Hi Everyone .... what production sups are the most hardcore out there at the moment ? .... thin rails , thin tails width and depth wise ... best top-end on offer ? ... for best waves ... say head & half plus ?
Infininty blur 2 , starby pro's , fanatic pro's , Jp surfs , sunova ??? what else is out there on peoples radar ... ?
thanks
Blue Planet's North Shore range had the thinnest rails I've ever seen, just like a surfboard...
We're pretty hard to get here in Oz (now you can get them from www.blueplanetsup.com.au), not many people bought them here as they were super tippy.
I like the look and feel of the JL Stun Gun for bigger stuff. Rails are thin, nice pin tail.
Or/ just go custom mate. Smik, Sunova, Deep etc can all make you exactly what you are looking for.
Mate have a 7'10" 100ltr DEEP that I will be putting up for sale soon. In consultation with Simon from DEEP I wanted a performance board with channels (modelled off my Christensen surfboards). Awesome board and one of the best and certainly the fastest that I have surfed. See photos below for reference. Only reason for selling is have gone smaller.
Speak to Simon if you wants a performance board. You will get what you want specifically to your surfing style and also which suits the waves you predominately surf.
Disclaimer: I am not sponsored nor receive any discounts etc from DEEP (:
Sunova flow 2 has the thinnest rails I've experienced. It does not have the narrow tail though it feels fairly wide but it's a great board
Select to expand quoteseabreezer said..
Hi Everyone .... what production sups are the most hardcore out there at the moment ? .... thin rails , thin tails width and depth wise ... best top-end on offer ? ... for best waves ... say head & half plus ?
Infininty blur 2 , starby pro's , fanatic pro's , Jp surfs , sunova ??? what else is out there on peoples radar ... ?
thanks
Hardcore SUP for OH waves?
GenRation Wedge by Sunova
I haven't talked about this board before, so pardon my long answer... it's a hard board to describe.
It took me a long time to get a real feel for it.
The Wedge is WAY beyond my skill set, but I have tuned it in enough to know that this may possibly be the best all around performance SUP in the world. Quite a claim.... but it's my take.
I need to do a review on it, but I don't feel worthy....
Note:
This board is NOT for the faint of heart!
Very difficult for all but the very skilled performance SUPster, with excellent balance skills.
It is very technical to surf, but it excels in a huge range of size and conditions.... from small mush to way overhead juice.
Quite possibly the fastest board I have ever ridden.
I finally got a reasonable size for me, but I really should go smaller
It should be ridden in the smallest size possible, because it is PACKED with volume.
My 9'2 is the first board in my "5 Days" video" and got a lot of highlights in my "I Fall Down" vid... for obvious reasons 
.
Do NOT mistake dimensions for stability!
My "Big Man" sized 9'5 x 33 was the tippiest board I owned... yes, 33 wide and super tippy
I was miserable with too much volume (corky) so I dropped a size... but I should go smaller.
Please don't think the Wedge is a "wide" board..... it's NOT if you get the proper size.
My monster board was just me thinking I was getting a stable winter board.
It is loaded with volume so you can ride a tiny SUP and still float....
Maximized to compete on the World Tour.
Ok.... back to my claims:
Pic 1
is my super skilled young friend Kenyon, on my monster sized 9'5.... he LOVES huge boards and has the skills to use it!
Kenyon showing that a 33" wide board can handle some Cape Cod size with ease.
Pic 2 - APP tour Pro, Daniel Hughes on a proper size Wedge
The "Wedge" is Daniel's signature model.
This shot was taken at my home break on Cape Cod.
Definitely go custom for a "hardcore" shape. What good is it though if it kills your wave count or you are in typical sup waves which are usually not pocket performance waves where you are conflicting with the best shortboard surfers. Such a hard trade off between paddling and surf performance. For me I just can't get exited about a super narrow nosed board I would have to ride it longer, wider and thicker to offset the takeoff/paddling challenges. The new flow is very close to idea of my custom, a fuller outline with step rails you can ride at a performance volume without pro balance, not necessarily easy but doable.
Select to expand quoteseabreezer said..
