I have surf SUPed for 2 years now. Learnt on a 9ft 6" Atlantis Vex Profusion & was impressed with it after my 20th session. Lol!! Then progressed to a JP Widebody 8ft 2" easily.
So now want a more performance type board that will be OK for average waves & good for large waves from 5ft to 10ft. But I want the shortest board possible with a decent nose lift for the critical sections. The JP Widebody has nosed dived on some sessions but may be due to me not getting on the back pad early.
So far looking at the Atlantis Vex Pro Carbon & the Sunova Soul or considering another JP or Naish Hokua GT plus others. AAaaargh!! Oh & at a reasonable price too. That being the Atlantis Carbon 8ft so far. But maybe a lesser volume down to 105 litres. I am average height 5ft 10" 80kg plus or minus 2kgs.
Where abouts are you? We have changed the Atlantis Vexprofusion shape in comparison to last years model. The rails on the carbon are much lower and we have lifted the nose rocker. If you want to demo the 2015 version let me know. - Tim
Thanks Tim. I am down Wollongong way. I know about your new boards. Sound great. But yet have to save the money to buy one. Shame you guys haven't a shop down our way. I was one of just a small few that had the Atlantis down our way. If not the first 5 I think. Still got mine & still happy with it.
Check out the Natural Necessity Shop in Gerringong as they have all kinds of SUNOVA demos. They also know all there is to know about them all. Any questions let them know. We will help you also if you like. But as you are still saving up the money it might be a good idea to get on a board first ;-)
Starboard 8"5 Pro is what I would ride in 5 to 8 feet.. Probably won't be out if it is 10" anymore!!!
Hi Sea juice , i reckon you get at least 2 boards to cover 5 to 10 feet waves range. And tell more saying: first one low entry and some lift in the tail up to width ( 4finned) like this board typeof PaddlePop, Minion,Gulliver, slade ,Sunova and forgetting many other brands 
...if you are out of reach of the Atlantis models . Those kind of board stand some good sizable waves because a SUP boards already more than 7' got enough rails length to be able to stand some sizable waves. But as Timburleigh says up about you and waves you like to surf.
I'm just coming back from 4 week surfing trip, got waves under 6/8 foot, brought 4 SUP boards from 6'5" , 6'9", 7' and 7'11" channeled bottom board. I just surfed my 6'5"...
Second one like some gunned board thruster accurate rocker to the gnarliest you might able to stand
I,m 90kg, 188c tall and have a carbon Starboard Pro8.5 2015 and altough its fun in the smaller stuf I love it in the bigger waves. The timing for getting the wave is a lot more precise as with a bigger board, but you get rewarded for that once you get one. A smaller board is less bouncing around and way easier to maneuvre with as a big one.
What makes a big diff to me is te size of te back fin. In lets say head high faces the FCS centre is superior in looseness and agility while it starts to slip in bigger waves.
For me that is the moment to grab the standard 14cm centrefin for more security.
Thanks heaps guys, much appreciated. Amazing just through this discussion to find out all the variations. Didn't even know about the SimSups. Totally different design to the normal but looks the goods.
At this stage I am more inclined to go for a thruster set up with a bigger centre fin option when needed. Like the idea of a 5 fin set up for either. The Stun Gun obviously looks to be the big wave board. But I am inclined to get the best option at 8 ft long.
Oh, I know those 10ft days are rare & dangerous for my liking but I have had the occasional big wave pop up on those consistant 6ft days!
Mind you I like to stay in my comfort zone up to 4ft waves. But the thrill of that big bomb really makes my day! Lol!
