Ok so after much anticipation, I received my 8'5 Sunova Speeed XXXTec last week and here's what I got....

First of all I have to praise the Sunova Team, namely Martin Jandke. He went above and beyond the stars to make my Sunova dreams come true, and for that I will always be grateful. Also Bert Burger is a shaping GENIUS! In my humble opinion, he has set himself worlds apart from any of the shapers out there!

I took it out to my local beach break at mid-tide with a 3 foot swell. I am 5'6 and weigh 140 lbs. On my very first wave this board Lit up. It is very, very fast, but not in the fast, out of control kinda way, but fast in a controlled, stable way. It is ultra reponsive and turns on a dime. I went to kick out and it turned so fast it almost came back and hit me!!!Once you step to the front the board takes off like a Ferrari! Everything I wanted the board to do it did with ease. For my first time ever riding it, it took me a minute to feel for the sweet spot. It was a little bit of effort to find my balance, but once I did it was easy and I did not fall off once. This board is going to take my SUPing to the next level. I am already doing maneuvers I could only think about with ease. Paddling into waves are a breeze, and as important, paddling back out thru waves/whitewash was not a problem at all. I was a little concerned at first because of the wide, square-ish nose. The deck pad is very sticky, no sliding/slipping at all. I love the pop out handle as well, waaaaaay better than the cut out ones. I have read about the soft bottom absorbing the chop, and its absolutely true, on other boards I skip down the face on windy days, but not so on the speeed, I do not feel one ripple ( it's kinda weird!)This board does not feel like an SUP, but rather a surfboard. It's so light and surfs like a dream. I have tried A lot of boards and I can say with certainty this is the most fun I've had on a sup board. It's definitely a game changer. I can't leave out the fact that in person, it is the most beautiful board I have ever seen. I set it down on the beach by the rocks, and my friends couldn't see it because it blended into the landscape! They did not cut any corners on the construction, every inch of this board is luxurious. I love the fins as well, they are beautifully placed in the board and have a good bite in the wave. I cannot get the smile off of my face about this board, and am so happy to be part of the Sunova family. They're motto is Lighter, stronger, better, I would say, Lighter, stronger, BEST!!!!!!!!