Hi Everyone .... what production sups are the most hardcore out there at the moment ? .... thin rails , thin tails width and depth wise ... best top-end on offer ? ... for best waves ... say head & half plus ?
The one with Quobbas ;-)
Thanks everyone ....
Whats the general consensus ? ...
narrow , and thicker depth / thicker rails
or slightly wider / with thinner rails
or Step rail - to pack centre volume , and keep rails fine ? Casey / infinity blur etc
I also really like the idea of 6kg sandwich construction / super strong ..... ie a really well made production that have a background experience of sandwich construction for years.... that has agressive shaping , vs a custom thats less durable ...
@ sls surf .... re narrow noses .... so you would be in favour say of starby pro shorter wider nose flow shape ... ?
Just bought the 9 foot Flow 2 today...can,t wait to try this thin rail go machine...in head high yals mainbreak.Had the earlier version 4 years ago...so...could be THE board I,ve been looking for.......heard that before.....
Select to expand quoteseabreezer said..
Thanks everyone ....
Whats the general consensus ? ...
narrow , and thicker depth / thicker rails
or slightly wider / with thinner rails
or Step rail - to pack centre volume , and keep rails fine ? Casey / infinity blur etc
I also really like the idea of 6kg sandwich construction / super strong ..... ie a really well made production that have a background experience of sandwich construction for years.... that has agressive shaping , vs a custom thats less durable ...
@ sls surf .... re narrow noses .... so you would be in favour say of starby pro shorter wider nose flow shape ... ?
Smik customs are full PVC wrap Sandwich with Carbon just like their stock boards. Sunova customs are sandwich with Balsa, just like their stock boards also.
Trends seem to be slightly wider nose, and either a stepped deck or at least an agressive taper to the rail. Slightly wider with narrower rails give it more ease of use.
"@ sls surf .... re narrow noses .... so you would be in favour say of starby pro shorter wider nose flow shape ... ?"
Yeah I do like the outline on those boards but haven't tried either so can only speculate based on looks and dims. The starboard is significantly smaller than flow for a given volume so it might be reasonable to assume a smaller standing spot, and intent of board seems more "hardcore" and less all around. favorable reviews on it on this forum.
Have fun with your search and try some different boards if you can.
Select to expand quoteSkeeee said..
Mate have a 7'10" 100ltr DEEP that I will be putting up for sale soon. In consultation with Simon from DEEP I wanted a performance board with channels (modelled off my Christensen surfboards). Awesome board and one of the best and certainly the fastest that I have surfed. See photos below for reference. Only reason for selling is have gone smaller.
Speak to Simon if you wants a performance board. You will get what you want specifically to your surfing style and also which suits the waves you predominately surf.
Disclaimer: I am not sponsored nor receive any discounts etc from DEEP (:
That looks really good
Some good advices you get here Seabreezer
If you ever go for a custom that you would bag yourself, here an idea of custom I have on the stands by now.
The purpose of this shape and dims is to trade off between paddling and wave pocket surf performance as @sisurf wrote.
At 89 litres dims come off at 6'8" 28" 4" as shown on plan attached below. Those dims and volume would suit me at 80 kg to enjoy small waves peaking up . Stubby nose to ease paddling , the Fish tail to...fish around.
Dims can be scale up though. Here a 3Dview of this Stinger SUP project .
www.shape3d.com/Viewers/Viewer3D.aspx?Account=6301&BoardName=STINGERSUP
Nice one kami, looks like it will have a real surfboard rail to rail feel, but the look is a lot more pleasing than the hypernut or slab boards. Thats really low volume and length for your weight your skills must be very good. I would love a dedicated small wave performance shape but can only have so many boards at this point. Your lucky you can make your own.
Select to expand quoteslsurf said..
Nice one kami, looks like it will have a real surfboard rail to rail feel, but the look is a lot more pleasing than the hypernut or slab boards. Thats really low volume and length for your weight your skills must be very good. I would love a dedicated small wave performance shape but can only have so many boards at this point. Your lucky you can make your own.
There is no useless spare volume on this board. Volume is centred at 41.7" where the max width is 28". Still with a small standing spot,the paddling is quite easy to enter the face when it is peaking up.
Deseperalty my skill is not as good as it was those last years and at 66 with hip replacement needed, this project of board is a challenge of healing. But I reckon it will be a good board to rage again.
