I'm looking for a sup that I can predominantly sup surf but can also use to windsurf and learn to windfoil. The Smik Mongrel looks like it might be a good option but my main concern is how much performance do you give up in the surf compared to a dedicated sup surf shape (for intermediate surfer) like the hipster twin. I am 75kg and 178cm tall and am looking at the 7'8" mongrel for my intermediate ability across surf and windsurf. It would be my only board for waves from knee high to slightly overhead and mostly flat water windsurfing to 20 knots.
Thanks
Select to expand quoteI emailed smik the same question the other week. Scott's reply in comparison to the twinny was;
"The mongrel does surf very well
But differently
I'd say faster due to flatter rocker in more gutless waves, whilst still turning pretty good.
But not turning as tight as the hipster twin. Or handling hollower waves"
Penguin,
Any other info on the mongrel? I have an impending move that will force me to thin down my quiver drastically. I am most interested in how it has been tuned for sailing and foiling. I would likely only surf it when it is smaller or weak as normally I prone surf when the waves are good.. Do you know if it is coming with a single fin center box? It would also be great to know the holy grail: how much they have flattened out the tail rocker? And, of course, knowing the weight would be a big help when trying to figure out if a smaller one will be uphaulable if you have the weight of a foil and rig to add to the mix. The board looks fab, especially for traveling, but I would have to get one sight unseen, so any info is appreciated.
Thanks,
surlygringo
Select to expand quoteSurlygringo said..
Penguin,
Any other info on the mongrel? I have an impending move that will force me to thin down my quiver drastically. I am most interested in how it has been tuned for sailing and foiling. I would likely only surf it when it is smaller or weak as normally I prone surf when the waves are good.. Do you know if it is coming with a single fin center box? It would also be great to know the holy grail: how much they have flattened out the tail rocker? And, of course, knowing the weight would be a big help when trying to figure out if a smaller one will be uphaulable if you have the weight of a foil and rig to add to the mix. The board looks fab, especially for traveling, but I would have to get one sight unseen, so any info is appreciated.
Thanks,
surlygringo
No other info except whats on website & from Scotts email. Scott is really helpful to deal with. He does customs so can get it exactly how you need it. It will be awesome board as all his Smik boards
Mate I just bought a 7'10" hypster transformer and I have only surfed it once and it does have some extra weight, that said I was impressed with how it surfed as I am above recommended weight which is a disadvantage in small surf. Haven't foiled,wing ding or sailed with it yet but I reckon it is a good one board quiver. Just need to get rid of about five other boards now.
Used my 8" Mongrel at Centre Side (Bells Beach ) recently in 3-4 Foot good waves. Surfs really well. Burst of speed, turns easily with heaps of confidence on the rail. Must be it's Hipster rear end. Only thing is I notice Is the weight compared to my bigger 8'6" Spitfire when you are off It in the water manoeuvring it around or throwing it over white water. When you are up you don't notice it, nor when surfing (I guess all the foil box, foot strap hardware is towards the back anyway so not a big swing weight issue) and certainly no sense of drag from the empty foil slots. Watch tells me that was regularly hitting 35kph down the line!
As for wavesailing I've had some sessions at Long Beach Robe and Beachport in 10 - 17 knots using a smaller sail than I would on my wave board in 18knots. Was so much fun, I found myself having a giggle.
and then I use it on Port Philip Bay for wind foiling which I'm learning. It works well coping well with most slap downs being recoverable due to the wide and rockered surf nose and rails rather than crashing - a real benefit!. Now flying around with a sort of this is too weird confidence. Mongrel mission accomplished.
Used to own a JP slate. Long gone. Moved from NE to Georgia. Need a Tomo style groveler.
Boom. SMIK Mongrel without all the foil stuff.
Working on a custom with Scotty. Geezer froth now activated.
He has made several already without the foil internals. Lighter!
Scotty and his lads working. Here is a shot of the outline and color..
Getting antsy!
Oooo channels.. that does sound good. What did Scotty say that would do to it performance wise? Any other tweaks? ive got a 7'2 x 28 hypernut and wonder how this would handle compared to that? (Prob the 7'4 x 29 x 100l) version. Never foiled but really keen to learn!
Always liked 'em. Used to ride Hamisch Graham six- clinkers on short boards. Worked awesome in hollow clean waves. Cavitated in everything else.
Soft channels in my first SMIK, my Short Mac, worked really well for me. They don't stick or cavitate. in junk, give a squirty feel out of turns, and help with geezer stability.
I noticed Scotty added a channel in the V3 Spitfire..
I suspect if I had not used them in my younger short board days I might not favor them as much as I do.
Scotty is awesome at answering questions. Send him an email for the real story.
Cheers, Biggie
Hamish still making them..
Scotty soft channels. Notice the belly in the center. And they are splayed. Smooth like buttah!
Standtrue, I have waited for a good few months to finally get my hands on the 8'10 Mongrel, 32 wide, 143 litres. I'm 70kg and 175cm. Took it out yesterday in smallish (1/2 to 1m high face waves) and it was a ripper. My previous 2006 10'6 Naish is not a good board to compare with as the 2 are very different, but I'd say the Mongrel was at least as stable. Obviously harder to catch a wave, but really manouverable. Also had a go on my mates Starboard Hypernut (140L) which is possibly a more dedicated SUP board(??) and I'd say the flatter rocker in the nut made it a little easier to catch a wave. The 2 felt really comparable for manouverability. However, the Mongrel should do well for windsurfing and windfoiling with the upturned nose. I loved how you could slightly stuff up and be paddling onto a wave a little crossed up and the Mongrel would take off, then straighten out and off you go. It's super forgiving and REALLY fun. As for Foiling, I have a Naish Hover 122, but the foil mast base looks a little further forwards on the Mongrel, so it'll be interesting to see how it goes for windfoiling. The deck is well set out with deckpad everywhere and locations for footstraps. There's a mast track for a sail. No plug either, which suggests to me the board isn't hollow - and 1 less thing to forget and fill the board with water. I'm looking forwards to experimenting with different fin combos for the stacks of different things you can do with the thing!
Can't help you with wind and foil info,
as to Sup board performance, I got a Custom 9'0 x 32 Mongrel with couple tweaks, without wind or foil setup.
Got it like this as a travel n sharing board for Indo, we really enjoyed it in a variety of waves with different rider abilities.
Scotty is great to deal with, might have to get another one for OZ summer if we can't travel away.
It's alive! Surf only mongrel.
Good things are worth waiting for. Covid bah humbug!
Scotty just sent me these. Looks awesome. Praying for delivery. Scotty arranged for US delivery through Tillo a while back. Send good vibes my way mates!
Covid. Shipping not. Never gonna see it Cry me a river!
Scotty santa sez it is
going via Tillo! Pray that the Surf Gods have been appeased!
Merry Christmas Happy New Year everyone!
