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Longboard SUP (dreaming one up)

surfafrica
Tue, 27 Sep 2016 20:12:24 GMT

After a summer of small surf, I think it's time to get a longboard SUP to make the most of the conditions handed to us on any given day. I'd like to go low volume to really get a surfy feel while still enjoying some glide. I'm thinking 8'10 x 26, 88 L (I'm 5'7, 145 lbs). I'm working with Kyle at Kronos on it. He sent over a shape for me. I really like it--nice clean lines. [LB-SUP](//muut.com/u/soulsup/s2/:soulsup:Upn6:lbsup.png.jpg)

iwreckalot
Wed, 11 Jan 2017 08:28:41 GMT

I'm sold on a performance longboard SUP surf model. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S9mliEYPA4

surfafrica
Wed, 11 Jan 2017 17:34:47 GMT

Justin Edwards' (DroneAbove) clips of Ekolu Kalama are some of my favorites. It's some of the coolest looking SUPing I've seen. Once I get on my new longboard, this is the mind surfing that will be layered on top of what I'm actually doing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcilNRrCEgQ I think riding the smallest boards I can (keeping the fun factor at the critical point) will always be my top choice, but I'm looking forward to having the longboard option for when conditions dictate it or when I feel like changing things up a bit.

Easy E
Wed, 11 Jan 2017 20:51:51 GMT

ok I love classic stylish longboard surfing but I gotta say Dogman Dogman was not my cup of Tea. Turn that board around.

Easy E
Wed, 11 Jan 2017 21:35:02 GMT

DroneAbove was better :)

jeang
Thu, 12 Jan 2017 02:21:32 GMT

@surfafrica - Where was that video shot?

Easy E
Thu, 12 Jan 2017 02:28:44 GMT

Don't you think it's Makaha

jeang
Thu, 12 Jan 2017 03:06:43 GMT

I don't think that it's Oahu. Definitely not Makaha! Makaha has that signature backwash at the end of rides on small days. Also the mountains don't look like Oahu and definitely not the west side IMO :)

surfafrica
Fri, 13 Jan 2017 03:11:02 GMT

That drone vid of Ekolu Kalama was shot by Justin Edwards at Ho'okipa.

surfafrica
Thu, 23 Mar 2017 01:27:25 GMT

Well, it's been a long time coming, but I finally got on my new longboard (8'10 x 26.5, 84 L). We just got back from a great 10-day trip in Mexico. We primarily surfed a long mellow left point break, but also had some sessions on a faster beach break and a meatier right sand bar. We didn't bring our GoPros out, but my friend's wife managed to capture a few pics. The longboard definitely adds a missing piece to my quiver. When conditions were above chest high on the left point break, I took out my 7'5 (and LOVED it), but for a couple of sessions, it dropped to knee to chest. In those smaller conditions, the longboard turned what would have been average sessions into an absolute blast. It was so much fun (but man, I need to work on my board walking skills!). I also took it out for one session in some bigger conditions on a right sand bar. The waves were probably head high to slightly overhead and were thick and rolled in nicely. They had quite a bit of volume and a big open faces (not steep). Surfing the longboard on it felt like snowboarding on a big open blue cordur oy run. In my mind, I was on the face of Waimea on a 9-foot gun! The volume of the longboard (84 L) worked well for me (148 lbs). The tail sank and my feet were getting wet, but the nose sat nicely out of the water. There is something to be said for having some added stability with water over the rails. I think we picked the right width too. It wasn't couch comfortable (ie my legs were working), but I could stand on it without paddling and talk with my buddies in the lineup without problems. With a couple of strokes, I was off and gliding to make a go for a wave. I think this longboard is the right level of stability vs surfability for my skill-level. On the wave, it felt like a surfboard vs that bargy feel you can sometimes get on SUPs. Those thin rails are fun fun fun. The rocker and outline on it feels right. It has a nice glide, trims well, and can easily be turned with a slight step to the tail. The construction felt solid too--harder than my other boards. This one has a different construction than my other Kronos. The glassing schedule is 6/6 on top and 6 on the bottom with an aramid vector net and carbon strip layer. It was vacuum bagged. It looks even cooler in person than in the pics. It has a nice feel to it in the hand and standing on it out in the water. It has a bit more weight to it than my smaller boards, but for it's size/shape, it feels plenty light. I put Hexatration on it. On it's own, it wasn't quite grippy enough with bare feet for me so I put a very light skiff of base coat wax over the Hex and it felt pretty good. A couple of other guys were using full wax on their boards, and in the Mexican heat, they had a hard time keeping wax under their feet in standing position (we don't have to worry about that up here at our local breaks!). The Hex had no issues there--the light base coat of wax lasted on it all week and the grip of Hex itself was pretty good on its own. The Hex was a bit rough on my belly when I pulled myself up on it. I think up here at our local breaks, it'll be great with my wetsuit and booties. I still think FCS dimple pad in the standing position is my favorite setup though for grip & comfort. I will likely throw Hex down between the tail pad and center dimple pad on my other boards though. So ya, for smaller conditions, this board is going to be awesome. It'll also be fun on big rollers and we have one break up here that sometimes fits that bill. If the waves get punchier or offer some good sections for turning (for my skill-level), I'll take out the 7'5. [IMG3221](//muut.com/u/soulsup/s1/:soulsup:VrIy:img_3221.jpg.jpg) [IMG3180](//muut.com/u/soulsup/s1/:soulsup:8k2t:img_3180.jpg.jpg) [256558](//muut.com/u/soulsup/s1/:soulsup:xHJK:256558.jpg.jpg) [253648](//muut.com/u/soulsup/s1/:soulsup:Stqa:253648.jpg.jpg) [3659845](//muut.com/u/soulsup/s1/:soulsup:jD6l:3659845.jpg.jpg) [658974](//muut.com/u/soulsup/s1/:soulsup:DChq:658974.png.jpg) [664721](//muut.com/u/soulsup/s1/:soulsup:G3So:664721.png.jpg)

