Comparison...Placid vs Flow

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Timsups said..
Can anyone out there compare the performance characteristics between the 8'7 Sunova Placid and the 8'8 Sunova Flow? Thanks.

Please specify.... do you mean the original Flow, or the new Casey/Flow 2.0?

I have not seen a 2.0 yet, but I have a 9'0 coming in December.

As far as the "old" Flow vs Placid:
I can compare old 8'10 Flow vs 8'10 Placid
(I have paddled the 8'7 Placid and found it pretty comfortable)

Note on sizes over 9'0:
I never really got on with my 9'2 Flow or 9'1 Placid...
I only surfed my 9'2 Flow on my backhand... I couldn't turn it frontside
In sizes over 9'0, both designs got hard for me to surf the way I like...
odd I know, but I really struggled on both these boards in bigger sizes.

so I got each, in the 8'10 size.
Bingo... all the issues went away and I liked them both.

Having said that,
I vastly prefer my 8'10 Placid to my old 8'10 Flow.

The Flow was ok, but the Placid is fairly spectacular.
Neither is a particularly fast board IMO...
Both are decent paddlers, but I give the edge to the Placid.
They both have very forgiving nose designs but the Placid has better nose kick for late drops.
Both are easy to surf

Where I feel they differ:
I stopped surfing my 8'10 Flow years ago, after I got my 9'4 Creek and 9'4 Acid.
The original 8'10 Flow suddenly felt slow and sluggy, even though it was shorter and plenty stable.
There was simply seemed no reason to ride it any more.

My 8'10 Placid feel alive!
Smooth and snappy... it is a joy to surf!
Super easy and fun.
(check out my review)
It is also very comfortable at lower volumes because of its ample width and more volume forward.
Some boards leave volume in the tail to make the nose light and maneuverable.
The Placid puts volume in the nose, which really helps when paddling into a wave...
but the tail is super thin and has lots of tail kick, so super easy to snap tight turns.

Over all, the Placid is a very awesome board!
My caveats are this:
1 - In really low power waves, I use other boards that are better suited to mush.
The Placid doesn't need much... but it is fairly rockered and works better with a little push.

2 - The ample nose that makes the shorter Placid so easy.... seemed to get in the way on my 9'1.
I'd love to hear others thoughts on this, as I may be the only one challenged by the bigger Placid.

3 - haven't had it in OH yet, so I can't comment on that.

Tim... I think the 8'7 Placid will be a perfect addition to your 8'10 Steeze and Style!

Thanks guys!! I've got an 8'7 Placid coming in that I can demo in the next month! Can't wait!! I was thinking the new "Casey" Flow looked very comparable and was also worth considering.??

Had a crack a riding Tims new 8'7" Placid. Surf only 2-3', I found the board exceptionally easy to stand on, easy to paddle out and punch through waves, spins on a time to flip and catch a wave, and once in the surf it really turns fast and seems to want to go immediately in any direction without delay. At 97k the board floated me well but did not feel corky at all. Can't wait to give this board a go in better conditions. As stable as the 8'7" is I'm wondering if the next size down would be better, although I currently have the 8'5" Speed. I think the Placid is going to be a great all around board and a real winner for Sunova!

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bomberdave said..

Simsurf said..
Can't comment on the sub 9ft but I have a 9'4" Placid and have surfed it from waist high to overhead. It rips.
I have only one downside....Whilst it is super stable to paddle in a light chop, its all over the place on the face when surfing if there's a bit of bump (and it doesn't take much to unsettle it). For me its a super glassy conditions board and well suited to those offshore dawny's. Once the breeze turns I change boards or head home.

I was talking with marcus ( who designed both boards)... as I already have the 8'8 flow (casey) and looking for something for the windy/****ty days with a bit more stability etc and not lose the shortboard feel and performance without going to a longboard, he suggested an 8'10 placid. He feels the flow is better for smaller surf and the placid really performs when it gets bigger.... --- im 96kg and old and jaded!!! and buggered after 3 days in the surf.

And 3 days on the reds

Hey Creek!
Looking forward to getting with you when you come through. (Text or e-mail me with the dates!)

I am absolutely loving the Placid!! It has great performance, surfing "shorter" than it's 8'7 length... yet is stable and easily floats me with the 10++ pounds of winter heft and wetsuit weight that seems to go with the season. I've had the Placid out 4-5 times in the last two weeks in waves ranging from gutless 2 feet to clean, chest high+ quality waves. Every session has brought smiles to my face!!! Stoked on how versatile it is!!

I've only surfed it as a quad and will have to get used to the looseness of the tail (particularly on roundhouse cutbacks) but all in all I find it snappy through the turns... and fast down the line. I do want to try it as a thruster in the upcoming weeks so I can compare to the quad setup.
Hopefully we'll have some surf while you're here. I look forward to trying the Casey Flow... and I know there are several other guys in the Jax Crew who want to see your boards!
Be sure to bring your wetsuit! Water temps are in the high 50's and air can be in the 40's when a front comes through... see you next week!
Tim