a bit smaller board

[1 fox]

Today was my first day with the 9'1" pro.
My first SUP board was a UB that snapped too soon...
Then I bought a Drive Technora. This is a quite nice board. Has lots of drive, but a little nose. I found the board much looser after exchanging the M5 stabilizers by the smaller FCS GX. The Technora construction is absolutely great!

Feeling the need for something smaller, but wanting to keep the 10'5", my range would be:
- 9'1 pro
- 8'5 pro
- 8'5 Pocket Rocket.

Altough the 8'5 size would be really nice to carry around (since it would fit inside my car), I was afraid of it's stability index, and for that reason my choice was the 9'1.

The 9'1 is obviously less stable than the 10'5 drive. But a decrease in the rating from 8 to 5 might prevent some people to try this great toy.
Another comment: I'd put some more rocker in this board.

Last but not least, I do love the board and I think it makes a nice range improvement next to the older DRIVE.

Just posted these comments as additional input for someone wondering which board to take.
PS: I'm 6'1", 182 Lbs

[anthonyw]

hi
you sound like me a short while ago. i went from a drive to an element 9'8". started looking to come down to a shorter board. i took the plunge and got the pocket rocket, which was a bit of a leap of faith for me, being six foot and 200 lbs. this being on the advice of Peter who heads up the short board developmnent for starboard in Bali. but i can tell you that after struggling at first, when the conditions are good, the pocket rocket is awesome. i kept my element for windier choppier days. at 185 you should be fine. a mate of mine also has the eight five pro. cant fault that either, maybe just a little more wobbly, and more thruster action rather than the mad quad of the pocket rocket
another suggestion. if you are near Sup-position from this forum, get the board through him. also let him help you with a fin modification, it will help a lot with the paddling, and then you can rip....

[anne-marie reichman]

Originally Posted by 1 fox

Today was my first day with the 9'1" pro.
My first SUP board was a UB that snapped too soon...
Then I bought a Drive Technora. This is a quite nice board. Has lots of drive, but a little nose. I found the board much looser after exchanging the M5 stabilizers by the smaller FCS GX. The Technora construction is absolutely great!

Feeling the need for something smaller, but wanting to keep the 10'5", my range would be:
- 9'1 pro
- 8'5 pro
- 8'5 Pocket Rocket.

Altough the 8'5 size would be really nice to carry around (since it would fit inside my car), I was afraid of it's stability index, and for that reason my choice was the 9'1.

The 9'1 is obviously less stable than the 10'5 drive. But a decrease in the rating from 8 to 5 might prevent some people to try this great toy.
Another comment: I'd put some more rocker in this board.

Last but not least, I do love the board and I think it makes a nice range improvement next to the older DRIVE.

Just posted these comments as additional input for someone wondering which board to take.
PS: I'm 6'1", 182 Lbs

Cool story! 9'1" from the 10'5" is a big step.
And with your hight, surely a good move.
Sure you'll have good times.
I see a lot of guys in Hawaii that do go smaller all the time. At first they are a bit 'scared' by the smaller sizes like the 8'5" and the 8'0" I use. After letting them try - especially the pocket rocker is quite stable - they come around once they ride a good wave ;-).
The shorter boards come that much closer to the short board snappiness, while the longer ones keep that 'longboard -feel'.
Enjoy more days to come with your new Toy!

[1 fox]

Originally Posted by anthonyw

hi
you sound like me a short while ago. i went from a drive to an element 9'8". started looking to come down to a shorter board. i took the plunge and got the pocket rocket, which was a bit of a leap of faith for me, being six foot and 200 lbs. this being on the advice of Peter who heads up the short board developmnent for starboard in Bali. but i can tell you that after struggling at first, when the conditions are good, the pocket rocket is awesome. i kept my element for windier choppier days. at 185 you should be fine. a mate of mine also has the eight five pro. cant fault that either, maybe just a little more wobbly, and more thruster action rather than the mad quad of the pocket rocket
another suggestion. if you are near Sup-position from this forum, get the board through him. also let him help you with a fin modification, it will help a lot with the paddling, and then you can rip....

Hi Anthony!

Thanks for your advice, however I'm from Portugal which is a little far

Have fun!

