Loooking for a high performance under 8'4 for quality waves , hopefully a bit durable for airline mishaps (random boots obviously not) . I am in the 70-75 kg range with beer in my belly . What i have seen and not tested , because no one has small demos , stun gun 8'2 in 1st position at present(it just looks the goods), naish hokua 8'3 gt , starby pro 8'0 (yet to have success with this brand always issues) and fanatic prowave . Something that will stand up to a bit of action.
If after durability go the JL they are the best construction around. The stunguns look very nice have only seen the larger ones and they went really well.
Hi Green Menace... What about your Laguna Bay "Lifesaver"? I thought it was the ticket. Ocean Addicts have a great looking Tully board going second hand (too small for me - or my skill level) that looks like fun. I don't know how tough the build is though in terms of durability... i guess if he made it for high performance, it may be a bit lighter than what you want. Anyway - happy hunting... Cheers, Dave
I think the naish is the go between naish, starboard, and fanatic as it appears to be the most performance orientated. The fanatic and starboard still look as if they are trying to accommodate the gumbies with their volume distribution. Although i think the 8'0 hokua would be better suited for your level. I havent seen the stun gun but i do like the general outline of those boards.
Its a pity SIC dont make a smaller board as their surf sups look the bomb!!
I did see Ray Gleave surfing this bad boy last year sometime and he makes it look amazing. But he is a legend......
I have a 8'10" Fanatic Prowave, awesome board, because it is so light it feels a lot shorter than it is when riding on the wave.
I think that the 8'5" or even the 8'0" would be prefect for your weight, I am 85kg and the 8'10" is perfect for me though I would manage on the 8'5" too now that I have ridden the 8'10" for a bit.
I would make sure that you get the LTD which is the Innegra Carbon PVC Sandwich construction for the lightweight.
I think my new lifesaver will be perfect sunny coast board . After something to take the wrath of indo for 40 days , Ryan that board ( rays) looks like a nice outline who sells them ? I want it fAirly gunny to get it tight amongst the juice.
Why not get another Tully Custom in the Innegra construction and your choice of shape? It's a shame Surftech don't do some more Tully shapes as my 8'6" just keeps going on and on which makes things very hard to justify a new board to the wife.
I have well and truly fallen in love with my 8'5" Starboard Pro. Be worth getting a paddle of.
Also have a look at the 8'0" JP. Every guy that has ridden one absolutely raves about them. I believe the 8'0 is considered a custom, or at the very least isn't listed on the web site.
In nov-dec We spend a month at Maui and i paddled a lot of different boards overthere in glassy clean serious waves.
For my 88-90kg the 8.5PRO 2012 was a sweetie, so its way too big for you.
The 8.5 surfed greatin everything except bareling waves, somehow the nose and rails seem to be a bit too fat in those conditions. In everything elseI loved the board.
Borrowed a JL Stungun 8.7. Its a bit small for me but a nice board. It gets a reall good speed but turns les tight when you go a bit slower.
I got myself a Naish Hokua9.0 that i couldnt bring, but borrowed one as well.
A Hokua9.0 2012. It feels smaller and is more tippy when paddling as the Starboard 8.5 pro and to start it s a bit more difficult because you burry the low volume nose earlier while the fatnose Starby s easier with that.
This is my lack of technique, but it did screw me up a couple of starts on the wave that I wouldnt with an more voluminous nose.
I never paddled the board before in decent waves, just in the crap we have at home but on a wave it feels light,fast, agile, grippy and very turny at the same time. Full confidence and imo a class apart.
With your weight I would go for a Hokua 8.5 or maybe even an 8.0
The Hokua,s feel at least half a feet smaller as they are but the extra length isnt noticeable either. Maybe in the higher board speed and it keeps going prett easy in slower waves as well.
8'0 Hokua will be too small for 70-74kg...the 8'3 has 10 liters more and will be just enough - the 8'5 will float you plenty but may start feeling a tad big for you. 8'3 Hokua is the one especially if you're aiming for better more powerful waves - got a couple in the shop and they just make me want to lose 10 kegs.....(disclaimer: I sell Naish so I'm full of praise...:)
Here are a few pics of kitesurfer Kevin Langeree in Cape Town from last week on the 8'5. He is 79kg and prefers the 8'3 - but he has freakish balance...
Thanks for the great feedback . peter p what a great couple of shots they are , that smokin bottom turn shot is a beauty ,powerful surfer , great air shot too, impressive. The tail and the flyer on the hokua make the board look like it would be abit snappier off the top than the jimmy lewis down the line tail , but the less boxier rail of the mid to tail section on the stungun seems to be on the money. anyone had any construction issues with these ?
your right about the rails on the jimmy lewis, you don't see many production boards with rails as fine and most people will tell you the jimmy lewis boards are just about bullet proof as well as light.
Hey Green Menace,
I have the 2012 starboard 8' pro, love the board even more every session!
Let me know when your next heading out on the coast and i will bring it along, you can have a go and see if you like it, also wouldn't mind having a go on your new laguana bay board! 
Or i will leave it at Sunshine Coast Kitesurfing and you can take it out for a few sessions if you want.
Thanks 5metrekid nice offer, have surfed the 8'0 pro nice board , thought the rail was a little boxy for me .
Pohaku is this your go to small board when on or more your fun board . How is construction of these boards ?
Stun Gun 8'2 all the way!
For me original Thruster Future only Set Up is the bomb...
Unfortunately if you got the 5 fins versions you can try it as the original fins set up it was design for! When using US middle fin from Mano (and 2 empty slots) is not as good as the 3 Future 4,5 inches...
Bye Jankie
I agree wasted slots , have been using c drive twins and 4.6 back in mal box and the drive has been solid . But you have the juice there jankie so bigger sides might not be needed , unless you love laying it out hard off the bottom . Keen to try one in the 8'2 out nusa dua . Yeeeewww 3 weeks to go .