I imagine with the hip its better to avoid too many falls or transitions back to standing. Any tips for getting back to standing on a small board with a bad hip? Maybe straight from prone to standing? My usual technique starts from sitting on the board but it can be hard on my hips.
Welcome to the hip club
Yes, you point on the fact to avoid transitions back to standing. Also, my issue is to be sitting astride. So it would be better to paddle prone rather than stood up, then to pop up when the set is coming on that kind of board with 1/1 weight/buoyancy.
Back to Seabreezer topic as well as Skeee recommend, I would go for a custom knowing that the traditionnal construction with epoxy stringered is durable with SUP under the 8' range.
Anyway, I have got the pleasure to design boards while my son is testing their samples.
Select to expand quoteslsurf said..
I imagine with the hip its better to avoid too many falls or transitions back to standing. Any tips for getting back to standing on a small board with a bad hip? Maybe straight from prone to standing? My usual technique starts from sitting on the board but it can be hard on my hips.
I am only 60, but I have stiff hips, and could not sit on a 20" wide prone board anymore as early as when I was 50.
What helps me for standing on a SUP is getting on my knees, and do a yoga Child or Embryo pose, trying to flex my hips to the max. It kinds of loosens them for some seconds, and I can then stand up easier immediately. I can even try to "rebound" from the flex and get up in one motion.
Getting straight from prone to standing is analog to a surf pop-up: you need to be flexible enough for your front foot to come between your hands on the deck. It may be impossible with bad hips.
Thanks colas I'll try it, you give me some hope, I can still straddle the board but I'm thinking of giving it up to reduce the wear and tear. My problems are all with my rear regular foot hip so for the moment I have good ability to get my front foot under me, its just tricky to try and protect my back foot side and balance at same time on a small board but I just started to try and change my approach from straddling the board.
Select to expand quoteslsurf said..
Thanks colas I'll try it, you give me some hope, I can still straddle the board but I'm thinking of giving it up to reduce the wear and tear. My problems are all with my rear regular foot hip so for the moment I have good ability to get my front foot under me, its just tricky to try and protect my back foot side and balance at same time on a small board but I just started to try and change my approach from straddling the board.
I was suffering some lower back and hip pain a year or so back ( probably longer but covid has messed my rememberer up ) and a friend suggested as colas has touched on, some yoga moves. So the particular position that helped me were the " cat and cow" check it out it helps. That and losing weight and getting fitter, swimming is great ( though boring )
All the genration boards look unreal ... would be super hard to make a decision across all 4 lines - as all the shapes - look amazing ... SP24 , SP25 , falcon , also look unreal .... Sp24 would probably be my pick maybe as a 'hardcore' high performance board ... Why supcreek you specifically went wedge ? ... because of step rail ? ... tail wingers look amazing also .... With them 4 lines - separating out the differences and dims would be really hard .... as they all scream off the scale performance ....
Here's my new Sunova custom 8/3 x 31, dropped rails, futures, channels and built in vapourlite construction, 6.5 kg of pure fun
Still reckon the FLOW 2 CASEY SUNOVA is the best go to production good quality sup on the market for MR everyday supper for performance style board.
Oh, we're talking small performance boards? Here I was thinking "hardcore" was dropping into overhead slabs on something like my 10'6"x33"x5.25" BP Tuff-Tech
thanks everyone feedback ... talking 'performance ' boards for serious conditions .... ie narrow , pulled in , knifey rails , can hold fast lines on the face full speed .... with no reservations ...
I was out recently on my 'big board' , an 8 x 28 .... picked up a vert fast wall kinda compressing into the reef at an aggressive angle ... And I FULLY hit the speed top end wall on my big board .... was going super fast and just could not get the rail in, and despite lifting back off - resetting feet and trying again .... Have a 'gun' also 26 3/4 wide that would have laid over quicker and easier ... but decided I want more topend in general on more than 1 of my boards .... even maybe in my 'choppy' conditions board - as its so difficuilt to read the conditions from shore ... and alot of times waves are better than expected when I get out there ... (and no one out to get a good idea)
Im reading other thread with interest - re blur v2
