Thanks man awesome advice..I'd like to think I'd be able to jump to the 8'2 and nail it in a few weeks of dialing it in..I dropped 15L going to my Minion ..took awhile ..now it's stable as..and the drop from my minion to the 8'2 is 12L but the 8'2 at only 103L would b my limit .where ad the 8'5 is of a similar volume. In other forums they say the the balsa construction adds 3% to volume and stability
Chur
Select to expand quotesupthecreek said..
The Flow is a really snappy, shortboard ride if you stay at your lower limits...
biggest I recommend for performance is 8'10, at that size the width at sidebites becomes manageable IMO
I believe the curve changes at the 9'2 Flow.... then I feel it falls short in "high performance" and becomes a great intermediate board with a ton of qualities that even a smaller surfer would benefit from (super stable, wide tail for easy wave pick up, fast, turn from the middle....)
Took delivery of my 8'10" Flow from the courier today, all I can say is YEAH!!! Its a work of art...
I was looking for something similar in performance to my old JP Surf, but with just a little more stability without being a big fat tanker.
The rails are beautifully fine, it looks like a big shortboard.
I wont be able to get it into the surf until next weekend - seriously considering channeling my inner supthecreek and taking it for a paddle on the lake in the snow tomorrow!
"seriously considering channeling my inner supthecreek and taking it for a paddle on the lake in the snow tomorrow!"
Now you're talking... snow paddles are the best!!!! 
Hey guys ,
just a little more info on the Skate ..of all the boards in our range apart from the new Shroom , the Skate likes really soft, flat, open waves , with gently spilling lips and rolling whitewater ..
the rocker is the flattest of all models , so once your moving it continues to carry speed by itself , only needing the mildest of waves to propel it along ..
with generous tail area , it has loads of drive off soft sections ..
with the noticeable harder bottom edge , the water releases low off the rail , making the board sit high on the water and skate along on top ..
the straighter section of outline through the tail , allows it to go fast and make sections if the wave walls up..its weakness is a power turn in the pocket in more powerful waves , it will have a slow rail to rail transition in a sucky section and tend to drift earlier if over powered ..
hence its favored conditions of soft, rolling, small waves with open faces....
regards
BERT
Awesome..big thanks to all who have contributed feedback or offered advice..that's why this forum rocks..for those that may wonder what I went with..just couldn't go passed the Speeed 8'5..too many good reviews , videos etc....frothing but now the wait begins
Chur and kia ora from NZ
Good choice Supmaorii......though would probably gone for the 8'10 myself........is quite dreary and depressing listening to some of the local young(ish) sup guys completely fixated on low volume boards......without considering things like more refined and thinner rails and more sophisticated design concepts.
Towball and me out on our 9'5 speeds at the point a few days back in pretty ideal conditions (always a bit of turbulence from underwater rocks).......they were on again and off again every couple of minutes......falling off while paddling 
Select to expand quoteGizzieNZ said..
Good choice Supmaorii......though would probably gone for the 8'10 myself........is quite dreary and depressing listening to some of the local young(ish) sup guys completely fixated on low volume boards......without considering things like more refined and thinner rails and more sophisticated design concepts.
Towball and me out on our 9'5 speeds at the point a few days back in pretty ideal conditions (always a bit of turbulence from underwater rocks).......they were on again and off again every couple of minutes......falling off while paddling
Yer that was stand up comedy not stand up paddle were is someone with a camera when you need them 
now if that was me you would have bloody filmed it 
Thanks Gizzie..I'm going be spending a lot of time on the 8'5 dialing that baby in ..and always like the challenge of a new board..it's going to b a step up for sure even tho it's only 3L less than my minion but I'd rather that then go for the 8'10 and maybe wish I had pushed myself..looking forward to another visit to the coast and get amongst that point of yours??
Great choice supmaori.
I have ridden the 8.5 speed on a number of occasions..is a super board..floats really stable for 112L. You won't regret it I am sure.
Cheers Burleigh..the wait begins..I'm hoping delivery is quick ..like the board.. frothing
Select to expand quoteSupmaori said..
Thanks Gizzie..I'm going be spending a lot of time on the 8'5 dialing that baby in ..and always like the challenge of a new board..it's going to b a step up for sure even tho it's only 3L less than my minion but I'd rather that then go for the 8'10 and maybe wish I had pushed myself..looking forward to another visit to the coast and get amongst that point of yours??
Always nice to have visitors to the point who are relaxed and happy and willing to say "Hi There.....Lovely Morning" to the locals
Thanks mate..yip looking forward to it arriving ..although i think its going to be a bit of a wait..it will be well worth it..will post some thoughts and vids up for sure..i certainly know no one in my neck of the woods is riding these babies..except for a few up the coast a little..be good to hear peoples thoughts on whether to rail tape or not? and what bags are people are using..the new sunova ones look great but doesnt have a release date.
chur
