Given I relied on this site for my board selection, I felt it only fair that I leave my thoughts.
I purchased the 7'11" Speed last week and it arrived on Thursday (awesome price and service from Surf FX). I have to be honest, I was nervous all week, as I was going from and 8'2" Starboard with 130ltr and 32" width down to 92ltr and 26" and a bit width. A massive step down.
I have been SUPing for about 6 years now and weigh in at about 75kg. I have only taken the board out once (this morning for about 3hrs in 3ft Middleton peaky but pretty clean conditions). I'll split my review into the following categories:
Board Quality
Stability
Paddling into Waves
Speed
Manoeuvrability
[b]Board Quality 9.5/10
[/b]When I saw the board on the internet I was blown away by how it looked. When I unpacked it I was not let down. It is beautifully constructed and is designed unlike any SUP I have seen. If nothing else, it would make a great piece of art (I'm not tech savvy enough to add pictures but they're easy enough to find). It is extremely light and has very sleek rails. The pop out handle is awesome; when I was out today I used it quite a bit in the water and it enabled me to push the board through white water with ease. I had a quick look over the board when I came in and the rails looked unblemished. Given I've only surfed it once I can't really comment on it's durability but I tend to think it will be very good.
Stability 5/10 (but given its dimensions very good)
If you'd seen me out in the water you would have thought I was a beginner; I spent a lot of time in the drink. However, it's actually more stable than I thought it would be and I reckon I'll get my head around it. At 26" across you need to be realistic about what you are getting yourself into. It is not a board you can stand around and feel completely relaxed on and it hates side winds. It actually pushes through white water quite well when paddling out (just step back and pop it up). I was knackered at the end of my surf but I had a ball and left feeling confident I can tame the beast (I hope!). You would not want to weigh much more than me though.
Paddling into Waves 9/10
This board wants to get onto the wave. I was blown away with how well it paddled into waves. My brother was trialling an 8ft Starboard and I rate him as a very good paddler; it blew his board away. As I said before, I ride (I tend to think rode is more applicable) a Starboard and this board leaves it for dead in this department. I can't talk this aspect up enough and I was shocked at how well it got onto waves.
Speed 10/10
Unbelievable!!! This board flies. It is designed for speed and is appropriately named. Getting past sections was a breeze and because it has such sleek rails, you can get past the white water without feeling unsteady. The designers have nailed this aspect of the board. I can't wait to get this board over to Indo as it will come into its own.
Manoeuvrability 8/10
I've gotten so used to riding my Starboard a certain way that it took me awhile to get used to the Speed (still loads to learn about it). Kind of felt like being on a snowboard in terms of how much the rails dig in (in a very good way). This board wants to ride barrels but it also wants to be thrown around. It felt great. I spent most of my time playing with its speed and enjoying the wind on my bald dome so have lots to explore in terms of its manoeuvrability but it felt great. When a section fell in front of it, I had the choice of shooting around it or doing a fast bottom turn a riding up and over it. I may well rate this higher down the track; all I know is that I have not been so excited about a new board in a long, long time!
I think it's fairly obvious how I feel about this board. It will not be for everyone but those who are up for a challenge and keen for speed, will not be disappointed. The designers of this board have done an amazing job and have really gone out on a limb. Yes this board is a little unstable but given its dimensions it is much more stable than you'd think. Thumbs up from me.
Great review Ekul! I rode the 8'5 x 27 2/4 112L model a few weeks back and have been meaning to write a review for sometime.
My review would pretty much read like yours.....
I really didn't think I was going to be comfortable on a board this size as my 90kg is comfortable on 8'6 x 32" or 8'10 x 30 120L+.
It was a small day 2-3". It was pretty glassy but there was plenty of water movement with the changing tide to challenge my balancing skills
I was very surprised how stable this board is. Paddling onto waves was easy with that big wide spade nose up front.
The board really came alive on the wave being super loose and fast. it was a real surprise to be honest.
