I have had the speed since Christmas and have had it out in all conditions up to 4 ft waves . Surfed over head waves but in all that time I have never been able to get all the way to the back of the Board . Go to far back the nose lifes . I am 87 kg and 6 ft . Have had no problem controlling the board am about 10 inches short of the back of the pad. I also have a Pro wave 8' 10 and can surf that from the back . Loving the Speed 
Dark side it took me 6 months before i naturally got onto the pad and i still need to really concerntrate on doing it still.Its like going to thge dark side ,once youve been there you never wanna come back.The board will offer a complete change of performance when you get way back but ive found you need good quality waves to really get the rewards from off the tail.It is an excellent board capable of much so keep thinking tail pad and good luck
Hi GTDS,
I am a huge fan of the speeed.
For me, it still is the best SUP i've ever surfed, and mine is a 102l custom version of the 7'11 due to my weight being somewhere between 102 and 105kg. The board dims are the same, but the board is a bit thicker to accomodate my weight.
I've once surfed the normal 7'11 but it was too much of a struggle and once i'd get a wave, i'd just be too tired to surf the wave properly.
First and before i can give you any other advice i'd suggest that you try the 8'2. At your weight it would be perfect and probably still pretty comfortable.
Surfing wise...
Through these clips that most of us have posted surfing the Speeed (even watching the first one that we posted here from Portugal with me surfing the board for the first time), i see that most people tend to surf the board too long (as in the board being too big) and also with a stance which is too narrow. Therefore one is always too much on the nose, the middle or on the tail end of the board, with it's obvious disadvantages. If one goes to the tail the board turns amazing but looses speed, if one is turning from the middle, it has insane speed but it becomes hard to turn.
So my suggestion is to try to make your stance a wider one while standing in a lower body position. This will be a more dynamic and aggressive stance that will enable you to get the best from both worlds: speed and control!
Cheers,
Johnny
Great Johnny..I ordered my Speeed on the great reviews , info and videos I saw. Went with the 8'5 and looking forward to unleashing this baby...I know it will take same time to adjust from my Minion but your advice just gives me a little help in the right direction..thanks man
Chur from NZ
Yep i agree supM im thinking of downsizing from the 8.10 and Johnny may have just clinched it for me.Make sure you keep us tuned right from the Get Go pls.
Dark Side....
The 8'10 Speeed requires more foot movement than the shorter ones, because the tail is wider.
On my Acid, my back foot is planted in the center of my stomper.... but on the 8'10 Speeed I , move my back foot from rail to rail, to get the best carve.
I put together this video for you.
It is the only nose cam video I ever took on my Speeed, and it shows how I place my feet very clearly... finally, I have a reason to use the vid! 
I rarely put my back foot all the way to the stomper.... I simply place it on the rail, just behind the side-bite
This utilizes the "bump-down" on the rail & the channels to get that sweeet Speeed carve.
I left in the "paddling for the wave" bits, because I stumble all around my boards to catch waves as well. 
Great video STC think I'll do the same with my gopro so I can see what my feet get up to.
I know you are no stranger to cold water, I'm interested in the boardies and hood combo. As it warms up here we dump the hood first then gloves then boots, don't you find the hood restrictive?
Thanks.
Select to expand quotedingfix said..
Great video STC think I'll do the same with my gopro so I can see what my feet get up to.
I know you are no stranger to cold water, I'm interested in the boardies and hood combo. As it warms up here we dump the hood first then gloves then boots, don't you find the hood restrictive?
Thanks.
Thanks dingfix.... yup... hoods off 1st! I am wearing a kook hat in the video..... just a cap with sun visor and chin strap.
Thanks STC.
As a beginner coming off a longboard, one of the hardest things is positioning my feet so your video is great. Can't wait to try it in the surf.
Thanks to you all for your advises
Lucyloo , Flowmaster
Will keep thinking Tail Pad and look out for some good waves .
Johnny Maya
I have started to increase my stances will have a go at lowering body position.
Supthecreek
Thanks for the video will give it a go at placing my foot more to the rail.
how far off the kick pad are you..thanks