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Naish Hokua 8'8 X32 LE vs Starboard Airborn 8'8

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Created by ReneBrazil > 9 months ago, 6 Apr 2015
ReneBrazil
3 posts
6 Apr 2015 12:22AM
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Hi guys, I am deciding between these 2 boards. I have 79 kg and currently own a Naish 2014 Mana 9'5 .The goal is to have something a little better for surfing, but that it is not to bad to paddle since I have to paddle to arrive to my surf spot!
I heard good things about both boards that is why I did not decide yet.

ARVY
VIC, 38 posts
6 Apr 2015 2:21PM
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Hi Rene,

I'm a little heavier than you (84kg) & went from a Simon Anderson 10ft standsure to the Naish Hokua 8'8x32 LE & I love it! Took 1 or 2 surfs to get use to wrt takeoff position & general paddling but now no problems. As for surfing, the nose rocker allows for take offs in steeper waves & they can be later too. You can catch smaller flatter waves by moving a bit forward on take off. Turns can be tight & it is so much fun to rice.

Can't help you with the Starboard but no doubt you get some comments. Good luck with your decision making.

cantSUPenough
VIC, 2122 posts
6 Apr 2015 2:46PM
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I really like my 8'8" X32 but I was 95 kg + when I bought it (less than 90 kg now). I was on a Starboard 9'5" x 32" widepoint, so at your weight you could consider going shorter or narrower.

Coastie
NSW, 76 posts
6 Apr 2015 4:08PM
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I'm the exact same as the other guys, weigh 96kgs and on the 8'8 Naish. Arvys view is spot on, took me a session or two as well, but now it's super stable, so try to demo a couple of times if you can. Maybe at your weight the airborn might suit better, can't really comment on it though as I've never ridden it, or maybe look at the 8'3 Naish (might be a bit of a bugger to paddle a long distance though)

jl
QLD, 114 posts
6 Apr 2015 4:51PM
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I Demo'd these boards and others when recently upgrading my board, I almost went for the Naish until I tried the fanatic pro wave 8'9". This board is fantastic, really fast and manoeuvrable. I've dropped 20lts from my last board and thought I might struggle a bit but after a couple of sessions on it I feel very comfortable. I can't recommend this board enough. Demo it before u commit to one of the others. I've previously had a 9'6" hokua and 9'3" fanatic pro wave.

DavidJohn
VIC, 17408 posts
6 Apr 2015 5:04PM
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Easy decision.. The X32 Hokua's are awesome..

Zeusman
QLD, 1363 posts
6 Apr 2015 8:19PM
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www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Stand-Up-Paddle/SUP/88-Airbourne-Photos/

Halfway down this page I compared them.

Jeroensurf
866 posts
6 Apr 2015 8:07PM
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I,m 90 something (a bit afraid of the wheigtscale as it will probabbly suggest it will be close to 95 ) and paddled both.I liked the Naish8.8 and the high rocker feels secure, but imo the AB is more stable and the better surfing board but i,m biased as I own a AB8.8
What is important with the AB is that you really really need you to step back on the tailpad, that is where the action button sits and make you turn tight and accelerate at the same time. If you know forom yourself that you don,t move that much away from the middle, the Naish might be easier for you to steer from the centre...but from the back the AB8.8 is a true winner. But....unless you paddle on a very slow wave and choppy spot and need to paddle 25min+ to your spot...I would go smaller.When i,m trained i,m 90kg, now with winterfur and a 5mm hooded suit and 6mm boots and gloves the Starboard 8.5 Pro still floats me fine and let me catch with ease slow waisthigh face waves up to leash snapping decent swell.If you wanna be safe you take the 9.0Pro.
The 9.0 paddles faster as the wider boards because it is pushing less water as ANY X/Wide board simply because its 29 instead of 31.5/32 wide... and is supringly stable once you get the feel for it. An intermediate friend of me of your weight with a Mana9.5 could paddle it straight away in wind and lots of chop and Northsea chaos (conditions most of you guys not even considdering supping) and did catch waves with it within 15minutes.It took him a few minutes to adjust to the less volume and width, but once he got it he was shocked how much better it did surf and was still able to paddle easily on it.I got my 9.0 replaced under waranty and instead of the 9.0 I have now the AB8.8 and the 8.5 Pro.Those look close together but they are completely different boards. In slower and smaller waves or chop I grab the AB, when its cleaner, bigger, faster its time for the 8.5. Together they work for me like a charm.
When I need to go back to one board for just everything...I would go back to the 9.0 because its a bit less stable as the AB, but still pretty good in slower (logboard style) waves and not as nimble as the 8.5 on a good day, but not that far away of it either.Hope it helps

