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SUNOVA SPEEED 8'5"

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Created by LordKuz > 9 months ago, 14 Jan 2015
LordKuz
NSW, 260 posts
22 May 2015 3:06PM
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Johndesu said..
Hi
I have ordered the 7'6" speeed but I want to know the difference between the Speed & the Acid - I may want to progress to the smallest Acid or is it not required? will speed surf better then the Acid ?:-)



The Speeed.. as the name suggests (and not just a clever moniker), has great down the line performance - but also a good all rounder - with stability and early planing at the take off phase and plenty of rocker to utilize the rails; that draw out a smooth and wide curve. The Acid, on the other hand - is pretty much the closest thing in a sup that you get to a shortboard.. with plenty of ability to throw it around at will. In approximate size and volume comparisons - the Speeed is more stable, mainly at those critacal maneuvoring and take-off phase I mentioned - due to that wider and uplifted nose. I am mainly riding the 8'5" Speeed and the 8'8" Acid. I have a 7'11" Speeed.. and it really does not surf that much differently to its bigger sister. If you find the 7'6" speeed is good for your weight and abilities (although taking improvement into consideration)... I would suggest the 8'2" Acid rather than the very minimal 7'8". To answer your two questions then... no, its not going to give you any huge difference in the boards surfing potential by being a tad bigger than the very smallest model - and yes... although the Speeed is a performance surfing sup.. and is quite different - the Acid DOES surf better in the classic sense of the words.Hope this clears more questions than it creates!

AA
NSW, 2159 posts
22 May 2015 3:26PM
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Spot on Kuz. You got me thinking....

How about.
The Acid loves a more critical wave and best suits the rider of the highest ability.
The SPEED handles a broader range of waves and abilities.
Just look at Jacey in the video - he still rips on the SPEEED, but if it was big, bowly or critical I am guessing he will go the Acid every time

For me it is simple, if I had to choose between the two and I was of average ability and wanted to improve my surfing, I would go the SPEEED every time.

I agree on the length. I can paddle the 8'5 OK, but the 8'11 offers only slightly less performance for way more comfort and stability for my 92kg

LordKuz
NSW, 260 posts
22 May 2015 3:53PM
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AA said..


I agree on the length. I can paddle the 8'5 OK, but the 8'11 offers only slightly less performance for way more comfort and stability for my 92kg


My own previous experience - and then hearing the very same thing from you recently - makes me certain of that! Love the way you put that comparision! Thankyou! However, not sure I want to see an XL Speeed..... I not only think its not needed, as there is always a bigger model.. - making it fat is going to change a lot of characteristics!

AA
NSW, 2159 posts
22 May 2015 5:16PM
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LordKuz said..

AA said..


I agree on the length. I can paddle the 8'5 OK, but the 8'11 offers only slightly less performance for way more comfort and stability for my 92kg



My own previous experience - and then hearing the very same thing from you recently - makes me certain of that! Love the way you put that comparision! Thankyou! However, not sure I want to see an XL Speeed..... I not only think its not needed, as there is always a bigger model.. - making it fat is going to change a lot of characteristics!


It will Kuz, but not everyone is under 70kg

Johndesu
NSW, 549 posts
23 May 2015 1:15AM
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OK thanks guys - I do understand the difference now between the two - the speeed looks bettter because of the chanells and rails but I think the acid would be a much more high performance beast that is hard to tame -
Also I had my first session on the speeed today and I was impressed and disapointed - impressed at the feel and quality of the ride (if I could catch one in a 30 knot southerly wind & choppy seas) but disapointed in the weather conditions (I some how always manage to have my first surf on a new board in bad, windy / choppy conditions - thats 3 so far :-)

AA
NSW, 2159 posts
23 May 2015 12:06PM
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Kami said..
I like this coherent concept design mainly for the hips and channel making loose and reactive this parallel rails outline. As well of its no nose shortboard concept with still some width to paddle on and glide onto the wave

Please AA, Is it the 7' 6? x 24 3/4 x 4 @ 80L model shown on the 3D viewer at the end of the video because I like proportion of that one


Not sure Kami. PM Tino at SUNOVA for that one

JohnnyMaya
196 posts
23 May 2015 2:37PM
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I am about to get my tweaked out 7'11 Speeed @ around 101.6L!
It should arrive next week, hopefully before Wednesday as i'm going on a trip to the Maldives and would love to take it with me.