Quality wise we have been selling the XXX Balsa construction since December and for us it is a new benchmark, in quality, durability and weight.
I havent spent enough time on it to write a full review. But like you I was very impressed with this board after one session.
We have some demo's of the SUNOVA SPEED landing next week at Balmoral Paddesurf. Stoked to put them through their paces!
I did get some pics!
It is a beautiful thing 
Well done! When I transitioned from the 8'5" Speeed to the 7'11... the first few outings I could not afford to stop dead in the water. As far as stability is concerned, I think the board requires more practice if you are going to paddle on your knees for any length of time, moreso than standing - but then with a board like this, you wont be wanting to be kneeling at all. Ive probably had about 20 - 30 sessions on the 711 now... including some pretty choppy conditions, backwashed beach breaks and 20kts winds.... All I can say is.. the ratings you gave on stability and maneuverability, will rapidly improve with practice, practice practice. The pay off is a rocket of a board that gives you amazing versatility and speed. (oh yeah... thats why its called speed! Duh!)
Float, yes. Comfortable - prob not Zeusman! The 8'10 130L board would be better. We have the bigger sizes coming.
Yeah they are a beautiful board. The fact that they are made in their own dedicated factory in Thailand goes along way to explaining how they produce quality boards in wood and balsa and still maintain a reasonable price point.
Great review Ekul,
thats a big drop in volume......glad to know it worked out, I know you were worried. Another dunny door in the water
Great stuff you guys. We are stoked to hear your feedback. Bert's such a great shaper and seeing his experience transformed into SUPs is unreal to see.
Just one thing. Give the board the credit it just earned from all of you:
It's spEEEd with 3 EEE's. Just to make that clear. Hahaha.
Have fun and keep up the good "work" playing with those toys!
Tino
Great thread.... thanks for all the info .... I'm frothing to get one of theeese!
ha ha.... Thanks Tino.... I never noticed that it was spelled with 3 EEE's
Trawling around and found this....from Portugal!
Wish it was this clean the day I tried it!
Select to expand quoteAA said..
Trawling around and found this....from Portugal!
Wish it was this clean the day I tried it!
?rel=0
The guy on this nice video is our seebrezer JohnnyMaya www.seabreeze.com.au/Members/Profile/Details.aspx?member=JohnnyMaya
Select to expand quoteKami said..
AA said..
Trawling around and found this....from Portugal!
Wish it was this clean the day I tried it!
?rel=0
The guy on this nice video is our seebrezer JohnnyMaya www.seabreeze.com.au/Members/Profile/Details.aspx?member=JohnnyMaya
.....Haha! Why we love the breeze! Johnny can surf!
Johnny, just curious as to which board is pictured 2nd from the front of the screen at the start of the video when all 4 boards are on the sand?
1st is Acid, 3rd is Speed, 4th is Skate by the look of it.
Cheers
Potty
Select to expand quotePottyMullet said...
Johnny, just curious as to which board is pictured 2nd from the front of the screen at the start of the video when all 4 boards are on the sand?
1st is Acid, 3rd is Speed, 4th is Skate by the look of it.
Cheers
Potty
HI Potty,
The second one is the Soul 8"6.
Greetings from Portugal
just received a Speed 7'11" today! i am around 80kg and with a break in the weather today decided to see how it would go. i took her down to a fairly flat beach as my first aim was to see if i could ride it. Put the fins in, grabbed my paddle and jumped on board. On my knees to start it was tippy and when i stood up there wasnt much float and i was in the wrong spot and fell off. My immediate thought was have I been silly and bought a board that is beyond me. The chap in the shop said the board was fast but not much more. So maybe there was something that he did not say about how hard it is to ride. Anyway if Johnny Maya could ride the 8"5" then i should be able to get to grips with it. The next time i was up and the balance spot is small but managed a small paddle before falling in. Next time i was up and managing to stay on the board. This time I was ok and managed to get going. All up I paddled for 30 minutes in fairly flat water with small waves and bit of current. So after day one i believe that I am going to be challenged but am sure that the benefits on a wave will be worth it.
