Gday Rene,
That's a bit hard as they are both very different boards and I find I actually have to surf them quite individually. I haven;t ridden the airborne for a while now, and I've got it for sale (on here) so I'm going form memory with it.
With your weight the airborne - either airborne - will float you no probs. If you;re 75kg I'd consider the 30" board (97litre), as I'm 83kg and have the 31.5" (98 litre) which floats me fine though I haven;t ridden the smaller one. Having said that, of course the minion can be shaped to whatever you like. Your height will also affect your board dims, I find.
Both minion and airborne are great fun in the small stuff - personally, I find my minion goes best when it's around 3-4f, while over 3ft (head high) is where the 31.5" airborne starts to lose it. Mind you, this is also with cdrive fins which makes it hang on much better/more drive etc. Both boards need your foot on the tail (not just near the tail) to make them turn properly.
Airborne: (7'10"x31.5"x3.3")
- very stable though a little tippy front to back when there's chop; but when it's choppy the planing area and width makes it hard for the tail/rails to stay attached to the water.
- paddles/glides well for size
- planes well and seems to be best on flatter walls; good acceleration when you're in the right spot on the wave, and you can "pump" it over flat sections (not bouncing, more like tick-tacking on a skatey) easily.
- turns really nicely, with the thinness and fine rails feeling great. Very responsive but width can mean you dig nose rails here and there even though they're chined to reduce it. You get used to it.
- the lightest and thinnest board I have ever picked up, makes it a delight to carry.
Minion (7'8"x28 1/4"x41/4" 110L)
- very stable, tippiness front/back is reduced due to tail/nose area
- paddles well, concave in nose seems to really help getting into waves
- planes well, has bursts of speed if you're over the tail and really accelerates thru turns when you get the hang of it. Doesn;t seem to like being pumped, though.
- rails are a little chunky which dampens its responsiveness, and it is a little hard sometimes to turn with speed from anywhere but the back of the board. Chined rails help reduce bite from the nose width
- noserides really well for its size
- because of the area nose/tail, I think you could thin a minion out a lot to reduce rail thickness and still retain stability/glide, though I haven;t done this (yet) - Simon would be able to help with that.
At the end of the day, if you want a board that is good in the small stuff and also able to handle size, then go for the minion. If you surf predominantly flat waves you might find the airborne more your cuppa tea. It will depend on how you surf, too. I'd encourage you to have a go on both before you make the plunge as either way you're looking at $2k plus. Happy to talk about it rather than type if you want.
cheers
JP have just joined the Minion bandwagon with the Surf Slate! Sounds like they have some limited production models out already.
www.facebook.com/JPAustraliaSUP/photos/pcb.666841036747077/666840116747169/?type=1&theater
Rides sweet: www.instagram.com/p/sTi_rcFaJF/
“WIPE THE SLATE CLEAN”
The new approach in board design wipes the slate clean of traditional “knowledge” and delivers unbelievable performance in a super compact shape.
The combination of carefully balanced design features allows the user to come up with a new style of riding. The super parallel outline is the key. It generates speed instantly when the board is railed up, reduces drag and increases lift. It offers the most efficient volume distribution possible, therefore the boards can be shorter and narrower than ever before. The reduced overall length of the board eliminates the swing weight and lets itself be thrown around.
The chopped off diamond nose is equipped with a soft channel in the center with bevels on each side for a forgiving “no pearling” entry and comfortable rail bite. This flows into a single concave bottom towards the tail channel with hard edges. The double diamond tail offers additional grip, pressure release and directional control with low drag.
With this concept the rider will experience a total new riding sensation with higher degrees of speed, electric wave attack and radical aerial potential. The well-known JP-Australia PRO edition construction is the cherry on top with the weight of only 6 kg for the 7’2”x26”.
The boards feature a 5 fin option and come with 4 RTM fins.
A limited number of boards have been produced already, so run down to your local surf shop, and place your order!
Happy weekend!
Ok, I admit. I've been avoiding this thread. But its finally reeled me in. I've read through it and I think I get the idea behind these things. I'm even beginning to like the look of them. Which of course, only leads to I WANT ONE!! So what's the biggest size of these things that has been made and ridden so far? Like some of the other big guys, I just can't see myself on a sub 8' board. Just paddling and staying upright just seems impossible to me! Wondering if an 8'2 to 8'5" version would be possible, or does going that length ruin the whole experience? Or would it even work at all?
Select to expand quoteZeusman said..
