great news Dave 
I'm also getting use to my new board ,even though mY 8,10 is a little smaller ,its taken me 2-3 weeks to know what i can do and can't do on it as well as figuring out the right fin combo ,i hated mine to start with ,but starting to like what it can do better than the flow ,and thats surf bigger waves ,I also learnt a lot on my 10 mana ,it taught me the basics and had some good times on it ,you will surf a lot better for sure on a smaller board ,enjoy mate ,its a unreal time having a new board the stoke is high and all you can think about is the next session ,
I broke a leg rope last week on mine on a big wave ,this nice lady saved it from the rocks ,it was only a 75 metre swim .I really hate the feeling of the leg rope braking ,it was a longboard legrope less than 6 months old ,I now have a 9 ml 8 foot leggie but it pulls like a rope I hope it stretches a bit and gets softer ..look forward to seeing your vid ,
Select to expand quoteFatben said..
For information, what is your height and weight DaveSandan ??
Hey Fatben, I'm 178cm and 75kg and almost 62 yrs young.
I did some trimming of waisted footage and this was the longest wave of the session but the chop and back wash was at its peak. The back wash gets me in the end. The camera view is new for me and is ok but I am not radical enough to really show how the boards turns. It's a work in progress.
Hi, my 2 cents:
- move your feet closer to the center line while paddling. the closer they are to the rail, the more any body movement will make the board roll. A wide stance leads to over-compensating.
- while surfing your front foot should be on the center line, often on the handle. This is very important.
- it is hard to see with the perspective, but you should lengthen your "reach": Try to dig your paddle into the water closer to the nose of the board. And dig it deeper so that the whole blade is under water. It will raise your paddling power significantly.
- your paddle seems too long, forcing you to have the shaft stay in a diagonal instead of travelling in a vertical plane. This creates a lot of row effect, and strains your shoulders.
Select to expand quotecolas said..
Hi, my 2 cents:
- move your feet closer to the center line while paddling. the closer they are to the rail, the more any body movement will make the board roll. A wide stance leads to over-compensating.
- while surfing your front foot should be on the center line, often on the handle. This is very important.
- it is hard to see with the perspective, but you should lengthen your "reach": Try to dig your paddle into the water closer to the nose of the board. And dig it deeper so that the whole blade is under water. It will raise your paddling power significantly.
- your paddle seems too long, forcing you to have the shaft stay in a diagonal instead of travelling in a vertical plane. This creates a lot of row effect, and strains your shoulders.
yeah Dude ,you will have to cut another paddle ,too long as pointed out ,
cut one head high it is easier to control and you will be able to use your paddle more for turning ,
so basically a shorter paddle keeps your arms down low and transfers the power and energy
into your legs ,feet , hips and core .which then transfers into your board and fins giving you more drive .
Lots to work on, but first the feel of the board, it's a process to be broken down into small sections then rebuilt.
Looks great Dave, can you tell me the tail width? I am considering a Bonza the 9'5"x32.5 with the sharper nose.
Steve.
Select to expand quotedrivethebus said..
Looks great Dave, can you tell me the tail width? I am considering a Bonza the 9'5"x32.5 with the sharper nose.
Steve.
Which part of the tail to you want measured? Across the fins, below the middle fin? 
Select to expand quoteDaveSandan said..drivethebus said..
Looks great Dave, can you tell me the tail width? I am considering a Bonza the 9'5"x32.5 with the sharper nose.
Steve.
Which part of the tail to you want measured? Across the fins, below the middle fin?
Dave,nose and tail measurements are standard ,1 foot back from nose and 1 foot up from tail,you are a brave man putting up vids of yourself,I've never had the courage,still you will get some positive feed back,in the end as long as it's all positive,cheers .
hey Dave ,that rocker looks fast man ..
here's a picture of me with the paddle cut head high ,it felt really short to start off ,but because you have lost 50 litres in your board now
compared to the mana you are closer to the water ,but you will work it out mate ,enjoy that new board ,she's a ripper .
I would love one myself ,this is a 9,1 I was on ,compared to my shorter boards it catches waves the best .Those fins on your board look freaky ,I wonder if it would spin out if you laid it right over on the rail .?
There's been a lot of talk about fins of late. quabba, c drive etc. Interesting fins on your board Dave. What's your thinking?
Select to expand quotecolas said..
In pictures:
(a bit of) Diagonal => row effect:
Vertical shaft ==> Going straight:
Good advice. I need a personal coach like this.
Hi gents,
thanks Tardy, I will use my other paddle as well which is already shorter and once I get it all comfortable I will cut the VMG again, don't want to get it wrong.