Hey johndg,
Just don't give up on trying.
As you move onto smaller boards, the sweetspot becomes much smaller, but the rewards are great.
In a couple of days, you'll have found a perfect feet position and some tricks that will make everything easier. I paddle in a semi staggered stance and found out that if my front foot is more parallel to an imaginary stringer line (rather than sticking out towards the rail), i have much better balance and control over my board.
When i'm surfing boards which have a couple of liters less than my weight in kgs, I use a shorter paddle with a smaller blade, because not only it will be less stressful for my shoulders from being shorter as it will also be easier to keep paddling all the time (to have better stability) without getting too tired.
I'm sure you'll love it!
Johnny
thanks Johnny for the words of encouragement and of course your excellent advise.
i had a second paddle today at a small wave spot and luckily the conditions were pretty flat. Yes i can paddle it on waves now but there was not much coming that gave a decent ride.
My paddle is at forehead high - an old quickblade i have cut down 3 times.
On paddling out we have a local who has paddled this style of board for a couple of years and i was greeted with a "welcome to the revolution".
Cant wait to get it into a decent wave now!!!
thanks Johnny for the words of encouragement and of course your excellent advice.
i had a second paddle today at a small wave spot and luckily the conditions were pretty flat. Yes i can paddle it on waves now but there was not much coming that gave a decent ride.
My paddle is at forehead high - an old quickblade i have cut down 3 times.
On paddling out we have a local who has paddled this style of board for a couple of years and i was greeted with a "welcome to the revolution".
Cant wait to get it into a decent wave now!!!
Yes, my first time on a 7'10", I though I was able to make the 200m in the flat of the river to reach the surf spot at the rivermouth...
After some practice, notably using it on flat days as a handicap to paddle with my daughters, it became natural.
Now 7'10" is a long board for me :-)
Select to expand quoteEkul said...
It is extremely light and has very sleek rails.
Have you by any chance weighted your board?
It'd be interesting to know the figure as I own a board of similar volume (92 ltrs)
I weight my boards regularly. I think it's a reliable and easy way to notice any water leaks or damage going to the core
(sometimes small cracks go unnoticed , e.g. under the grip due to heavy duckdiving foot pressure) before the damage is too bad
Thus, I keep weight records of all my shortboards and supboards.
Select to expand quoteGeoInstance said..Ekul said...
It is extremely light and has very sleek rails.
Have you by any chance weighted your board?
It'd be interesting to know the figure as I own a board of similar volume (92 ltrs)
I weight my boards regularly. I think it's a reliable and easy way to notice any water leaks or damage going to the core
(sometimes small cracks go unnoticed , e.g. under the grip due to heavy duckdiving foot pressure) before the damage is too bad
Thus, I keep weight records of all my shortboards and supboards.
My Speeed 7'11" - weighs in at 6.7 Kg - dry with fins.
Lovely looking board but the branding on the bottom is a bit excessive IMO as it detracts from the natural look of the timber
Look on the Sunova web site. i think they are sold in Freo. i did call this shop to inquire but they were busy. i left my number as they said they would call back. They didnt call back so i would go in if you have the time.
What a great looking board, is there anyone in Adaid who stocks these? Love to grap one for an upcoming trip to Maldives. I'm 87kg would the 7'11" suit me? currently ride a 8' S4 Simsup.
Hi Tino/Bert
Any plans on making a Speeed XL? Wondering how the width of the 8"5 would go with the length of the 7"11?
Cheers
Select to expand quoteWicksy said..
Hi Tino/Bert
Any plans on making a Speeed XL? Wondering how the width of the 8"5 would go with the length of the 7"11?
Cheers
Hi Wicksy,
We have actually thought about it. Got our dealer meeting in MAY and this will definitely be a voting question for the coming season. Get those votes up!!!
Obviously we can also make one even its not in the range.
Thanx,
Tino
