, 2020, 06:08:18 PM »
Awesome. I own an 8'4" x 30.5" x115 liters that I use all the time now that I am surfing in North Florida. Have ordered a
Mongrel 8' without the foil boxes. May get it before I turn 73! LOL!

I appreciate the review you posted on your Hipster Twin. It was very helpful in my research. Well I hope your new board gets here in time for your bday and I will definitely be looking forward to your review of it. Will this be another Scotty custom?

 


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