flowmaster
291 posts
7 Apr 2015 12:22AM
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I disagree with you on that one Jeroen, in surfing it doesn't come close to the Hokua

Black Sheep
30 posts
7 Apr 2015 3:26AM
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Select to expand quote
flowmaster said..
I disagree with you on that one Jeroen, in surfing it doesn't come close to the Hokua



keep on dreaming flowmaster!

Jeroensurf
866 posts
7 Apr 2015 4:28AM
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Well in that case its more a matter of taste, but both the owner of the Hokua and I prevered my board...and it wasn,t him being polite.

seabreezer
377 posts
7 Apr 2015 4:08PM
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Hey Rene , you could consider the 8'3 instead of 8'8 naish .... they are quite a bit thicker than AB , so maybe 8'3 = 8'8 airbourn ??? Im 74 kgs and the 8'3 was super super stable / never miss a wave / stand there all day in heavy chop ... so reckon you could definately think smaller .... would still paddle fine distance wise to yr spot ...

colas
4986 posts
7 Apr 2015 5:59PM
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I guess that surfboards being a comprise between speed and looseness, everybody favors a different mix of the two:
- some people would prefer [1] a fast board that give fuel (speed) for their turns. Is that the AB?
- some people would prefer [2] a board the is easy to turn to get speed (pumping, staying in the pocket). Is that the Hokua?

So Rene, did you try these 2 kinds of boards, and what do you prefer?

I must say that [2] feels good under the feet, but may be not the best board for your surfing. I, for instance used too loose boards in prone surfing for my style/ability as I was fooled by the feeling of "the boards turns automatically"), and these boards were considered "better", more "performance oriented". But I clearly surf better - and have more fun - now with [1].

Jeroensurf
866 posts
8 Apr 2015 4:07AM
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From what you describe the AB is definitely closer to 1 Colas. That is why I love it in the confused weaker and slower waves., but in those kind of conditions it turns really tight. Although the thin rails help a lot in keeping you rails there are imo better boards in fast waves (and that is where my 8.5 Pro shines).

MickChard
VIC, 183 posts
11 Apr 2015 11:12PM
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Hey All,

Ive had both @ the same time so i chuck in my 2 cents ,

AB-

I would rather surf the AB any day .. WAY more stable ESP in overhead stuff where theres a lot of water moving around ..

Can handle 4-6 ft easy and loves it .. Has to be surfed off the tail but cranks turns when i actually can get in the right spot ..

Does not like fat waves and flat sections, there s like a hand brake on when not on rail ..

Its really slow .. & Paddling out to big left is killer !!!

May be all right 4 you at you weight tho .


8.8 X32 -

To me it feels corky, paddles faster than the AB tho but just gets pushed around every where ..

Still surfs good just i reckon harder work for me it is .. & i just would rather be on the AB ..ESP in any thing 3ft up.

I had it out 1 day in bout 4ft on phillip island & hated it .. Just the bulky volume in the middle feels weird when ya get some speed on .. Im defo no guru surfer tho so if you have some skills you might be ok ..


Im looking for the next board now .. Hard 1 i want Ab stability & Turning with 29 width speed but seems really hard to find actually ..



Im 95 Kegs & surf Big Left, Ocean Grove, Pines, & Posso's waves ...

Cheers ..






ReneBrazil
3 posts
5 Jun 2015 10:26AM
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Thanks for the advice!! Will try the 8'3



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"Naish Hokua 8'8 X32 LE vs Starboard Airborn 8'8" started by ReneBrazil