IMO are average at best and never ridden by the pros for that very reason.
I've now ridden 4 different brands and all are rubbish imo. I know this goes against the usual exurberance often seen on sea breeze but the whole market for these seems more as a result of customer demand rather than a surf design. I watch the way they surf and I see a product that wallows in the water and displaces more water than usual is slow and never really get onto a plane as a more accepted style of board does. The board companies even seem embarrassed by the product as their marketing is low key and their sponsored riders never promote the product.
…then again I could be 100% wrong. Did I mention this is all IMO?
The Deep Minion is by far the fastest and most fun board I have ridden and I have had 4 different traditional shapes from Naish, Fanatic, LSD, Starboard…IMO.
Horses for courses IMO, there is no one board perfect for all conditions. Pro's not riding them might be a bit more about the conditions they get to surf / film in rather than the design (a quick search on YouTube will show a few pro's enjoying and making these boards look good in less than perfect conditions). If we were blessed with perfect smooth 3'- 4'+ waves all the time, then maybe I wouldn't own one, but for what we have most of the time, I haven't had a more fun board (9 in the last 2 years and quiver is now down to 2). Select to expand quoteis slow and never really get onto a plane as a more accepted style of board does.
Here I have to disagree - the 3 different manufacturers versions that I have ridden all accelerate with the slightest pressure on the front foot, it's in fact one of the things I enjoy about this style of board, fast and responsive, then there's the extra stability factor as well.
I can't ride a 7'1" x 24" or even a 7'4" x 25" (maybe should clarify, could probably surf them OK, but would have to be a prone start) zero chance of standing in the line up waiting for a wave but I can stand pretty comfortably on my 7'2" x 27" and have a heap of fun in most conditions.
That is what makes the world such an interesting place ....imagine if we all liked the same boards.
I have a Deep minion on my rack and it is not the ultimate board for everything and I use a traditional short board shape 7'8 as well. I also surf a 10'6 when the need arises. I find that the minionit is fast and loose but you have to change the way you surf a bit. They are a fragile tail shape as I have knocked both points of mine off just getting caught on the rail saver. I do believe the Minion mk 11 model will have a more user friendly, less points tail. They are a fun type of board which is still to be tested in anything bigger than 3/4 foot as yet.
I still don't think there is a 1 board does it all board and sometimes people get swept along with a new shape , non traditional style board.
Some guys love them and some guys don't .There is still more boards out there to try till you find your pearl. Happy board hunting 
I believe Zane Schweitzer has been using the Hypernut in most contests of late. And in one of the latest mags there are several pics of him ripping on one.
The pros are all young and ultra fit, they ride 7.0ft boards anyway, I personally reckon these vanguard style of boards suit the middle aged gent that wants a board that's small, easy to handle and can still throw it around in the surf
Select to expand quoteTowny said..
The pros are all young and ultra fit, they ride 7.0ft boards anyway, I personally reckon these vanguard style of boards suit the middle aged gent that wants a board that's small, easy to handle and can still throw it around in the surf
100% agree with you, Vangard style of boards are the ones to get fun and be radical too.
Select to expand quoteTowny said..
The pros are all young and ultra fit, they ride 7.0ft boards anyway, I personally reckon these vanguard style of boards suit the middle aged gent that wants a board that's small, easy to handle and can still throw it around in the surf
Um…I was going to say that too but was too embarrassed 
Saying that I love the Mininion, I also have a larger more traditional Fish style board for the choppy sessions and would LOVE to have a full-on trad surf shape for larger faster primo waves on reef breaks - but I don't get to surf those conditions very often to make the investment. So the Minion/Vanguard shape rips for me as an experienced 'gentleman surfer' in waist to head high beach breaks.
Select to expand quoteburleighlocal said..
IMO are average at best and never ridden by the pros for that very reason.
I've now ridden 4 different brands and all are rubbish imo. I know this goes against the usual exurberance often seen on sea breeze but the whole market for these seems more as a result of customer demand rather than a surf design. I watch the way they surf and I see a product that wallows in the water and displaces more water than usual is slow and never really get onto a plane as a more accepted style of board does. The board companies even seem embarrassed by the product as their marketing is low key and their sponsored riders never promote the product.
…then again I could be 100% wrong. Did I mention this is all IMO?
Gold! best post for a while :) Agree 100% they may feel good but they look like sh1t on a wave with anyone less than a pro on them.
