Your not comparing 2 similar products , if you are not a 100kg + guy and you a experienced surfer I would be looking in the 9'6" range of all boards there is heaps to pick from , I personally ride a Ron House 9-10' (I'm 90kg) it's also a good paddler for it's size so is the naish 9-6" but I really like the look of the new PSH 9-6" but have'nt ridden one yet . You really should'nt buy anything untill you try it , that super deal you get on line might be cheap but you might end up with something you can't even stand on.

Normally I would say longer is better. Boards up around 11' paddle better and still surf really well. The design of the board has major impact on how it surfs.

In my limited experience of short boards, they're great in good surf but not so good in poor surf (ie. choppy slop).

Trying before you buy is good but everything changes in the first few weeks of paddling so what you thought was good on day one is not the same as what you will think after a few weeks of paddling.

Balancing on a SUP is not the same as a surfboard. Standing up is easy when you're moving on all kinds of boards. It only gets difficult when you are stationary, which happens a fair bit on a SUP when you are surfing. There's nothing worse than getting knocked off by a little bit of chop when you are manouvering to take off on a set wave. This is where short boards can really suffer. A bigger board can be a lot more stable.

Jens,

I read your previous post. For your weight (90kg) and assuming you have limited choice I would recommend the 9'8 Starboard. The tuff skin contruction is excellent, light and strong. I have surfed the Starboard and it a lot of fun and very stable for a board of this size (more stable than the Naish). If you will be wearing a wetsuit (extra weight) and paddling in a freshwater lake, this this board will be close to your limit as a beginner. Check with the supplier but you may have to purchase your own side fins for the tuff skin version.

Steve

i've brrn riding a starboard 9ft for a year (and i've surfed a starboard 9ft8 a few times), and also have a naish 10ft6, they are both very different boards (as has been already pointed out).

for flat water paddling, where you want something that will track well and cover distance, the naish is the better bet. it also surfs really well even in the small stuff especially if you get a smaller rear fin and run it as a thruster.

if you go smaller you will no doubt get a better surf board, but at the expense of cruise.