Small wave board advise

I have an 8' 6 X 32 Super Frank and feel it really excels in small, short period waves. It can take these messy, garbage waves and turn them into something fun. My Super Frank likes to be surfed dynamically. It feels kind of sluggish just going strait down the line but, it absolutely comes alive when it is surfed top to bottom.

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SDOndas said..
I have an 8' 6 X 32 Super Frank and feel it really excels in small, short period waves. It can take these messy, garbage waves and turn them into something fun. My Super Frank likes to be surfed dynamically. It feels kind of sluggish just going strait down the line but, it absolutely comes alive when it is surfed top to bottom.

It's the "wide" Super.Frank version ?
what is your height and weight ?
What is your level and the boards (sizes, width and volume) that you surfed so far ?
Level of comfort and stability how do you find them ?

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Fatben said..

SDOndas said..
I have an 8' 6 X 32 Super Frank and feel it really excels in small, short period waves. It can take these messy, garbage waves and turn them into something fun. My Super Frank likes to be surfed dynamically. It feels kind of sluggish just going strait down the line but, it absolutely comes alive when it is surfed top to bottom.

It's the "wide" Super.Frank version ?
what is your height and weight ?
What is your level and the boards (sizes, width and volume) that you surfed so far ?
Level of comfort and stability how do you find them ?

To answer your questions:

It's the "wide" Super.Frank version ?
Yes

what is your height and weight ?
5'11", 165 lbs. I know that this board is way too big for me but, I surfed my 1st year on a 9'5", 32 Mana with 163 liters. So, I was using the Super Frank to gradually reduce volume. I surfed the Super Frank over 100 times and it has been a ton of fun (even if it is "too big for me")

What is your level and the boards (sizes, width and volume) that you surfed so far ?
I'm not exactly sure what separates a beginner from an intermediate but, I'm probably somewhere in between. This is my 3rd year SUP surfing, averaging about 120 sessions per year.

Level of comfort and stability how do you find them ?
I don't know how helpful this will be because I've used boards that, according to conventional wisdom, are way too big for me but, here goes.

9'5", 32 Mana with 163 liters: Incredibly stable and super forgiving. Big, chunky rails had a hard time biting into waves (but, also probably do to my weight).

8'6", 32 Super Frank with 141 liters: Very stable and almost as forgiving as the Mana but, with a ton more performance. Was able to learn a so much on this board while having a great time doing so! It feels very nimble even though it is so big for me. The only drawback is on bigger, more powerful waves, it felt squirrely.

9'2", 30 Kalama Performance with 126 liters: I've only had this board a month but, I'll tell you my impressions so far. It took me 5 or 6 sessions to adjust to the narrower width and now it feels stable. The Kalama has thinner rails than the Super Frank so, I have to be a more precise with my movements. That means its not as forgiving but, when I place my feet correctly, it makes beautiful, flowing turns. I've had 2 separate people compliment me on my surfing since I started riding it. The Kalama is absolutely incredible! That said, I don't think it's fair to compare the Kalama with Super Frank as they surf with completely different styles. In fact, I think they compliment each other. As my skills progress, my plan is to replace my 8'6", 32 Super Frank with an 8' or 7'6" Lean model. I could use the Kalama when I want to make smooth, flowing, carving turns or work on my nose riding in cleaner waves. The Super Frank I'd use when I want to do skatey turns in messy, short period, small, junky, waves.

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SydneySUP81 said..

Fatben said..

SDOndas said..
I have an 8' 6 X 32 Super Frank and feel it really excels in small, short period waves. It can take these messy, garbage waves and turn them into something fun. My Super Frank likes to be surfed dynamically. It feels kind of sluggish just going strait down the line but, it absolutely comes alive when it is surfed top to bottom.

It's the "wide" Super.Frank version ?
what is your height and weight ?
What is your level and the boards (sizes, width and volume) that you surfed so far ?
Level of comfort and stability how do you find them ?

Hi Ben. 6"2 tall. 100kg. 42 years old intermediate level. currently my smalles board is a 8"8 x 32 splice and I am pretty comfortable on that. I ended up ordering the 8"6 x 32 super Frank as I have seen so many good reviews it was hard not to.