I asked for a slightly tweaked out 7'11, because while i'd probably be able to ride the production one @94L (after all i was able to surf the Acid XL at the same volume), i think it will just broaden the kind of conditions that i'll be able to use the board.

I came back to this topic to thank the Sunova boys for this set of board specific videos which are amazing, as Bert's explanation really allowed me to understand the things I felt when trying the board but couldn't really explain!

Johnny

supthecreek
2583 posts
25 May 2015 7:13PM
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Johnny, I couldn't agree more.... the "Bert Burger's Brain"video series is a, one of a kind, board anatomy gift. Easily understood and totally entertaining.

Oh.... and my 8'10 SPEEED is arriving in Boston as I write this.....
let me check the shipping link.... (for the 100th time)

Yeah baby!!!!!!!
"arrived Boston 22 minutes ago....Scheduled for delivery"

not a set-up... real time stoke

I am signed up for a paddle event in 3 hours and today is a major holiday, so it probably won't make the 90 trip till tomorrow....
I'm calling, to see if I can go get it!

I gotta go change my shorts.....

Seajuice
NSW, 907 posts
25 May 2015 9:35PM
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HAAAaaa!!!!!! Supthecreeck you make me laugh!. I can feel your excitement. Can't wait for your posts. A few guys down my way love theirs.
I was surfing head high breaks today & got smashed on the first few sets biting my bottom lip. So after spitting blood for 5 minutes (it was only minor), regained & surfed with more aggression along some long walls that closed out in front of me sending me face first into the drink. If I was on the Speeed I think I would have just made it through. Seriously.
Hope your board arrives quick with no problems. Have fun!!!


AkeG
132 posts
25 May 2015 10:20PM
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supthecreek said..

Johnny, I couldn't agree more.... the "Bert Burger's Brain"video series is a, one of a kind, board anatomy gift. Easily understood and totally entertaining.

Oh.... and my 8'10 SPEEED is arriving in Boston as I write this.....
let me check the shipping link.... (for the 100th time)

Yeah baby!!!!!!!
"arrived Boston 22 minutes ago....Scheduled for delivery"

not a set-up... real time stoke

I am signed up for a paddle event in 3 hours and today is a major holiday, so it probably won't make the 90 trip till tomorrow....
I'm calling, to see if I can go get it!

I gotta go change my shorts.....



For Real?

Attention, attention: Board-swap session imminent......!

supthecreek
2583 posts
26 May 2015 5:20AM
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AkeG.... true stuff.... should be at my door tomorrow.

I figure to road trip the New Hampshire and Maine coast in June.

We will have to plan a big board swap session with Caribe, Badger, NE play, you, Jarvis and maybe Clay Feeter from StandUp Journal ....
a real Long Sands SUP-a-paloosa

The SPEEED is coming to New England!

AkeG
132 posts
26 May 2015 9:10PM
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Excellent! Take and post pictures.

now you've got the Magic Board and all it's instant Aussie mojo, maybe for your next act you could conjure up some surf?


JohnnyMaya
196 posts
27 May 2015 4:22PM
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Just saw that supthecreek already has his new baby...
Now we want to see some surfing pics!

supthecreek
2583 posts
28 May 2015 1:57AM
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ha ha ha.... after 6 straight days of surf.... it went FLAT... with unending 45 kph side shore winds

but I tied the board down and took a few pics that may add something to the already awesome knowledge here.

The first 2 mean something.... the board arrived in flawless condition. Even the box was not scratched. I was stoked!!!!
Nice packing job Sunova team!

















The handle earns it's keep when carrying in high winds.


Now I have to go make a sacrifice to the Surf Gods

Antho
VIC, 508 posts
28 May 2015 4:40AM
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Thanks for those great pics STC!
My board hasn't arrived yet. I hope you get surf again soon.

4ryder
26 posts
28 May 2015 2:51AM
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Feeling the stoke mate, congrats...

I just pulled the trigger on the 8'10" myself.

Johndesu
NSW, 549 posts
28 May 2015 2:15PM
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Great photos
My 7'6" speeed arrived the other day and it is excellent - the only thing was the 40 knot southerly made it impossible to stand so i have to paddle / surf prone but I had a fantastic few 3-4 footers (but I had to catch them prone also) in perfect conditions - then it got over crowded with about two dozen surfers etc. :-)

supthecreek
2583 posts
28 May 2015 8:33PM
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Great to see all the new SPEEED stoke!