surfafrica
Fri, 24 Mar 2017 23:35:41 GMT

We really missed the boat on bringing out our gopros on this year's trip. It's too bad--we had some really fun days. My buddy did pull out his drone for the last session on the last morning before his froth factor got too high and he joined us out in the water. He got 14 minutes of footage and managed to capture two wipeouts (man I wish I didn't bobble that take off!). I love the perspective the drone gives though. Makes a simple paddle out look great. I made a fun little edit from what he had: https://youtu.be/HBKS2M7sY9E

Easy E
Sat, 25 Mar 2017 00:53:12 GMT

what no GoPro? I enjoyed the drone video. I'm getting back into the ideas the drones take some fun video.

surfafrica
Sat, 25 Mar 2017 01:11:05 GMT

Ha! Ya.....no kook paddle cam footage this year. We just didn't ever pull them out of the suitcase. Pure laziness. My buddy is kicking himself now that he didn't pull out his drone until the last morning.

mrspeedy
Thu, 24 May 2018 15:07:04 GMT

Just sold my 8'6. I don't think I'll ever go under 10 foot again. Probably settle for 11 for my next custom board. Super longs glides is really all I care about.

Easy E
Fri, 25 May 2018 23:09:05 GMT

I’m about to list my RNB for sale and will order Kronos longboard or hybrid.. not sure yet.

surfafrica
Sun, 27 May 2018 01:35:49 GMT

I really like my longboard when the conditions are right for it, but I'm in love with my 7'4 Kronos Nano as my all-arounder.

kneecap
Sun, 27 May 2018 01:45:19 GMT

Easy, I think you'll dig the longboard life. I've had more fun on my New Deal than I've known what to do with. I've had such a blast re-learning to cross step and nose ride. Plus, with the more high performance tail and rails you can still step back and turn. As much as I love my RNB, I haven't taken it out of the garage since I got the New Deal! It didn't hurt that our winter sucked so having a bit of a loner board was nice. And by keeping the volume down, you won't feel too much of a performance drop off.

surfafrica
Sun, 27 May 2018 01:57:06 GMT

I would love to get on a longboard in some of the waves you guys have access to. We tend to get pitchier beach breaks up here with less time on the face. Kyle offered up a chance to borrow his next time I'm down there--I will definitely be taking him up on it.

mrspeedy
Thu, 21 Jun 2018 17:05:33 GMT

> @surfafrica > I would love to get on a longboard in some of the waves you guys have access to. https://usefuldiary.com/inflatable-paddle-board/

stokedsup
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 16:28:36 GMT

Frist board I started on was a JP Fusion Pro 9.2 x 30.5. It was a great board to learn and progress on. Since then I've dropped down to Quatro Carve Pro 7.10 x 27, but when the waves get small, or I just want to have a longboard session, I still take out the 9.2 JP. The best part about my JP and every other board purchased, I was able to demo the boards before buying them. There's this great shop called Sup To You in OC that allows you to try before you buy program. Check it out, https://suptoyou.com/test-ride-programs/

Easy E
Tue, 14 Aug 2018 17:09:48 GMT

https://suptoyou.com

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