The fins are unusual but Scotty recons they help with drive and speed and the centre fin would hold it in anyway, the board and fins are all part of what he wanted the board to do so I am happy to leave it as it is but it will be fun.
That board looks sensational!
The bonzer concept is very interesting,
bonzer5.com/boards/bonzer-mechanics/
www.swellnet.com/news/design-outline/2021/09/29/what-about-the-bonzer
Thanks for posting finsup.
Nothing is better than a bonzer on a big walling point break. The speed on the bottom turn etc is mental. It's like the harder you turn, the faster you go!
Select to expand quotecolas said..
Hi, my 2 cents:
- move your feet closer to the center line while paddling. the closer they are to the rail, the more any body movement will make the board roll. A wide stance leads to over-compensating.
- while surfing your front foot should be on the center line, often on the handle. This is very important.
- it is hard to see with the perspective, but you should lengthen your "reach": Try to dig your paddle into the water closer to the nose of the board. And dig it deeper so that the whole blade is under water. It will raise your paddling power significantly.
- your paddle seems too long, forcing you to have the shaft stay in a diagonal instead of travelling in a vertical plane. This creates a lot of row effect, and strains your shoulders.
HI Colas
Appreciate the feedback and you are correct about my feet and paddle length which I have been working on on my old board and will again once I dial into the new one. This particular day got very choppy and the angle of the paddle is mostly when I am changing direction before I catch a wave so I swing around. It's my way for now and will change in time.
I am looking forward to the next longer session as I improve the longer I am on the board, the weather is not on the same o page as I am at the moment but maybe I will get lucky soon.
Select to expand quotefinsup said..
That board looks sensational!
The bonzer concept is very interesting,
bonzer5.com/boards/bonzer-mechanics/
www.swellnet.com/news/design-outline/2021/09/29/what-about-the-bonzer
Really good articles, thanks.
Select to expand quotedrivethebus said..
Looks great Dave, can you tell me the tail width? I am considering a Bonza the 9'5"x32.5 with the sharper nose.
Steve.
Hi Steve
41.5 inches circumference at the tail 12 inches up. ??
Select to expand quoteDaveSandan said..drivethebus said..
Looks great Dave, can you tell me the tail width? I am considering a Bonza the 9'5"x32.5 with the sharper nose.
Steve.
Hi Steve
41.5 inches circumference at the tail 12 inches up. ??
Thanks Dave, seems a little wide, did you measure a straight line across the width of the board at 12 inches from the tip of the tail? Should be a number in the 18 to 21 inch range.
Select to expand quotedrivethebus said..DaveSandan said..drivethebus said..
Looks great Dave, can you tell me the tail width? I am considering a Bonza the 9'5"x32.5 with the sharper nose.
Steve.
Hi Steve
41.5 inches circumference at the tail 12 inches up. ??
Thanks Dave, seems a little wide, did you measure a straight line across the width of the board at 12 inches from the tip of the tail? Should be a number in the 18 to 21 inch range.
Hi Stev,
no I measured all the way around, I was measuring up for a cover, sorry I should have done both!
Select to expand quoteHoppo3228 said..
Thanks for posting finsup.
Nothing is better than a bonzer on a big walling point break. The speed on the bottom turn etc is mental. It's like the harder you turn, the faster you go!
Hoppo I'd be interested in your comparison of the Lord Bonza to the Sunova Creek.
I know you had a Creek for a while.
I've still got my Creek (love it), but have just recently bought a 10' Lord Bonza.
Thanks
I found these pics on Insta which are of the original Bonza and it is coming up to 50 years old, very similar to the modern version but so different at the same time.
Finally had some good waves today on a nice reef break but the water was very turbulent but the Smik was up to the task. No decent footage to show so I grabbed a few shots of the 2 prone surfers out there with me.
Once you get some size the Bonza really lets go and the speed was great on take off but the walls were very short so it was a take off, 2 turns then cut back to a full wave.
Hoping to get some more wave tomorrow so I can get fully use to the board, some glass would be nice for a change, fingers crossed.
Last one I think, 14km of paddling and 3hrs in the water today and its going to be as good again tomorrow, low tide I had the spot all to myself for over an hour at 2-3ft then 3 others arrived plus a Dolphin and it got to 4ft and when I left they were coming in around 5-6ft. I got footage of a 4ft longish wave that does get fatty on this break so you need to keep up with the white water to get to the next section until it gets big enough for the reef to hold up better.
I was catching waves as soon as I got back to the take off spot almost all morning and I stopped filming after this one so I could just keep moving my feet into better position and the waves got more wall as it got to 5+ so I was able to do more bottom turns then up the wall more than in this Vid.
Loving the Bonza and it gets better the bigger the waves get and I am starting to feel the speed while turning on the bigger waves too which is making me very happy.