[1 fox]

Originally Posted by anne-marie reichman

Cool story! 9'1" from the 10'5" is a big step.
And with your hight, surely a good move.
Sure you'll have good times.
I see a lot of guys in Hawaii that do go smaller all the time. At first they are a bit 'scared' by the smaller sizes like the 8'5" and the 8'0" I use. After letting them try - especially the pocket rocker is quite stable - they come around once they ride a good wave ;-).
The shorter boards come that much closer to the short board snappiness, while the longer ones keep that 'longboard -feel'.
Enjoy more days to come with your new Toy!

I just can't get enough!!!

[Cote Miranda]

HI everybody, I am a Windsurfer that has tried SUP like 5 times.
I weight 183 lbs (83kg) and have 6 feet tall (1.83 m)
The first three times I SUPed used a big 12 x 32 and found it very easy.

After i used a Pocket Rocket 8,5 x 30, wich i feel not dificult to stand up, but not too easy to catch waves because when i paddled it turned too much.

And the last time i used a liquid shredder 10 x 28 (http://www.softsurfboards.com/SUP%2010%20BUY.htm) That I liked a lot the size.

Of course i want a board with a feel of a small board, for surfing when theres no wind for windsurfing. But not so small that it will be dificult and makes me get bored.

Im thinking in something like the Element9,8 x 30, Gun Pro 10,3 x 29, or Pro 9,8 x 29. What would you suggest me?

What about the Hero? its wide makes it slow? its lenght makes it feel like a short board?

Thanks for any help!

[10tozover]

Hi,

Re the Hero, I can highly recommend this board. I have been riding one for a few months and it's truely awesome. I'm 102kgs and 6ft and it feels as stable as a Whopper but still has buckets of performance.

I started riding a Big Easy then progressed to a 9'8 and now the Hero. I have tried a Stinger but prefer the Hero as it's more stable and still has performance. I don't beleive it's a slow board. A Hero won't have as much glide as a Drive but does have more performance. The Hero is purely a wave board though and not much fun flat water paddling.

Try to demo a Hero and trust me you will love it.

Also, someone mentioned on this thread changing the side fins to smaller ones, I to have done this (FCS sidebites from my longboard) on the Hero and Drive and they both perform better - especially the Hero, it becomes very slashy and great fun.

Cheers
Nick
www.thesupstore.co.uk
www.baysup.co.uk

[anne-marie reichman]

I can recommend you the Hero as well.
It's a mini Whopper - turns good - loads of stability - and with a 9 foot length, more length than the 8'5" (which makes it that much easier in catching waves).
No more boredom :-)
Anne-Marie.

[Cote Miranda]

Cool! Now I am waiting for the Hero that arrives at ends of August to try it.

10tozover, how smaller are the fins you are using?

Thanks for the recomendation!

Originally Posted by 10tozover

Hi,

Re the Hero, I can highly recommend this board. I have been riding one for a few months and it's truely awesome. I'm 102kgs and 6ft and it feels as stable as a Whopper but still has buckets of performance.

I started riding a Big Easy then progressed to a 9'8 and now the Hero. I have tried a Stinger but prefer the Hero as it's more stable and still has performance. I don't beleive it's a slow board. A Hero won't have as much glide as a Drive but does have more performance. The Hero is purely a wave board though and not much fun flat water paddling.

Try to demo a Hero and trust me you will love it.

Also, someone mentioned on this thread changing the side fins to smaller ones, I to have done this (FCS sidebites from my longboard) on the Hero and Drive and they both perform better - especially the Hero, it becomes very slashy and great fun.

Cheers
Nick
www.thesupstore.co.uk
www.baysup.co.uk

Originally Posted by anne-marie reichman

I can recommend you the Hero as well.
It's a mini Whopper - turns good - loads of stability - and with a 9 foot length, more length than the 8'5" (which makes it that much easier in catching waves).
No more boredom :-)
Anne-Marie.

[10tozover]

I will get the measurements for you tonight when I'm home and post them up for you but if you google FCS Sidebites you will find them.

I'm going to try removing the side fins and seeing what it's like a single fin. I reckon it will be fun on small waves.

Anne-Marie summed it up nicely, "No more boredom" is so true, it's pure fun everytime!

Cheers
Nick
www.thesupstore.co.uk
www.baysup.co.uk