I have never been truly comfortable on a board below 31" wide..... ordering this 29 1/8" wide board was my leap of faith

ok... first take on my 8'10
blowing nasty, so I opted for a flat-water, first stability test.
I stepped on the deck and immediately thought: "oh oh.... this is going to be a challenge"

So, to find out, I surfed some ankle high bumps in howling winds.... to see what I was in for.

I was very surprised.... what had seemed tippy on flat-water, became much more natural in rougher conditions.
Wider boards require a bit of "over steering" when in choppy conditions, the SPEEED was easily corrected with small twitches.... interesting.

Other 120 - 130 boards I have borrowed were a nightmare to catch waves on.
The nose would always sink when I leaned forward to dig for a wave.

On the SPEEED, the standout feature WAS the nose. The more pressure I put on the front foot, the more stable it became.
The generous kick never buried, it just went faster.
It caught everything.....and actually surfed these weak little wavelets.
It made 3" sections like they were real waves


Totally amazed.... I gave it the biggest challenge I could.... to test the board vs. my abilities
I walked off the beach with a huge smile... "I got this"!!!

It was just a really stupid test, to see if I could stay upright and catch a wavelet ....
The SPEEED surprised the hell out of me, by actually surfing them.
fades, cutbacks, making "sections" .... holy crap.

ha ha ha...
I'm still smiling

Huey..... send some waves!!!!!!





Antho
VIC, 508 posts
28 May 2015 11:16PM
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Mate,
That was an awesome, fun review (5 star on the 'smile' scale)!

AkeG
132 posts
29 May 2015 2:15AM
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This picture is Awesome...Ha Ha!





Slab
1061 posts
29 May 2015 2:18AM
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Looking toward to the full review on Vid! Funny to think how you've moved from those old big volume Allwaves to this wee one.....that's progress for ya STC.

sas81
42 posts
29 May 2015 9:35PM
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maybe I can get a good deal on the speeed now I don't know which size to choose.

8'10 or 8'5 I'm a beginning intermediate paddle surfer 63kg and 172cm surfing in uncomfortable north sea conditions.

130l fanatic prowave 9'3 is ok in the chop

the 8'5 would be my first choice but i'm afraid that it don't fit those powerless waves here.

thx for your suggestions

sascha


JohnnyMaya
196 posts
30 May 2015 2:21AM
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I would say that you should be very confortable on the 8'5.
Maybe it will take a couple of sessions to be super confortable, but it is really stable.

supthecreek
2583 posts
30 May 2015 5:24AM
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sas81... as far as "fitting in powerless waves"
ha ha... I got my SPEEED Monday and the surf has been "flat to tiny".... but I was so stoked, I went out everyday in super small, gutless waves....smallest waves I have ever surfed.

I was amazed how much fun I had, the SPEEED caught 8" waves, that never broke..... so I am sure it would work fine in your North Sea waves.

Seajuice
NSW, 907 posts
30 May 2015 12:58PM
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Great stuff supthecreek. Good to hear. Nice pics too. I cannot fault my Sunova. Love it!

Johndesu
NSW, 549 posts
30 May 2015 6:07PM
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The 8'5" should be perfect to catch small gutless waves - even my 7' 6" speeed will catch micro waves / swell without using a paddle (catching waves in the prone position?:-)

sas81
42 posts
30 May 2015 4:27PM
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Thanks guys,

I didn't thought that the shape don't work in local gutless conditions. I wasn't sure about the volume because more volume and glide goes over flat sections nicely And we have a lot. But I think the speeed is managing it over more speed.


Carbs79
NSW, 67 posts
31 May 2015 1:17PM
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JohnnyMaya said...
I am about to get my tweaked out 7'11 Speeed @ around 101.6L!


Johnny what width and thickness did you go to get that volume?

JohnnyMaya
196 posts
31 May 2015 6:45PM
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I didn't went for any particular dims.

I told Bert that i needed about 100L and that since i'm pretty tall (1,93) and wasn't sure if id be very ok with a 26 1/8" wide board, he could change both width and thickness to get to the desired volume. Basically i gave him freedom to work on my board to get to a certain volume while keeping the length.

The final dimensions are 7'11 x 26 3/8" x 4 9/16" @101,6l

I haven't tried the board yet but i'm itching to do it!!!
Johnny

Wicksy
QLD, 153 posts
8 Jun 2015 6:58PM
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Just ordered an 8'2" x 26 7/8 x 4 1/4 @ 102l

Be here late August/early September

Cant wait !



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"SUNOVA SPEEED 8'5"" started by LordKuz