WHY

Just an idea - SuptheCreek aka Rick Weeks is awesome to use as a sounding board for the type of sup you're looking for and is a "mature young bloke" as well, so gets where you're coming from imo

I tend to ride oversize for every day conditions as its just easier, more fun, i'm not getting any younger and the wave count and fun factor is higher. Then i've got my smaller sups for comps and good clean conditions, but guess which sups stay in the garage the most - the smaller ones

How about a Sunova " skate " at 9'2" length. Anybody ride one - Rick - Casso - any thoughts? Live on mid nth coast NSW and surf mainly knee to tit high waves, slight chop mostly, beach and point ( Arrawarra headland )

I did say the below on your other post a little while back mate:
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I'd keep the the longboard Bonza and have that as your choppy day board or as your point break cruisey board. Having the pin tail also means it can handle bigger stuff too if you do go out in OH+ stuff from time to time.

Higher volume is not so important on longer / bigger boards - as in it doesn't affect performance as much as you think. If the rails are well designed, it'll still ride sweet.

For a more peformance oriented small wave board at your weight i'd look at a few:

8'5" - 8'8" Sunova Ghost - haven't seen one yet - but appears to be a good fit.
8'6" Sunova Skate - waaay better board than most realise in the smaller stuff. Super stable for its size and super easy paddle into waves.
8'6" Hipster Twin custom - maybe with a faster exit rocker. Scotty did one for himself a while back with a wider tail than stock also.
8'6" JL Super Frank Lean (or 8'0" wide)

As you already know the Sunova's or Smik's are easily customised to suit size / volume etc if req'd.

I know these are boards are smaller than what you stated, but for the sake of $2500, if the new board is similar dims as your Bonza, but just lower volume, you are wasting your money IMO. Better off going for performance in a smaller board (whilst still being conservative) and having the bigger board to go back to when you need the extra stability.

Twice a day for three days - hip joints sore, back sore and neede a pappy nap between surfs - completely buggered.

Hey Steve ,I have the same problem ,as soon as i go below 31 in 9 foot and below ,i start to wobble
If you wanted to stay with a short board ,I suggest the sunova placid ,8,10 or the new ghost 9,1
Fun is better than splash

Stability is a funny thing that is impacted by many factors and we all, too often, get caught up in board size and not board shape. We also, too often, think of stability in terms of side to side and not front to back stability. Additionally, rocker and concave also greatly impact stability. Also forgotten is glide or ease of paddling on stability. The Smik has a wide nose and flat rocker and the JP a narrower nose and heavily rockered. These two boards are not comparable in terms of stability.

Also consider that bigger boards can be "corky" meaning they sit on top of the water and bounce like a cork. When your board sits lower with some water on the rails the water actually holds your board down making it more stable.

I am 112K. My 8' 10 160l L41 ST is more stable than my 9'5 175l Sunova SP. While shorter, the ST has a flat rocker and wider nose and tail. The ST is also an inch narrower at its widest point. I know it's not the popular thing but for me personally give me a shorter wider board any day of the week. These "Simmons" and "Tomo" shaped boards are short, super stable and surf great. One hidden feature of these boards is that your back foot is already back by the tail.

So to answer your question, it is not about giving up on shorter. It is finding the shorter shape that gives you the performance you want with the stability you want. I have two of these types of boards and they make up about 80% of my surfing. I am 30L more than you surfing "smaller boards" because even as an old man, these boards offer great stability.

In my opinion, it is a shame these type of boards are not more popular (although most brands have one). I think they are great boards for the average joes who want a mix of stability and performance. And I am that average joe.

Yes - confirms my thoughts after several surfs. These were in clean smooth conditions with hip high waves - still wobbles and falls - basically too hard for me!

It is frustrating. I am around 100kg. I had a Smik hipster twin 8'6" x 31.5 around 130lt and I was struggling yet I have a NSP 11ft longboard (surfboard) at 25.75 wide and around 120lt yet feels more stable. Weird. Maybe just good days and bad balance wise. Ideally if possible try before you buy in bumpy conditions.

Hey Steve,

The Skate would be way more stable than the Ghost in similar dims (8'10") as the Ghost has way more nose flip, a finer rail and has more outline curve/hip than a Skate. The Skate is also slightly wider at that length, which would again help stability.

If someone specifically wanted a super high performance Sunova groveller, the SP25 would be the best option. The Ghost has a bit more wave size range than the SP25 due to the finer rails (particularly in the tail), but that makes it less of a groveller. The boxier rail in the SP will give it more speed and skate. However, from what you have noted in your posts, the SP is probably a step too far.

The Skate is a super fast, slashy, fun board in small waves. From what I can tell in the Sunova Range, for your needs, it fits about as perfect as you can make a board fit.

If not Sunova, a Jimmy Lewis Super Frank is another option that would be about perfect.

Scotty at Smik could also draw up a Hipster Twin with a wider tail and fast exit rocker that would be perfect too.