Why we go short? Someone asked this question recently. This morning I read the Naish press release for what's ahead and they answered this question perfectly, so here it is.
"The Hokua 7'8 and 7'3 lead the pack for stand-up boards designed for beach break surf conditions. While the classic SUP friendly breaks allow the use of longer boards with more momentum, these boards target the short and steep beach breaks that are common in many areas."
So if you think what you stand on is short now..........
BTW, that 7'8 Hokua is rated for surfers up to 190 lbs!
Get to it, downsize now and learn to stand up on one of these.
Wing Foiling Session - 4/18/2024
7 hours ago
14 comments:
DW- I actually rented a soft top longboard this weekend for Sunday. Saturday was big and glassy early so I was on my 10'5". I got the longboard surfboard to conquer the white water and current getting back out. How is it getting these short SUPs back out past the poundage? Easy as a surf board?
It's way easier than people think, and easier than it looks from the beach.
I would be interested in seeing some of the proper techniques for getting sups back out through the big poundage. My big SUP was almost unusable sunday. Even the longboard surf board was tough to get out- had to eskimo roll or bust.
Ralph, it might be your board making it difficult.
For example, some of those big Jimmy Lewis boards were horrible paddling out. The whitewater would send you into reverse at high speed. It was like being hit by a truck. At one time I thought all wide nose longboard style SUPs would do this, but then I got my 9'5 Mana and it proved me wrong. It has a lot of nose rocker for a longboard style SUP and that makes it leap over whitewater with zero skill. Nose kick is key, I think.
Ha! Man if you counted the number number of waves I rode backwards I caught more than anyone else on the east coast this weekend!
You've given me much to think about. I was sold on a longboard purchase but now I think I should try a short SUP...
Ralph (rdm??), you need to try some of the shorter SUPs. Some have really good stability! DW is spot on! Depending on the style of board (like the Mana), it's easy to float over the white water, just like a windsurfing board. Stomp the back foot down, let the nose rise and ride above it, then put pressure on the front foot to level the board back out when you get past the peak..all done from a surfing style stance. I make sure I paddle up the wave too. Keeping the the paddle in the water helps with stability. On more pulled nose boards (depending on the size of the wave), I'll sink the nose through the wave once in a while.
Later,
BrianM (on IBSCC forum)
Ralph,
Call Coastal Urge and get their 9'5 Mana demo board. You have to call ahead because the demo floats between their two locations. It may blow your mind. It's really easy, like the nose is magic or something.
So Dwight,what is the consensus on the 8'4 Naish vs. the 8'0 PSH WR?
How are they different?Is one better than the other? The photos look great.
They are different. One isn't better than the other.
The 8'4 is 2" narrower, making its template less rounded. That makes it paddle straighter into a wave.
While the 8'0 is more rounded in template and quicker to change direction and feels a little more buoyant.
I'd almost say the 8'0 is geared toward larger users pushing the limits harder, while the 8'4 is geared toward lighter riders looking for a more all around character in their shape.
I'd say all the boards fit their owners perfectly
hi dwight, alap from zone here.
where did you get this news release? what is the width of those Hookuas?
have you tried Mana 7'9", heard something about it other than the reviews on the zone? i am thinking about moving shorter but I am afraid those hookuas are narrow. Mana 7'9" is 33" wide, I am surprised there is not too much word about it.
The 7'9 Mana is not in the lineup for 2011. The 9'0 Mana would be an easy first step into the small board world. I'll have a 9'0 Mana for Jacky to use on mushy days as soon as they arrive.
Here is the new Hokua info:
Hokua 9’0” and 8’5”
With the sport of stand-up paddling growing at a high speed, the development of performance SUP boards does not come to a stop. After setting the standard in short board style stand-up boards, we came up with two new designs that are poised to raise the existing standard.
Both boards combine a single-concave entry section in the nose area with a double-concave center section leading into an accelerated V out the tail. The increased tail kick allows these shapes to release off the top effortlessly while the center V-section keeps the shape loose and easy to steer during the bottom turn.
Unlike many other boards, the design of the 9’0’’ and 8’5’’ does not require you to shift body weight over the rocker as much, resulting in a shortboard-style riding. Both boards also feature a newly introduced deck concave, making balancing easier.
9’0” x 28 ¾” x 3 ¾”, 125L
8’5” x 28” x 3 ¾” , 115L
Construction: Sandwich Wood
Fin Set-up: 2+1/Quad
yes DW this explains why it is not on their website, they just dropped 7"9" from the lineup. and you didn't test it? that surprises me with your drive towards the short sizes. and also raises my concerns: why did they do this, was it not good?
your advice is very important for me because your views on many aspects are inline with mine. my first year I was on 11 ft*28 and then last three years on Staboard fish 9'8". Day and night! I am surfing a beach brake perhaps more powerfull than yours (Pacific vs. East coast), and I am doing it less than you (about three trips about 10 days each). I can now take off backside, and I dont pearl my board and I can ride down the line (frontside) with a sequence of bottom/top turns. I can turn from frontside to backside in a pivot way (going to tail - turning- and back), but I can't do a cutback. In all honesty I probably OK on my 9'8" but if I can snap a good deal I probably should move to a shorter shape. But I feel 9' Hookuas will be too much.... I very rarely feel a need for more length than 9'8" but if I fall (90% of my falls are going out) its almost always sideways. I probably will ask you for more advice when I hear what is really available... In any case the drive for me for the shorter size is to fit it in the pocket for late closeup (it happens often esp. in the summer), not to make twists, jerks, moves, etc. - I actually like the feeling of the drive. Last year my center fin was 6" and this year it was 9" (nine!) and I like it.
Alap,
My guess on the 7’9 getting dropped, is it was too specialized. Being super-super wide, and short, it probably had some quirks making it less universal in appeal. Naish is in business to make money “worldwide”. They need a mainstream lineup, not odd ball shapes taking up space in the warehouse.
You kinda need to live at the beach to get a handle on the radical Hokua lineup. I can’t imagine part time SUPers dealing with it, unless you’re young, and we’re not!
You should write Linter from the Zone. He bought a Mana and found it turned so much quicker, he moved his fin back to tame it down a bit. He’s a Starboard guy too! The Mana models are “extra” friendly in shore break surf. They have extra nose and tail kick. They turn on a dime and don’t stick the nose, or get hammered paddling through whitewater. The 9’0 Mana might be the next fit to push your thrills to another level. The 9’0 is 29 5/8 wide. The extra width makes up for the extra rocker, recovering some glide, as the wide windsurf boards do.
DW, I hear you. Thank you for good advice. No, I don't want to fight to get advantages for some radical shapes (i.e. Hookuas). To tell you the truth I already achieved way more than I was aspiring for when I started 4 yrs. ago, and my rate of learning is not slowing down (meaning I am still a beginner. I have a theory: no matter what you do, if you still learning fast, you are beginner, if your rate is slowing - you are intermediate, if you almost not learning - you are an expert), and yeah, unfortunately we are not young. so actually probably Mana 9' should be my prefered next choice...
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