I have been SUPing for a little over a year (fairly frequently) and I have moved from a 10' to a 9'5" to a 8'8" Naish X32 (last October). I am 6'3" a bit less than 90 kg (at the moment). I have fun on the 8'8" but I have been thinking about taking another step and the 7'10" x 29" Deep Minion has caught my eye. I have read they are stable and a lot of fun on a wave. I am going to the Maldives in July but most of the time I am surfing around Westernport and Flinders (and it is often small) - but I'll keep my other boards.

I have never been a short board rider. My smallest board was a 7'10" Trigger stubby 15 years ago, but most of my time has been a ~9' mal. I am OK on the 8'8" X32 unless it is very windy and choppy.

So, is a board like the Minion really meant for a guy like me? Are they really stable or is it just stable for Cirque du Soleil performers? And do they take special skills to ride in the surf - given they are wide in the tail and 3" narrower in the body?

I would appreciate any comments.

They go surprisingly well in small stuff. Just check what we had last week during the WSL contest. Stability totally different to "regular" boards and a heap of fun. As Piros said, Simon can adapt them to your requirement. (From a septuagenarian with vertigo problems).

cantSUPenough you are pretty much on the same trip I was - a little lighter. I think the 7-10 x 29 will be fine for you. For me at 95kegs it is an all rounder now.

I reckon you could go shorter. It really depends on whether you are looking for super high performance and a challenge. At 95kg my 7-10 is 119L and when I got on it first was pretty hard. Now pretty cruisy and my go to board. I have a smaller JC to challenge myself.

Having said that - I am 86 kg right now and the 7'10" on the Deep site is 124L - so if it will be cruisy then perhaps I should drop to 7'8".

DavidJohn said..
You need one of these..

www.naishsurfing.com/product/hokua-raptor-v128-le/

So they make yellow ones! It is interesting that they are all 7' but they vary the width and thickness to create the volume.

Brenno said..
Kidding yourself? Hope not, because that would mean I am too. I'm the same height and 5-10kg heavier than you and collect my 7'10" Minion in a couple of days. IMO it's all about mind set and working at it, which is what I'll be doing, and learning a new board to have heaps of fun on. Knowing the board won't crap itself whilst I'm being unkind to it really puts my mind at ease. Can't wait!

You must be looking forward to it! I am going to go for a 7'10" as well. I may have to wait 6 weeks or more... Oh well, I will be away for 3 of those weeks so I guess I will survive. After just reading through the 26 page minion thread (I really should get some work done) it seems like everyone is enjoying their minions. Just have to choose a color...

Cantsupenough you can mix it up too. Won't lose mine in a hurry!

lotus blossom said..
I went to the 7-10 119L minion from an 8-8 x 31 119L and a 9-1 x 33 135L. Both gone now.

Even the 9'1"? You don't find there are days when you want something bigger and more stable?