I have just returned from a surf today (very cold the 2nd day of winter- wearing booties, gloves & helmet) from south marubra on my new Sonona Speed 7'6"x24 3/4"x4"=80Lt=6kg and I want to review it because I think it is a great surfing sup (only problem I am not advanced / good enought to take full advantage of its performance) so I will give my option anyway (I have so far surfed and owned a JP 9'6" profusion - my 1st sup, (demoed a 8'2" gulliver), Star Board 8'10 wide point, Deep 8'2", 6'4" Bam Bam & 6'10" Bam Bam, 7'5" AW Van, and my favorite 7'4" Star Board Air Born. The speeed is like a larger short board and does everything you can ask of it (same as the Air Born) but is too narrow for me - for an experienced / advanced sup surfer it should be perfect - you can do anything on it that you can do on a short board (if you can surf a short board really well), I feel that the speeed & the SB AB are great high performance sups - I think I would like to try the next size up in the speed (7'11") maybe. I for got to mention that I originally wanted to try the speeed because it is a hybrid of the van guard style sup (I did also like the AW Van but the tail is too wide and skatey but the speeed has a narrow tail which makes it curve more. the 7'5" Van is good but it is too heavy and ruff & AW are not very good/helpful, so the speed is a cross between a short board sup and a vanguard (but only the nose because enerything else is better , more refined like the channels :-)

Hi Kami
Yes I am only 65kgs (with a wetsuit) x 166cms = 6 months surf sup experience :-)

OK thanks Kami I will keep trying, also please don't forget to tell me how your new sup goes after it is finished & tested :-)

Hi Supthecreek
How did you calculate the volume factor? - also I feel that it is not the volume because by 7'4" SB AB only has five litres more volume but is much more stable / comfortable (but it is wider and thinner) so I feel that it is the width & thickness / volume distribution that is more important, but I understand what you mean about "more weight toward the nose" - maybe I am getting to old (53yrs) and not experienced enought :-)

Yep... what Kami said... and yes, the same volume in a wider board provides more stability.... but more width may detract from performance. Trade-offs.

I am finding that my stability really needs to come from ME.
The act of pushing previous comfort levels, increases my overall balance control and that is an improvement that benefits my life in general, not just SUP.

OK thanks Kami and thanks supthecreek I understand but I am not that young (53) and I always try to push my performance level in surfing - and that is why this year I took-up sup surfing (almost totally stopped regular short board surfing) because I find sup surfing more of a challenge / more power (with the paddle) / more fun more everything (someone said that "it is the new surfing" and I think it is, everything that I can do on a short board I can almost do on a sup (the Air Born that is). But back onto the subject of the size / width / volume it is tricky to get the correct / perfect combination but I will keep you posted in the future. :-)

I agree Baddog, Bert put some length designing Jhon's board , so 80 liters buoyancy have been centered a bit more forward compared of what I said.
But still in the back I reckon some volume has been subtly hidden around the hips and tail lift
As Bert explained, while paddling to catch a wave the board lift up from the nose and the front parallel rails enhance the paddling drive...
It's real well balance board so John can focus on his 24" width balance forgetting the reliable length balance and surf with this board like a powerful shortboard as he did understand.
I reckon. I would like to get one . Is any Sunova has been or will be sold on Bali I can rent once there

Kami I will sell you mine (it is almost brand new) - but you are in France ?:-)