Ok, I admit. I've been avoiding this thread. But its finally reeled me in. I've read through it and I think I get the idea behind these things. I'm even beginning to like the look of them. Which of course, only leads to I WANT ONE!! So what's the biggest size of these things that has been made and ridden so far? Like some of the other big guys, I just can't see myself on a sub 8' board. Just paddling and staying upright just seems impossible to me! Wondering if an 8'2 to 8'5" version would be possible, or does going that length ruin the whole experience? Or would it even work at all?
definitely thinking the same, being 115kg something sub 8 could be a little like the titanic
Jarryd
I guess the best way is to talk directly with the shaper, and as ghost4man says, that's the advantage of custom boards, to have something really made for you, by someone who know first hand what he is talking about...
PS: Length is not really the issue for big guys, volume and width are more important.
Shorter length are good if you like aggressive surfing (short boards need to be pushed around to work), longer boards have less accelerations but more glide.
The idea behind these boards is not about length so you need to forget what you think 'works' and if you are over 100kg look at a 7'10 x 29" @124L. You have the volume around you where you need it and the straight rails keep the width through the entire board to the tail so very stable for the size - then you realize you don't need that silly 1' of pointy thing sticking out the front - so chop that off! It all makes sense when look at the Minion like this...
Select to expand quoteJradedmondo said..Zeusman said..
Ok, I admit. I've been avoiding this thread. But its finally reeled me in. I've read through it and I think I get the idea behind these things. I'm even beginning to like the look of them. Which of course, only leads to I WANT ONE!! So what's the biggest size of these things that has been made and ridden so far? Like some of the other big guys, I just can't see myself on a sub 8' board. Just paddling and staying upright just seems impossible to me! Wondering if an 8'2 to 8'5" version would be possible, or does going that length ruin the whole experience? Or would it even work at all?
definitely thinking the same, being 115kg something sub 8 could be a little like the titanic
Jarryd
Jarryd and Zeusman
you would probably be very surprised at the stability of the minion. Give a 7'10" a try before you make any decisions.
8'5" might be a bit of a stretch in my opinion....that's a lot of board.
For those bigger boys the 7'10 would be ok. I'm currently riding a 7'9, 28 wide 130 litre stonker staffy at 110kgs and it floats me no issue and surfs amazingly well. This is the first one he has shaped but has two more in the bay this week refining them a little. I def reckon the 124 minion would be fine.
Select to expand quoteTang said..
Gday Rene,
That's a bit hard as they are both very different boards and I find I actually have to surf them quite individually. I haven;t ridden the airborne for a while now, and I've got it for sale (on here) so I'm going form memory with it.
With your weight the airborne - either airborne - will float you no probs. If you;re 75kg I'd consider the 30" board (97litre), as I'm 83kg and have the 31.5" (98 litre) which floats me fine though I haven;t ridden the smaller one. Having said that, of course the minion can be shaped to whatever you like. Your height will also affect your board dims, I find.
Both minion and airborne are great fun in the small stuff - personally, I find my minion goes best when it's around 3-4f, while over 3ft (head high) is where the 31.5" airborne starts to lose it. Mind you, this is also with cdrive fins which makes it hang on much better/more drive etc. Both boards need your foot on the tail (not just near the tail) to make them turn properly.
Airborne: (7'10"x31.5"x3.3")
- very stable though a little tippy front to back when there's chop; but when it's choppy the planing area and width makes it hard for the tail/rails to stay attached to the water.
- paddles/glides well for size
- planes well and seems to be best on flatter walls; good acceleration when you're in the right spot on the wave, and you can "pump" it over flat sections (not bouncing, more like tick-tacking on a skatey) easily.
- turns really nicely, with the thinness and fine rails feeling great. Very responsive but width can mean you dig nose rails here and there even though they're chined to reduce it. You get used to it.
- the lightest and thinnest board I have ever picked up, makes it a delight to carry.
Minion (7'8"x28 1/4"x41/4" 110L)
- very stable, tippiness front/back is reduced due to tail/nose area
- paddles well, concave in nose seems to really help getting into waves
- planes well, has bursts of speed if you're over the tail and really accelerates thru turns when you get the hang of it. Doesn;t seem to like being pumped, though.
- rails are a little chunky which dampens its responsiveness, and it is a little hard sometimes to turn with speed from anywhere but the back of the board. Chined rails help reduce bite from the nose width
- noserides really well for its size
- because of the area nose/tail, I think you could thin a minion out a lot to reduce rail thickness and still retain stability/glide, though I haven;t done this (yet) - Simon would be able to help with that.
At the end of the day, if you want a board that is good in the small stuff and also able to handle size, then go for the minion. If you surf predominantly flat waves you might find the airborne more your cuppa tea. It will depend on how you surf, too. I'd encourage you to have a go on both before you make the plunge as either way you're looking at $2k plus. Happy to talk about it rather than type if you want.
cheers
Thanks Tang for the elaborate answer. I really appreciate you taking the time. Is it me or is that a thing on Seabreeze???.