Hi mate, will be interested to watch your instagram post on this one. And did you buy the 9'3 Spitfire from WSS that I had my eye on :)

Cheers.

Steve.

Looks great on a wave, and you are my go to guy when my wife is throwing side eye when I talk about buying another board

The zone has a new king.

I am decade of boards short of you, now if you would refrain from buying any of the boards that come up at WSS I might catch up

Hope you get some good waves this weekend.

Cheers.

Steve.

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Fatben said..
I also check from time to time that it would complement my Hipster Twin 9'10 and my Style Lord 10'3 for a program of waves ranging from 80cm to 1m20.
A "fun" board, stable, goes everywhere, and which is also comfortable in slightly choppy / choppy conditions.
So I saw this JL Super Frank but a board has been attracting my attention for a few months, it's Galvo's Smik Gee Whizz !!
If among your people have been able to see it or try it I want your review

www.facebook.com/smiksup/videos/3516270038430284/?locale=hi_IN

I have ordered something similar to Galvo"s board. A custom 8"4 x 32 smik hipster round noise swallow tail. Scotty from smik said the work really well. I'd say it's a few months away.

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Fatben said..
I can't wait to see the result and the pictures !!!
And it will be really good you can compare this Galvo style shape to the JL Super Frank.
It will be 8'4 by 32' for a volume of how much ?

140L. Same as the super Frank and my old 8"4 hypernut. will definitely post a comparison of them up here. My super Frank arrives tomorrow

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Fatben said..
So Troy this JL Super Frank has arrived ??
First impressions ??

Yep. Got her out once so far. Very impressive, at 6"2 and 100kg it is super stable. Rode as a quad and super fast and very responsive. It was a mushy day so really keen to get her out in some clean surf. I have a custom 8"4 x 32 hipster twin being made atm so looking forward to seeing how that rips.

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Fatben said..
So a few more test sessions of this Super Frank??

Had the super Frank out again today. Very very impressed. The board is light responsive and fast.

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Fatben said..
Superb photos, it makes you want !!!
You can give us a complete feedback on this board concerning the volume and stability compared to what you had in short Sup (hypernut for example) and how this board paddles, if it leaves early in the wave, its handling and the program Or do you think she's the best!?

Hi mate. So I had the 8"4 x 31.5 hypernut and found it a fun board but to skatey and due to that lacked drive and performance plus I don't like the wide noise. My other comparison is my 8"8 x 32 starboard splice. I rate the splice as possibly the best board in the world right now ( I also have the 9"3 ). the stability of the 8"6 x32 super Frank sits between the Hypernut and splice. At 6"3 and 100kg dry the stability is amazing. The glide and paddle in is better than the splice and similar to the Hypernut. performance is great and leaves the Hypernut for dead and I would say on par with the splice but for different conditions. The splice is great in more steep performance surf and is a more serious board and easier to get vertical being more responsive but the super Frank is just so easy to ride, still responsive with a little more slide and skate to the tail. The super Frank is definitely a better board for soft weaker waves. If I could only choose one I would go the splice 2nd super Frank and probably not bother with the Hypernut. I do know starboard are not bringing the Hypernut back for their 23/24 range and I believe this is cause of the splice as their " quiver killer "

Thank you very much for your feedback !!!

So if I summarize, the Super Frank would be substantially equivalent to the Hypernut for stability, paddling comfort, wave grip and this "skate" side and these boards would be intended for the same program, namely small to medium and cool waves. see not super clean or slightly windy conditions. The Super Frank being for you more versatile and efficient due to its less parallel shape and a little more ShortSup.

Regarding the Spice, I think it must be intended for a very different program and be much closer in shape to the Hipster Twin !?

And like the Hiipster Twin I think the Spice can be "THE" perfect board in one quiver board while the Super Frank like the Hypernut seems to me more boards to complete quivers.

Besides, I found a used Hypernut Starlite 8'4 x 31'1/2 and 140 liters at a very decent price. I fell in love and it will complete my Hipster Twin and my Style Lord.