Just had my first session on my new 9'2 evoke carbon. Coming down from a 10'2 jp fusion. I had no idea what it would be like. I didnt think it would be much difference.
Pretty sure I just had one of the best surf sessions I have ever had. The maneuverability of a smaller board is unreal. Way less shoulder pain after a big session paddling a lighter board. Turning for the wave is effortless now.
I highly recommend anyone thinking of doing it to go and do it.
Glad it worked for you Nug, I went from a 10'4" Jimmy Lewis to a 10' Vex and the difference was amazing.
Nugdam, did you consider the 7'11 as well?
I am currently on a 9'8 Starboard Element and I would like to go smaller but I'm tossing up between the 7'11 and the 9'2.....if only they made something in the mid 8ft range!
Would love to try one first but they don't do demo boards.
Select to expand quoteadamart said..
Nugdam, did you consider the 7'11 as well?
I am currently on a 9'8 Starboard Element and I would like to go smaller but I'm tossing up between the 7'11 and the 9'2.....if only they made something in the mid 8ft range!
Would love to try one first but they don't do demo boards.
You can still get a feel for size a ltrs I love a demo day ! Noticed you are in QLD
Select to expand quoteadamart said..
Nugdam, did you consider the 7'11 as well?
I am currently on a 9'8 Starboard Element and I would like to go smaller but I'm tossing up between the 7'11 and the 9'2.....if only they made something in the mid 8ft range!
Would love to try one first but they don't do demo boards.
Ive just added a starboard hypernut 7'8 to compliment my element 9'8. Best of both worlds. Longboard and shortboard...choose the best on the day...
Select to expand quoteadamart said..
Nugdam, did you consider the 7'11 as well?
I am currently on a 9'8 Starboard Element and I would like to go smaller but I'm tossing up between the 7'11 and the 9'2.....if only they made something in the mid 8ft range!
Would love to try one first but they don't do demo boards.
No didnt even consider the 7'11 being a solid 95kg I was thinking it may be a bit small. The 9'2 was a natural progression so easy to balance on.
can't agree totally with the "drop board size is amazing" concept.......part of the charm of sup is having a bigger board that will catch waves early and power through the softer flabby sections of a wave that a short board would stall on
Select to expand quoteadamart said..
Nugdam, did you consider the 7'11 as well?
I am currently on a 9'8 Starboard Element and I would like to go smaller but I'm tossing up between the 7'11 and the 9'2.....if only they made something in the mid 8ft range!
Would love to try one first but they don't do demo boards.
Adamart, what do you weigh mate? I've been riding the 7'11 evoke for the last few years and I hover round the 93-95 kgs. I'm still using the orange model occasionally and it holds me no worries. Fantastic board and really stable and turn great. I've just stepped down to a 8' vex and it's really noticeable especially with paddling, but holy crap it performs on a wave.
Where are you located as I'd happily let you have a go of my evoke if you wanted. I surf the sunny coast and live on the Northside of brisvegas.
Cheers Whitey
The 7'11 board has a lot of volume for its length . I surfed mine for the second time today . At 65kg I find it a bit corky . I think it's a great board for a larger performance SUPer who knows how to catch waves on a short SUP
"Dropping board size is amazing"
Yep but so is going back up in size.
My surf SUP length progression (skipping a couple that weren't used much)
11'4 Nalu, first SUP trying to get a bit of an allrounder but quickly realised I may as well get a 14'er for distance paddles and get a shorter surf SUP
10'2 JL Mano felt nice being a bit more manoeuvrable
9'2 JL Stun Gun ditto
8'2 NSP/DC ditto
7'10 DC ditto
10' Sunova Style, loving the more long board style with a bit of glide and the fact you have to walk the board a bit.
Kinda wish I had never sold my original 11'4 Nalu
Select to expand quotetightlines said..
"Dropping board size is amazing"
Yep but so is going back up in size.
Note that often, you do not revet to old boards: you go back up in length, but with reduced width and volume compared to the past.
And actually, using narrow, very low volume long SUPs with their rails as thin as longboards is ultra fun and is actually a progression in one's SUP journey, not a mere regression...
Select to expand quotecolas said..
And actually, using narrow, very low volume long SUPs with their rails as thin as longboards is ultra fun and is actually a progression in one's SUP journey, not a mere regression...
+1
me too like colas comment.......its not just board length.......but a more refined board shape that can be important.......thinner rails blah blah blah
i dropped from a 9,6 x32 to a 7,0 raptor .it was too much of a drop .
so i had to buy another board .8'10 mana 
spot on for a 95 kg dude.
even though it was only 5 more litres than the raptor ,it was the length
of the board that made the perfect difference . 
Already drop at a minimum size for few years now, I would not go back up in size ...excepted if my age force me to.
I went the opposite, long and wide and probably because I dont ride and do technical turns.
Select to expand quoteKami said..
Already drop at a minimum size for few years now, I would not go back up in size ...excepted if my age force me to.
not sure if we have ever seen you riding on a bigger wave in your vids though kami?
Usually you riding tiny waves on a fat tiny board?
some of us like to take off on bigger waves on a longer narrower board that can handle some juice and power
i think you need a 3 board quiver to cover all conditions .
still keep a 9'10 for the big days .it will out run a 5-6 foot white wash wall.
don't throw those big boards away yet nugdam.
please send me any big boards you are chucking away because "smaller makes you feel bigger"
Select to expand quoteGizzieNZ said..
what a ridiculous notion
Think you need to post carthump video from last year, you know the comedy show at the point that day 
Select to expand quoteGizzieNZ said..Kami said..
Already drop at a minimum size for few years now, I would not go back up in size ...excepted if my age force me to.
not sure if we have ever seen you riding on a bigger wave in your vids though kami?
Usually you riding tiny waves on a fat tiny board?
My small favorite board is tiny but not a fat one
she has just enough volume in the nose to allow to bury the front rail in the face of sub 4' steep waves. Can't show any vids to attest of that!
Over 4' I use 7'11" 28.5" 100 liters with 6 channels bottom which is still a minimum size for consistant waves, allowing free fall at late take off 
Select to expand quotecan't agree totally with the "drop board size is amazing" concept.......part of the charm of sup is having a bigger board that will catch waves early and power through the softer flabby sections of a wave that a short board would stall on
Personally I better like the charm of the surfboard taking off with the wake (celerity) of the waves rather than a paddling on buoyancy cross the wave face . This act of taking off on a wave stand up paddling is an abuse of wave rules to my opinion but still be fun to go through the softer flabby sections of a wave.
In resume dropping board size is amazing because this is a mean to get closer of the curl for the best wave feeling