Select to expand quotehilly said..burleighlocal said..
IMO are average at best and never ridden by the pros for that very reason.
I've now ridden 4 different brands and all are rubbish imo. I know this goes against the usual exurberance often seen on sea breeze but the whole market for these seems more as a result of customer demand rather than a surf design. I watch the way they surf and I see a product that wallows in the water and displaces more water than usual is slow and never really get onto a plane as a more accepted style of board does. The board companies even seem embarrassed by the product as their marketing is low key and their sponsored riders never promote the product.
…then again I could be 100% wrong. Did I mention this is all IMO?
Gold! best post for a while :) Agree 100% they may feel good but they look like sh1t on a wave with anyone less than a pro on them.
Hilly , that's why we use them cause they feel good. Isn't that what its about. I haven't seen to many pro looking surfers on performance SUP on these forums either champ
I don't know how many pros ride a JP 10' 2" by 32, probably none. I wonder how I ever managed to have fun on it?
I guess the fun I've been having on the minion is all delusional as well.
.....So can anyone recommend me a board that a pro surfs really well so I can start to have some damned fun and look respectable!
Select to expand quotebobajob said..
I don't know how many pros ride a JP 10' 2" by 32, probably none. I wonder how I ever managed to have fun on it?
I guess the fun I've been having on the minion is all delusional as well.
.....So can anyone recommend me a board that a pro surfs really well so I can start to have some damned fun and look respectable!
Gold!! 
Select to expand quoteZeusman said...bobajob said..
I don't know how many pros ride a JP 10' 2" by 32, probably none. I wonder how I ever managed to have fun on it?
I guess the fun I've been having on the minion is all delusional as well.
.....So can anyone recommend me a board that a pro surfs really well so I can start to have some damned fun and look respectable!
Gold!!
Haha. Guess i was imagining my fun on my minion today too. Maybe i was still asleep in bed?! 
I have both traditional and "ironing board" shapes and they excel in different conditions. The minion has made me a better sup surfer and if i ever manage to break it (doubt it), i'll be lining up for another one.
I don't choose a board cause i give a crap about what the "pros" are on, i go for a board that makes my middle aged life f'n great fun. 
A side effect of the stability of the "Tomo" ("Vanguard" actually... Tomo makes many different shapes) shape for SUPers is that you can drastically reduce the volume and width without struggling too much. At 100kg I am as stable on my 105l "Tomo" than a traditional shaped 125l (on which 110l is hell for me), and you can really feel the safety of a low volume board in hollow conditions, with the carving stability of a longer board.
burleighlocal, by reading you I think you only tried oversized boards for your weight & abilities? "never really get onto a plane" seems to indicate a too long board for example...
Select to expand quoteI haven't seen to many pro looking surfers on performance SUP on these forums either champ
Have to agree there
See that's the thing if the crew on the fat arsed boards (yep I have one too) were lucky enough and good enough to surf waves like that they would be on boards for those conditions.
I mainly surf within a 100ks or so of Perth but mostly just the fat little reef break in front of my place so my 7'10 x 28 wide arsed door gets used most.
As soon as there is a bit of size and power I'm on the Stun Gun.
Review of the JP Slate by a very good surfer. Reckons they are for intermediates.
www.supgower.com/2015/03/jp-slate-review/
I reckon it is the size people are riding?
In surfboard form these are design to be ridden super short. I'm 6ft & 80kg and the recommended size is a 5'4"-5'6", thats so you can overcome the parallel rails that dont really want to turn, and they feel pretty boaty otherwise.
In SUP form you see guys on 8ft+ boards, I reckon you need to go well under 7'5" to really get the benefit of these?
Select to expand quotehilly said..
Stick your fat arsed board into this :)
I think you have missed the point of the boards...they don't have a fat ass at all (I am talking the surf ones)...my 5'10 x 19 x 3 has less tail area then my usual 6'4.....just saying
Nobody likes me.
Most proners don't like my SUP.
Some SUPers don't like my Minion.
And people who aren't color blind don't like my design.
Yet somehow I still manage to have fun.
This my 7'4"×28.75 with eyes called the "Hammer Head " and its perfect for my surf conditions
Select to expand quotecantSUPenough said...
Nobody likes me.
Most proners don't like my SUP.
Some SUPers don't like my Minion.
And people who aren't color blind don't like my design.
Yet somehow I still manage to have fun.
Now that's a great post!
