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.

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 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...

Buds Beach sounds like to go... can give the hypernut a try

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

tightlines 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...

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

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.

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?

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.

what a ridiculous notion

GizzieNZ 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

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

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