Looking for some recommendations for next surf sup. Really like the Starboard line and presently have the 2012 10' Noserider.
Live in Florida where surf size is generally knee to max of head high. Conditions are rarely glassy and more often choppy with some wind so stability can be an issue.
Skill level is intermediate at 55 yrs, 5'8" and 74kg
Considering these among others
SB 8'5" Pocket Rocket
SB 9" Converse
Fanatic 9'2" Allwave
Hobie 9' CM RAW LB
maybe try the 9' x 33 hero and 9' 5" x 32 widepoint both these boards are very stable and responsive on the wave. my humble opinion only. every person is different as we all know but these are 2 of my favorites.
Had the Widepoint 9.5X 32 in wood and just sold it which is why I am now looking.
At 74kg, I think the board was to wide and the rails too fat for me to really push it in a wave.
all of the above sugestions are good boards,
maybe have a look at some of the starboard pro range, or the naish hokua's,the laird pearson boards are pretty good, maybe you could even consider going custom could get a little wider but with thinner rails, tail etc, just demo as many boards as you can
Jarryd
Im pretty much the same as you. 54. 5'8" but a little fatter at 78kg.
I surf a all wave 9'2". Quite amazed at how stable it is in the sloppy stuff. Also have surfed the jimmy lewis quad in the slop and also pretty stable, although a little thinner.
broadman can you tell me more about your 9'2" allwave? At 160L seems like sort of a fat board. I found a new green 2012 at a fair price, but have no way to demo one. The Fanatic dealer loves the line and rides the 9'6" allwave, but since he is much heavier then me, I would like to hear more about it from someone that surfs the 9'2" .
Also reading about all the starboard line. Man do they have alot of boards! Wish I could demo them. If I go Star, would prefer to go light with a carbon. At the $ price! don't want to pick the wrong one. The Naish board lineup is impressive as well.
You do have to stay on the tail for your turning.Trying to crank a turn any further forward youll land on your face. might be where the fatness could be a hinderance.
I think there are a lot of 9'2" boards that are good. each have there own little pros and cons. The only reason I would change the fanatic would be to have a board that carves better but then youd be going smaller all round and that wont be happening as my surfing is pretty average anyway. I love the board and ill be keeping it. Im afraid I dont know enough to be any more teco than that.
Hard to do I know but carnt stress enough. Try before you buy.
You wont be dissapointed if you go fanatic. Hope this helps.
PSH 8'9" or 9'2" Hull ripper you will never look back surfs like a short board but paddles onto the wave like its another foot longer.
IMO
Go the PSH 9'2" wide ripper if your worried about stability it surfs really well, I went from a PSH 10'2" Hull Paddler to this and havnt looked back
Suppose what is holding me back on the 9'2" fanatic all wave is the vol at 160L. My SB 10' Nose Rider is 166L and although I really like it, it is a tank. Now running a single 10' squirrel center fin. Keeping this board as it catches lots of waves. Wondering if the 9'2" allwave feels corky in the water? I keep hearing that it has to be driven off the tail, wondering if I will gain much carving ability over the NR?
The 8'5 Pro 106L and the 9' Pro @ 118L. I may struggle with this since my balance really is not very good."Flat Footed" Bet I'd fail a sobrity test (not drinking) if I had to stand on one foot
The 9'8"X29 pro at 141L looks interesting. In brushed carbon it should rip!
Looked at the Naish Hokua 9' 125L & 9'5" @140L.. looks interesting...
Looking at PSH. I see the models produced by Boardworks, some of these look like they would be OK but wondering about weight? and then different models directly from PSH. That 9'2" wide ripper looks awesome.
Looking at 2013 SB lineup. The Converse + 9'5 X 30 140L looks nice!
Also the Element 148L (updated again 2013) ummm...
Also the Converse 9' X30 137L (any of these in brushed carbon!)
As if you haven't got enough on your list already I'd also throw the Jimmy Lewis Stun Guns onto your list
9'2 x 30 1/4 - 126 litres
9'7 x 31 -136 litres.
I'm around 90kg and loving the 9'2, construction is first class.
What sort of wave are you riding that 9'2" Stun Gun? I see we do have JL dealers in Fl.
Nice pictures. Powerful looking surf! Looks like you are getting the 9'2" dialed in.
My impression so far is the the JL Stun Gun handles larger surf well. Some of those shots are more wave than I want.
Wondering how the board would do smaller days? I'm thinking to keep the SB Noserider and have a smaller faster board for quicker waves. Over the weekend I surfed a groundswell from Tropical Storm Leslie. Bigger sets were head high and condtions were glassy with light offshore wind. Surfing beach break so many of the waves eventially closed out but with a board faster than the Noserider I think I could have gone alot farther down the line before get shut down. Bottom was sand by the way.
Most of the time though I will be surfing in less than ideal conditions. Often in wasit to chest to head. A board that has decent glide will keep me outside with my buddies on the longboards. A board that takes a late drop helps as we have a jetty that sets up like a point break with at times steep takeoffs.
Did you compare the 9'7 against the 9'2"?
By the way the construction of the JL looks excellent
Just found recently also this picture from the Canadian Jimmy Lewis web site...
I have seen boards from other major brands that after few weeks already have hill dents!!!
My rental fleet is all now of JL boards and some is even 3-4 years old and with more then 600 sessions that still look like new..
Bye Jankie
Thanks for posting the correct SB pro 8.5 volume @ 123L
I had printed a so-called 2013 Starboard catalog off Facebook and now I see the volumes listed are much different than those listed on the 2012 catalog on the Starboard website.
No 2013 catalog listed on their site yet.
