Went into the local shop today for a look and took a 8'8 speed for a demo. I was expecting it to be super tippy being 28.5 wide and me being 95kg.
It's super stable and didn't actually challenge me at all and that was with wind and strong current.
I couldn't really surf it it though as the swell was too weak and small. Everytime I tried to get back on the stomper it just bogged down in speed. Very hard to turn of the middle with the straight rails. Would love to see how it goes in some decent surf. I have it for a few days so Will put some decent fins in it but it's a shame the surfs so small.
But anyway, just chasing some reviews on the guys that ride an 8'5 maybe even compare it to the 8'8 if possible.
My first "real" board . 88 Speeed. To big for my 65kg back then but took me to another level from dead set beginner to early intermediate. Is very fast . Maybe too fast . Fell of the back of this board a bit due to it being fast, too big for me, and poor technique.
I reckon you need to ride it shorter than you think ....but not everyone says that. At 60kg now I would need to ride a 711 at most otherwise too fast and get thrown off back .
Check out Casso's vids . He rides a 711 and he is a lot bigger than me.
At that size I loved it more on long point breaks or fat clean beach breaks .
This is how you ride a Speeed.
One foot right on the back and one in the middle.
Thats why I struggled . If you get too far forward you can't turn and if you get too far back (with both legs) you do bog down
Select to expand quoteGboots said..
This is how you ride a Speeed.
One foot right on the back and one in the middle.
Thats why I struggled . If you get too far forward you can't turn and if you get too far back (with both legs) you do bog down
Some great surfing there! Will be interesting to test it over the next couple days. But I don't think there will be enough swell to really test it unfortunately.
I'm 95kgs and have the 8'5 speeed..ive changed other boards over time but this ones a keeper..does everything you need it to..in most conditions..had it in small to dbl overhead waves...when its strong offshore I jump on the 8'7 acid..as the nose on the speeed can sometimes get hang up..I swapped fins on my speeed to c-drive for a bit more juice.
Chur hope that helps
I'd second the "widen your stance" message.
When I had mine I too tried stomping on the tail, it bogged like you found out.
Then I widened my stance, front foot near handle and rear just on stomper ... then front foot pressure and rear to turn the board.. and lean into the turn.
Ace boards.
Leaning on turns and wider surf stance (when not paddling) definitely helped me manage the board on the wave and had me falling off a lot less on take off
Leaning on turns and wider surf stance (when not paddling) definitely helped me manage the board on the wave and had me falling off a lot less on take off
Had the speed out for a decent amount of time this morning. Tiny surf which sucked, it paddles great so easy to catch a wave. Just doesn't seem to suit my style much which is a shame as I really wanted to like this board. I will probably borrow it again when we get some swell just to see what it has to offer.
Now im looking at the 8'10 creek and 8'9 flash
Nugdam would be really interested in your thoughts... im debating between...
9'1 acid
8'9 flash
8'10 creek
8'6 smik hipster.... currently have a 9'1 creek..
Select to expand quotebomberdave said..
Nugdam would be really interested in your thoughts... im debating between...
9'1 acid
8'9 flash
8'10 creek
8'6 smik hipster.... currently have a 9'1 creek..
I have a 8'6 flash to test tomorrow then will grab the 8'10 creek to test on Sunday or Monday.
My local doesn't have the 8'9 flash to demo which is a shame. The 8'6 being 112l will be a struggle no doubt.
I liked my 9'1 creek but felt I outgrow it over the 12 or so months I used it. I bought a 8'10 flow on gumtree and it was a great board but not enough progression for me was too similar to th 9'1.
I have been riding an 8'8 Speeed for a couple of years now at 104 kg and it has been magic. Now that I'm down to 95kg I would definitely want to go down to the 8'5 if I could. I'll second everything said about getting the stance right in order to turn it well. You want to ride it as short as you can if you want to turn it. I'm 6'5 so the wide stance isn't so wide for me but I get how others would struggle to make it work.
Ultimately, the Speeed is the board you want if you are having a hard time making sections that are closing out. It gets down the line faster than almost anything on the water. If you are already making your sections and you just want to turn better on the face, there are other boards that will beat it, no question. But when I take my Speeed out at my local break I know I can take off deeper than anyone and ride longer than anyone. It dominates the line up to an unhealthy degree.
