i have been using the Hypernut since December last year and thought I would share some thoughts. I have a 8' carbon .
fast - the Hypernut can really put on a turn of speed, just after dropping in or driving along the face it provides more than I am use to. Really helpful to avoid the close outs and navigate the different parts of the wave.
agile - once you get moving it really does turn on a dime. Its just as simple as thinking about the turn and it happens. Great to maximise the wave and I think it's a perfect combination of the short length and rail shape that does it.
light weight - not just faster on the wave or more bouyant but makes the board easier to handle. On dry land it's great to carry and on the water it's easy to position after a fall. Just grab and turn due to its light weight it's facing into the wave before you know it. This is a big advantage compared to a heavier or longer sup. Makes its easier to get around the surfers.
surfing - once I got use to the later drop that is required, I found I was getting more waves, longer runs and just having a better session. As the designer said "this board just feels right " , agree 100%
only down side is that it is a dog to paddle but I just take my time and it's not a big deal. I suppose I am spoilt as i have a 14' Bark Dominator for flat water days and you can't compare but the hypernut is not as good as some other surf sups that a I have had.
overall , if you have an itch to try a vanguard inspired board then the Hypernut should do the trick. i can't get enough of mine and I am thinking of my next session as I type this
Cheers Bruce
more or less the same as you, i have the 7´8 wood
my 2 cents, i found the "upper limit" of it. 2-2.5 meter faces, and you should be looking for a bigger board, because you will have a better sesión (more waves and early entry)
Must said, that when my HN came, never used the Hokua 9´6 again , but missed it in my last sesión because it was big and hollow beach brake (2-2.5 meters faces) and a lot of white water and strong current on the inside
Didn´t get a lot of waves. On the bigger ones, because of the late drop, i couldn´t do the bottom turn, just the drop and straigh out.
On a couple of waves, i had so much speed that it was almost out of control (and sometime really out of control)
Anything smaller than that,its pure fun.
this weekend
4 feet, 11 sec period, hollow beach breake
Very dificult with the hypernut. Not only to catch waves (late check out) but to ride the wave due to vertical face and wave with so much speed
After an hour, change it with my hokua gt 9´5 (since november that i do not use it)
Well, i bougth that board for some reason, and that is my home wave. (hollow beack break, alone, dream come true)
Now i will have to learn to change boards at first sigth.
I jut got mine last week. 8' wood.
I tried it yesterday on small clean 40-60 cm beach break 6 sec period.
I agree with most of brusier.
Turns on a dime. Fast.
Most frustrating is the lack of glide. You have to get in the steep section.
how to get around this ?
Changing fins ?
Larger blade for more powerful strokes ?
I have actually a Fanatic 7.25" blade (580cm2) but may change to a large blade like SB Enduro 8.3"
also, do you have to move the back foot on the pad because I was hesitating to push too much on front foot.
Thx
Select to expand quotebrusier said..
only down side is that it is a dog to paddle but I just take my time and it's not a big deal. I suppose I am spoilt as i have a 14' Bark Dominator for flat water days and you can't compare but the hypernut is not as good as some other surf sups that a I have had.
Just curious - did you mean to say "not as good". If so, which sup(s) did you prefer?
And what is your height/weight (same for you olly73 and nachosup)?
I can imagine that an 8' board will not have much glide if you are 90+ kgs. My 7'10" minion is the same and I am 90kg. It is all about being in the right place at the right time.
Hi,
I have a SB PR (8'5")and it glides as good, if not better than my HN 8' (I just had a few hours session with it so far but turns much better and faster, very good for R to R. More stable also when on the wave when moving feet around than the PR)
I noticed also, but TBC, maybe because of strong lack of glide, is that I was not moving at all from my spot despite the rips
I am 91+wintersuit 5-6mm (6'), so close to 95kg I guess. But SB charts recommend up to 100Kg (85kg for the PR !!).
But anyway, I was used to catch waves at the late stage with my PR. I just move my feet back and then drop in surfer stance.
Or do you recommend sth else ?
What is really painful is to go back to line-up.
i don't own an HN, but i do own a L41 Simsup and have ridden the HN 7'8". the design of these boards, which makes them so fast, seems to bring out comments like 'out of control' or 'too fast'. i've found that's true but only if you don't position yourself correctly. if you get far enough back on these boards, the control is there; speed can be managed. when i don't get far enough back, the board can be out of control on a bigger wave. there is big and noticeable difference in body positioning on bigger waves with these boards, but i've yet to be out there on any size wave (that i would dare ride, that is) that these boards cannot handle. it just takes experience with proper weighting/positioning, and for me, i can tell quickly when i'm in the right, or wrong, spot.
Love the look of the L41 SUP's but have yet to see one in the flesh in Western Australia, have to plan another visit to Santa Cruz
Phil
I had another session in small surf, not very perfect conditions but I have to say that my wave counting was way better than with my PR. What I have still to get used to is that this board is shorter than I am used to but it turns very very well !! Eager to test it in bigger conditions.
Hey all just thought id throw in my 2 cents...
Ive had a 8.0 HN since they first come out & gotta say Ive love it .. I live in vic and surf 13t,h posso's, super tubes etc .. Dont really go out in bigger than 4-5 ft tho.
So I've been riding the 8.0 way too easy now .. So i just picked up a 7.8 this week and had it out fri and sat in the big swells were having down here ..
First paddle was actually pretty easy .. Board feeling just as stable as the 8.0 /... although it just sinks a bit more but thats bout it //
Speed wise they both fly ... You really just have to relax on these boards in over head i reckon ..
I do feel the 8.0 doesn't like to be on rail on steep drops when going for it BUT it does manage ... I Had too put some bigger Jc s in tho as it was sliding out ..
The 7.8 i have the stock fins in and did slide out ones yesterday ..
I weigh 95kgs with out a wettie .. I did notice when i paddle out dry its easier to paddle soon as i was wet it bogs down a bit more ..
Would be a bitch paddling too big left but would pay off once out there ..
All in all epic board for any one wanting to go smaller .. with out falling off every where ..
I have had my HN since they first came out. First was a 7'8 and frankly bite off a bit more than I could chew. At that stage I was 105kg and it was just too small for me. I am now on the 8ft and have dropped about 10kg. Honestly the 8footer is a dream, stable, easy to paddle. Yes there is a lack of glide but its and 8ft board and I reckon for the length there is heaps of glide. I was out in mushy beach break stuff yesterday and the board was a dream, I was doing turns and floaters and just kept generating speed. I did surf it in QLD at christmas and I found that hollow fast waves with an offshore breeze are not a happening thing for the board due to the big assed nose on the front.
Is it a one board quiver, nope, but geez its fun to play around on. Its my one board, and I might, just might go and grab a 10 footer to play around on and maybe do a comp of two (especially that fine Noosa comp next year).
I'm still digging my HN and its perfect for my Local break. i had to get a bit fitter and enhance take off technique but once in the wave it just awesome. I caught a overhead on the backhand, carved down the face onto my front and back up and went flying off the lip. Had the biggest grin and can't wait for my next session. 
I'm 95-98 kgs
Hi Brusier,
Same for me. I need to get the right take-off technique but what I really appreciate with this board is that it turns very tight.
Any advices so far for the take-off your learned with this board ??
Thank you
