I've been riding it for a few months now and the more I ride it the more I like it. I'm 10 kgs lighter than you but it will float 95kgs no worries. However, I wouldn't recommend it for fat waves at your weight. You will struggle to get it in to fat waves. It goes well in any size, big or small but you need to sit under the peak, short board style, turn and let the wave pick you up. You really can't take more than 2 power strokes to get you into a wave because of the yaw effect this board has. I sit directly in line with the short boarders when I'm on the 7'6. You also need to surf it off the back foot. Front foot surfers will find it a bit stiff. I use it more in low tide, peaky beachies. When the tides high and the waves are a bit fat or there's a big sweep and I want a paddling advantage, I go back to the 8'10. It could be my lack of paddling skill but that's my experience with it so far.

You might be better served with an 8'0 and a 9'0... Generically... Or even an 8'10 and an 8'2 or 8'4. Keep the lengths a little bit closer... not such a big jump up/down... Just my suggestion, but a few shapers will tell you a similar thing...

I have not seen the Hokua 7'6" in real life, but from the specs it seems like a board designed for powerful hollow waves (lots of rocker, narrow tail)... the opposite of what you want!

For small and fat conditions, I would advise something with a very low rocker and a wide tail. The "Simmons" shapes will shine for instance in these conditions. With a very low rocker, even a 8'0" will take off quite early.

Ahem..........oops I told Colas not to use that as it sounded patronizing, this is not meant to be. My opinion is that a 7'6" is a short board!!!!!!:) Guday Tomo, I've been on holiday and getting some amazing waves so I've been using a phone. Will post and talk on SWAP in a week's time.
Just a question, why bother with a SUP at that length? If you have a physical impediment eg. Sparx has a dodgy knee, I can then understand it, and I'm serious when I say why so short? I don't think it's bad, in fact I think it's incredibly brave and difficult when you could use a prone board for hollow waves, is that the challenge?

Leroy13 said..
why bother with a SUP at that length? If you have a physical impediment eg. Sparx has a dodgy knee, I can then understand it, and I'm serious when I say why so short?

As Th0m0 says, everybody has his reason, here are mine to go short SUPing:
- The view standing up. I am able to better see the sets rolling in, be aware of the spot dynamics, by surfing prone I feel like I am missing on the action.
- The technical challenge, no need to pursue big, rare, dangerous conditions to get a rush
- The speed. A 6'8" SUP has much more volume than a 6'8" prone surfboard, so has incredible better speed, and can provide intense fun in fat conditions.
- The agility. Shorter SUPs allow for so many turns in short waves... speed + paddle leverage... plus less risk of pearling.
- The diversity of waves it opens up for enjoyment. A lot of prone shortboarders remind me of the immature jerks such as the ones exposed here: publicshaming.tumblr.com/#_=_ : for them a non-model woman is not worth of being part of mankind, just like most prone shortboarders despise non hollow tubing waves. plus you can paddle out to try this break one mile offshore.
- The stamina. All your muscle work in SUPing, so you can both distribute the effort on many muscles and have longuer sessions, and have a more complete workout

Of course there are drawbacks. Tube riding with a SUP is more difficult and dangerous, getting out without channels is tricky.

Leroy13 said...
Ahem..........oops I told Colas not to use that as it sounded patronizing, this is not meant to be. My opinion is that a 7'6" is a short board!!!!!!:) Guday Tomo, I've been on holiday and getting some amazing waves so I've been using a phone. Will post and talk on SWAP in a week's time.
Just a question, why bother with a SUP at that length? If you have a physical impediment eg. Sparx has a dodgy knee, I can then understand it, and I'm serious when I say why so short? I don't think it's bad, in fact I think it's incredibly brave and difficult when you could use a prone board for hollow waves, is that the challenge?

Thats a fair question. I still surf a shortboard but find im getting very fussy, no crowds multy turn waves... ie i wont surf junk as its boring, supping is fun even when its grovelly because its fun paddling through the surf, trying to stand on little boards (at my weight) you get a bit of a workout. . thats why i keep pushing smaller. its s challenge.

Cant wait to test the new carbon 7'6 the shape looks great!! my understanding is the new Hokuas will be on the sunshine coast for testing next week!

I've got 7"6 hokua 2013 didn't like it no glide and didn't float me at 84 kilo gone back to 8"2 wide point and 7"4 rush

Th0m0 said..

I'd like to here your thoughts on the carbon version skebstebamel. I haven't weighed my board (2012) but I think it's pretty heavy for such a small board. That's not necessarily a bad thing. I think it helps a bit with stability in big surf and momentum down the line but is obviously a drawback when you want to throw it around a bit. Not that I'm capable of that sort of surfing these days

Leroy, as I said I took your post as a question rather than a barb. All good . I think colas and skeb summed it up better than me though.

Thomo I got a paddle today in very ordinary messy conditions... I think I had the idea of what I wanted the board for wrong.... I don't think it suits a heavy guy for messy conditions. It was a real struggle for me. . . I got a look at the 8'5 mana today also it looks really good. I think I may have to reconsider... Maybe the mana is a better choice alongside a lower volume performance shorty.... 8'10 carbon.. Maybe..

I think it was 8'5 x 30 x 4 +? At 130 litres. Nice looking shape. . . .