Really hanging towards the minion. I love the innovative technical approach. It just seems to make sense. ( I recall a windsurf board that did the same thing. very different approach. It required a different style but worked like nothing else. Just get you feet in the foot straps, pull in the sail and it would just rocket off in next to no wind. mind blowing and the exact opposite of previous experiences, but hey IT WORKED!) I surf smaller stuff but 3ft is where it is really fun so anything smaller is just playing around with low expectations. (just to get wet really) Usually I take one of the kids with me then so the attention is more on them anyway. When I start to have fun they are not up to it...yet. Smaller and less wide would be great for them to paddle as well. I like to surf it from the tail so that would suit. Maybe there is an option to bias the shape towards "low end" Just saving up now to get the $$$ together.
Thanks again!!
cheers
Rene
Select to expand quoteCasso said..windara said...
Nice casso. Do you ride with your back foot on the very tail most of the time or move it around?
I move it around a bit, but it is often right on the tailpad block.
Hey Casso: Thanks for your input and great photos and videos. I have a few questions for you please...
1) Are BOTH of your feet planted in the center of the board and is your back foot always on the tailpad block when you crank a hard cutback?
2) Can you slash a cutback without stuffing your paddle in the wave or do you always need your paddle to do that?
3) And are your feet in the same position I mentioned above when you pivot hard off the lip?
4) I read it a million times but what was your weight again please?
5) Do you prefer riding the 7'-2" Minion over the 7' Minion?
6) I don't see it in the photos but do these Minions have a bevel at the rail on the bottom?
Thanks!
P.S. I'm in the San Diego CA area and lost a lot of sleep last night reading this entire thread, so THANK YOU TO EVERYONE for participating!
Select to expand quoteazzalanche said..
For those bigger boys the 7'10 would be ok. I'm currently riding a 7'9, 28 wide 130 litre stonker staffy at 110kgs and it floats me no issue and surfs amazingly well. This is the first one he has shaped but has two more in the bay this week refining them a little. I def reckon the 124 minion would be fine.
Hey Azza glad you're liking your new board. What are the dimensions on the new ones being shaped?
Select to expand quoteazzalanche said...
For those bigger boys the 7'10 would be ok. I'm currently riding a 7'9, 28 wide 130 litre stonker staffy at 110kgs and it floats me no issue and surfs amazingly well. This is the first one he has shaped but has two more in the bay this week refining them a little. I def reckon the 124 minion would be fine.
Hey Azza, have you got more photos of this one?
Select to expand quotemagentawave said..Casso said..windara said...
Nice casso. Do you ride with your back foot on the very tail most of the time or move it around?
I move it around a bit, but it is often right on the tailpad block.
Hey Casso: Thanks for your input and great photos and videos. I have a few questions for you please...
1) Are BOTH of your feet planted in the center of the board and is your back foot always on the tailpad block when you crank a hard cutback?
2) Can you slash a cutback without stuffing your paddle in the wave or do you always need your paddle to do that?
3) And are your feet in the same position I mentioned above when you pivot hard off the lip?
4) I read it a million times but what was your weight again please?
5) Do you prefer riding the 7'-2" Minion over the 7' Minion?
6) I don't see it in the photos but do these Minions have a bevel at the rail on the bottom?
Thanks!
P.S. I'm in the San Diego CA area and lost a lot of sleep last night reading this entire thread, so THANK YOU TO EVERYONE for participating!
Hi Magentawave,
Here you go:
1) Are BOTH of your feet planted in the center of the board and is your back foot always on the tailpad block when you crank a hard cutback?
My feet aren't always in the centre of the board, they move a bit towards the inside rail, more so my front foot than my back. A long grinding cutback is performed with the rider's weight pretty evenly over both feet (in fact, a little more over the front foot) so it is not as critical to have your back foot right on the tail block for these.
2) Can you slash a cutback without stuffing your paddle in the wave or do you always need your paddle to do that?
I pretty much always stuff my paddle in the wave during a slash. It allows you to turn harder (by creating a pivot point) and it provides a support to lean on so you can push it really hard.
3) And are your feet in the same position I mentioned above when you pivot hard off the lip?
No, my back foot is definitely on the tail block during a re-entry with most of my weight on this foot. My front foot will be in the centre too because there isn't enough time to move it from side to side during the turn.
4) I read it a million times but what was your weight again please?
I'm down to 82kg but I was riding the 7'2" and the 7'0" Minions at 87kg.
5) Do you prefer riding the 7'-2" Minion over the 7' Minion?
They are fairly similar but I think I like my 7'2" better because it is actually a few litres less than the 7'0" (thinner and narrower).
6) I don't see it in the photos but do these Minions have a bevel at the rail on the bottom?
