So I have been having a great time on my 8'7 and 9'1 Sunova Acids on my Maldives trip. The 8'7 absolutely rips, but at my 90 kg, when it gets windy and lumpy, I ride the 9'1. But yesterday, on my 9'1, I didn't make a section...

Let me tell you a story...

It all started nicely enough:

Then it started getting a bit steep, so it looked like fun ahead:

Then it just sucked-out in front of me. Looks like mini-ship sterns. I could see the reef in front of me. I tried to paddle backwards. It didn't work...


This was the moment that the nose of the board hit the reef and I started to see my life flash before my eyes...


About this point my back was slammed against the reef. Not sure why my head didn't hit. Luckily (surprisingly) I did not leave any skin on the reef.


There was damage. But I think it should be covered under warranty. I am pretty sure SUPs should be able to survive being driven straight into a reef ;)


The nose was very weak. I could easily lift it up. Underneath was badly damaged. There were also four cuts through the balsa that you can't really see:


But luckily there was a professional board repairer on the boat and it is now perfectly repaired. You can hardly tell there was any damage:




I have had it back in the water and it was fine. Who needs carbon fiber when you have duct tape?

More stories to come...