Hey, all:
Does anyone make a good SUP for those of us wishing to SUP in more of the traditional longboard style (and not so-called progressive longboarding, either)?
At the moment, what I want and/or think would work, I can't find -- something around 10' x 32" and 165L (size is personal need), not much nose rocker, 50/50 rails more or less, hips pulled back (i.e., no fat nosed thing like the Starboard Noserider model), nice tail rocker, maybe some concave under the nose or maybe just flat there.
Anyone heard of such a thing? Basically, I'm just looking to glide down the line, walk the board, throw in a long-arc cutback now and then, and so on.
I know about the JL Striker, the Starby offering, and the Nalu. What else is there?
Fredup I'm on the same quest....more or less.
Have owned and/or have tried many of the boards mentioned here except for a couple. Of those I loved the Starboard 10'5" Widepoint (had it in carbon) just flew down the line and could catch any kind of wave from way out nice rails that could carve a turn well and very stable in spite of the pulled-in nose and tail ......and the Coreban Icon which while not really a nose rider for me (lacked a bit in volume and stability for me up there @29.5" wide) but was however quick on the wave and as slashy and rail to rail maneuverable as any 10' board could be.
One not previously mentioned, which I currently own is the Fanatic 11' Fly, probably the most stable (32" wide) up on the nose, also can catch the smallest bumps with relative ease and and a terrific paddler. A bit of a load to turn however even with my 100 kgs. Kept this board for family and friends to use and makes a stable fishing platform.The 10'6" Fly might be more suitable from a performance standpoint.
Have not tried but the JP Australia 2013 sup line seems to have many long-boardy shapes as well.
Gonna try the 11' Pearson Laird soon and see how that goes.
I made a mistake selling the 10'5" Wide Point!
How about the 9'8 x 32 NSP Coco Mat? Rounded nose, wide point forward, concave, Round tail and well under 10kg at 167 litres.
There's also a 9'2 Quad, 10' and 10'2 x 32 in Coco Mat as well. These are some of the lightest and strongest boards on the market.
Before someone accuses me of pimping yes I am involved with these boards.
Not sure where you are but guessing in Aus......if not then the Gong range of boards (French) have some very good longboard designs. http://www.gongsup.com/-GONG-2012-SUP-Caribou-.html?lang
Looks at the Never Stick. Lord, Soul and Scares on this page.
If you look at the slightly cheaper SUP Bamby range the NFA range are longboard inspired....I have one and it is superb. The construction is not as tough as the top brands but they are built for surfing only.
(I've no connection with them...just think their designs are better than most top brand names....)
Thanks, all, for the suggestions. At one point or another, I've looked at or ridden most of the boards mentioned and found them lacking in one way or another for my particular needs, though probably not for most people's. The Lairds are too narrow, the Icon is too narrow and has too much nose rocker, the Starby has too much nose rocker, too, and so on. Of all of them, I think the Gongs have most of the characteristics I'm looking for, but unfortunately, I live in the states. I guess it's probably going to be a case of having to go custom, but I can't afford custom, so some compromises may be the order of the day. But if you've got any other ideas, keep em coming!
" ".
Ha! C'mon SW, Laird and Bob Pearson are big boys...am sure they can take it!
People do seem to either love or hate these designs....just doin' my due diligence
That looks pretty interesting, though, like you, I'd have to get a much bigger one, which would probably defeat the purpose of the board. Like you, as well, I have a 9-6 Allwave and that's exactly the kind of overall stability I'm looking for in a traditional longboard-shape SUP. Seems very hard to come by in a production model.
If 8' is short sup size than real longboard feel comes from 10+.
The log that I am personally crazy about is the psh 11'x31. It's heavy and huge, sure.
But it glides crazy, you can eat lunch on the nose, and get back onto the tail for a big carve.
I have a 9ft 6 allwave and the 12ft longboard style Gong NFA SUP.....the 12ft SUP is WAY more stable and great in small to medium waves.....thinned out more than any other SUP I've seen that length.
Not that I've even seen it but hobie makes a raw Collin McPhillips longboard model sup range, I think they have 4 lengths starting at 9'.
The 10'6 or 11' Surftech Laird's are the best longboard SUP's on the market.
If i could ever own one board it would be my 10'6 Laird.
They might be all that and more but at 29.5" wide, they just won't work for me, sadly.
Ive been riding a FANATIC allrounder 10"6.
Ok it might be small to some, but i'm used to riding something far smaller.
This is a great board for nose riding and just cruising small surf.
try and demo if you can, there is tonnes of 2nd handies around for good prices.
Fredup,
try Surftech AL Merrick 10ft, only 30 wide but plenty stable and has nice glide
Cheers
Fredup
My latest board is a custom from Deep, 10' x 29" and the spec was for a nose rider. the volume is lower @ 133 litres than you want but its quite stable.
Two surfs so-far, 1 in tiny clean conditions and the other in 25kph cross/off shore 2ft. Very responsive through the turns and feels good down the line. Limited nose time yet but feels good.
62 yo 85 kilos go for the surfteck al merrick caddy - the 10'1" 30" wide, I surf mainly knee to shoulder high beachies - half barrel but then crumble from the top - absolutely brilliant in these conditions - paddle with several mates who have shorter boards and can ( in these conditions) get many more waves - if it gets hollow/barrels on a shallow sandbar they get a better surf = looking to get a second board 1 TO CRUISE - have it
1 TO CARVE -need it
Steve
With the growing interest it is such a pity Surftech discontinued the 9' 8" Takayama. The only problem is this board would not qualify for over ten feet comps.
Nonetheless, they are still doing the 11' Takayama. I have not ridden it, but I am sure it would be fun. I have rode the same length Hobie and it was awesome as a traditional board.
As I am in a similar dilemma I am actually going to give my 11' x 24" Nigel Perrow Laguna bay long board a go as a SUP in the surf. With the over ten division at Noosa, it is a wonder the same brand don't draw the template out a bit as a SUP?
About 3 years ago i had a PSH 11' WAA just over 30 wide with nice rails and tail, i think that board was the closest to a longboard i have ridden, but i sold it to go smaller, funny how things go full circle and now wanting to go longer again.
Does anyone have any thoughts on the Starboard Converse (9ftx30") in terms of longboard style riding. I'm 5'9ish and about 80kgs, been suping 3 years in June. Been riding a starboard whopper since I started, people seem to like to talk down on it but it is a wave catching machine and really fun at all the times, in all surf. Even took it with me to Bali in Dec.
When talking about long-boarding style, I'm referring to stepping up the thing and trying to ride it from the nose, then stepping back for a big sweeping turn. The whopper really like to be surfed like this. Especially in bigger surf, seems to the the one way to get it to trim nicely and develop speed.
The whole weightless gliding feeling is what appeals to me not the big hacking sharp turns. Any help would be appreciated.
I have seen quite a few people riding the converse out and about over the last few years but almost no-one really steps the thing, mostly riding it from the middle and the tail.
In the market for a new board but can really only afford one for the next little while. So is the converse suitable for my needs?
