What is the lowest litre board you can still consider a functional Sup?
What is the smallest dimensions people have tried and what was the outcome? Production or custom?
Smallest I have surfed and only caught 3 waves on was a 7'2 starby I bought for Nikita. functional at 105kg not lol.
For me functional and fun is 9'4 - 9'6
Phill
You have the keep flotation somehow.
The shorter you go the wider it gets, the rounder the outline the less drive.
BUT I have been speaking with so many crew riding Simmons style boards that they swear go so fast and loose due to the parallel rail outline and planing hull of the wide nose and tail.
I'd love to try something like this around 7'6-8'0.
I had a 7-11 it did'nt last long,got a 8-8 not a big fan either il sell it if ya keen,
my 9-3 ripper had for 4yrs it aint going any where, practical board that surfs well
I guess it really depends on your style of surfing,dishy style slip an slide or dogman type man hacks.
Demo, demo, demo. Agree with rahams, use literage as a very loose guide only. If it looks and feels good under the arm it will generally go OK.
My latest
4D 8.2 x 28 and 3/4 x unknown litres. I clock in somewhere over 90 kegs
Go's OK
Cheers
Sparx
Select to expand quote
my advice don't use litres to choose your board!!!!
Spot on Noel litres are just a guide. Plane shape is the most important part a thinner but fatter nose and tail on your board will be more stable than a thicker board board at the same liters with a pulled in nose and tail.
Here's a classic example the PSh 8-11 ripper will max out at a 90 kg rider but the 8-0 wide ripper is actually less litres but a 90keg unit can still ride it.
.
Sorry Noel
If I'd peeled the PVC off the old girl I dont know how I'd manage to concentrate on the board!!
Cheers
Sparx
It all depends on your weight and ability.
This is Annies (firstpoint) new SUP she is 48kg and RIPS.
This is smaller than her last one which was 7'6 x 28 x 83 ltr, this board was small when she first got it and now it is a boat.
The new one pictured is 2200 x 660 x 65ltr (7'2.5"x 26"x 65ltr)
Mate, best advice I can offer is that "litreage" should be relative to the size of your arse! For example...
Starboard Whopper
PSH Extra Wide Ripper
Naish 17 Glide
Pretty much anything she wants
Thought I would share, hope it is OK (-: My friend Chris Hill from North Carolina rides this 7'6" for 6 hours this last week end. Chris is 6'4" at 220- lbs. Mahalo, Larry
Annie is a 50yr old teenager,
If your from the Noosa area you would have seen her surf. All the girls up there follow her board lengths. Its going to be fun watching the posse try and ride 7'3 boards.
As I said, it just depends on your skill and weight, Oh and good design skills by your shaper of choice.
You know what I find really amusing about this minny Simmons board?
When I was a youngster of 16+ or so we used to call them surfboards.
There were twin fins or single fins in this shape. The USA boys had the Fish, and no one had really heard of Simmons
Hey SSA,
Annie B is a tad over 21
and pretty stylish longboarder.
Kristi at 55kg can easily ride a 8.0 x 25 x 3 3/4 rounded square, short board shape which originally she couldnt even stand on.
She currently rides a 7'10 x 26 5/8 x 3 3/4 rounded pin, her new board in production will be 7'6 x 26 x 3 3/4
Its all about practice, time in the water and belief you can do it.
It also helps if your thin as a wip, flexible, 16 and get to surf 10 times a week.
The other point is do you really need to go that small and do you enjoy riding boards like that.
Annie I would think would like to walk the nose more than rip tear and shread, just a guess.
Phill
My ex-wife was 5'6 and she was stupid, so I'm guessing bigger than 5'6" is a good starting point 
Hi Phil,
Annie can walk the nose any time she likes on her 8'6 but she is right into pocket surfing, carving and slashing.
Modern short board surfing, that is the challenge on a SUP.
There are only two kinds of power surfing, short boards and SUP.
You don't order a 7'3 'Short Board' (thats what I call under 8'0 sup boards) to walk the nose.
I'll post up some more pics in a new thread tonight, just so you can see the shape in 2D