Yep - up the front half of the board, they do.
Thanks Casso! I appreciate you taking the time to answer all of my questions. 
Can I ask you two more please?
Can you stand on your 7-2 Minion without it sinking up to your knee's, or do you need to keep it moving through the water to prevent it from sinking?
Is it easier to cutback and jam off the lip on your PaddlePop verses your Minion?
Hey mick,
The new staffy is going to be similar dimensions minus a little volume and a few tweaks with the nose and tail. He's also playing with the concave a bit. Had a look this arvo and it's already looking impressive. Can't wait to surf it.
Zuesman will get some more photos for you, the new one which is being shaped this week is looking great. After surfing the first Staffy, Stonk has tweaked a few little things and it's looking epic. Definitely a board for people to think about, made by a local Torquay bloke and at a ripping price
Select to expand quotemagentawave said...
Thanks Casso! I appreciate you taking the time to answer all of my questions. Can I ask you two more please?
Can you stand on your 7-2 Minion without it sinking up to your knee's, or do you need to keep it moving through the water to prevent it from sinking?
Is it easier to cutback and jam off the lip on your PaddlePop verses your Minion?
The Minion floats me pretty well - my feet are a bit wet but definitely not up to my knees.
The PaddlePop is a bit more agile and works better around the pocket and in the lip. They both cutback really nicely.
Jarryd and Zuesman,
While im not in the 115kg region ( im 95kg)..the biggest misconception i had was that i wouldnt be able to ride a minion due the them being so short. This was based on my experiences with traditional sups..even after reading this thread my mind was still telling me it was a no go and wouldnt float me. But after talking to the good people on here who actual had minions my perception started to change. I took the leap of faith and now ride a 7"8 115L Minion.
Changes your whole thinking about sups in relation to weight , volume etc...I cant see myself going back to a traditional sup at all...in fact my prowave 8"10 is still dry.
Stevo summed it up really well. My minion would be more stable than my prowave was and certainly i like the ride is better too.
And although JP has a similar board there is something about riding a Minion from Deep, knowing that alot of love and care has gone into it to making these beautiful boards. Id rather give my $$ to them..and support local crew...even though im in NZ.
Kia Ora and Chur
Well, the Minion may be great for you guys in that part of the world, but here in the states, there really is no option so I welcome JP bringing a production model 'to the world'. I'd be curious to see a Minion-rider review of the JP in the future, too.
Select to expand quoteazzalanche said..
Hey mick,
The new staffy is going to be similar dimensions minus a little volume and a few tweaks with the nose and tail. He's also playing with the concave a bit. Had a look this arvo and it's already looking impressive. Can't wait to surf it.
Sounds good, let us know how it goes.
Select to expand quotebeached56 said..
Well, the Minion may be great for you guys in that part of the world, but here in the states, there really is no option so I welcome JP bringing a production model 'to the world'. I'd be curious to see a Minion-rider review of the JP in the future, too.
I think there is beached56, check out the simsup boards, there are pix in goatman's latest tomo sb post on here too. They're not a minion/slate style board, but very similar theory driving it. Well worth a look. Can t post links on an ipad sorry.
Actually, L41 is jumping on the Tomo Bandwagon too...
www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php?topic=25204.30
My new Minion arrived yesterday and took it out in lumpy 2ft this morning. The board looks awesome. Simon and his crew have made a brilliant short board sup. While i spent a fair bit of time in the water trying to find the balance points it lights up on the wave. Coming from a 7'10 x32 i found it paddled significantly straighter and junped onto waves earlier. Handled pitchy little drops woth ease. Once your on the wave it goes fast and turns nicely - cant wait for better waves in flat conditions. It is a talking point with surfers all wanting to know wtf it is. Definite keeper!
Select to expand quoteBenjiD said...
My new Minion arrived yesterday and took it out in lumpy 2ft this morning. The board looks awesome. Simon and his crew have made a brilliant short board sup. While i spent a fair bit of time in the water trying to find the balance points it lights up on the wave. Coming from a 7'10 x32 i found it paddled significantly straighter and junped onto waves earlier. Handled pitchy little drops woth ease. Once your on the wave it goes fast and turns nicely - cant wait for better waves in flat conditions. It is a talking point with surfers all wanting to know wtf it is. Definite keeper!
Benji, how'd it compare to the x32 stability wise?
No where near as stable mate but its 5" less in width and 25litres less in volume so was never expecting it to be as stable. Once your up you gotta keep paddling and feathering the water - kinda like a bike, if you stop pedalling you fall over. The x32 was more like bike with training wheels in that regard. But the Minion is so much more fun once your on.
With regards to stability on these boards stand with you front foot further forward and keep pressure on the nose it locks up the stability. The more you ride the easier they become 
