Bighugg mate, get excited.
The wind has turned. Offshore!
Surfed right through the high this morning, big fat beachies, and in to the outgoing for some nose riding fun. Straight as an arrow standing up the front.
Here is today's magic fin combo!


Cheap to run too buddy, 4 hours on 1 banana and a cup of coffee!

That's a cracking looking board....love it.

The twinnie and tiny centre fin doesnt work on all boards for sure.....I tried it on my longboard SUP and it just didn't feel right. However, the Jackson Close fins work well on my board when the waves are a bit bigger. I'd love one of Scotty's Style Lord's.....the 10 x 30..... be perfect for my waves.

Frothing, loving the wet look Brenno.
Nice keels cbigsup, like what I was running in 8'6 Space Pickle rears.
not these fins. Colas is right about wide ass board.

Choice feedback loving the late drop n hold so envious
how long between surf's for you ?
We have to hang out till last week Nov, BUT then got 2 weeks to chase a bunch of different Bali waves .
Getting a StreetSUP schedule happening , to crank max water time.
Shaping up a new 8'0 on 250mm Originals with 97mm wheels as a Hipster Twin Longboard.

These make this board flow so well on very average choppy waves.
Reckon they'll be great in some size with the trailer fin.
Nice flex, hold and release.

So, having been surfing this board exclusively for a couple of months, I thought it was time for an update.
After half a dozen attempts to get my "photographer" son to take a pic or 2, I have given up.
To start off, this is the best longboard sup I have owned. Hands down.
My mate ET, who was out on one of my old deep boards, said this morning, "You've got that Smik board sorted out". More like it's got me sorted out.
This thing will catch any wave. I could hear my youngest son the other day yelling, "No way, no way" as he was flailing away on his longboard, and I came from behind, over the lip, and took the wave. Again and again and again.
Super easy to trim on a wave. As soon as I advance towards the nose I can feel the speed increase. So much so sometimes, I stay up there. Great fun.
Makes sections on it's own. The fin set up makes it dance and flow, really lively for a big board. The stock fins are great, awesome for cutties, but I prefer the ones I use regularly now, really nice flex and release. I tried it several times without the centre, but the rail to rail transition wasn't as smooth.
As far as construction goes, it really is bulletproof. No nicks, scrapes, chips or deck compressions, and I haven't been kind to it. At all.
On the 1st October (Mad Monday - go Eagles!) I tucked in to a closed out beachy, and made it out. Just. Being smart I went for a second, and paid the price. Dragged up and over, and over again, I could feel the fins digging in to my hip, elbow and shoulder. I came up coughing and spluttering checking for claret, but none to be found thankfully. I had manage to snap a fin and damage the box though. Poop. I filled the damaged screw hole, and using a pic that Scotty sent me of an uninstalled fin box, figured I could drill and tap from the other side. And crack on! Any other board would have suffered much worse.
I haven't learnt my lesson, and continue to drop her over steeper and hollower waves. Handles it all, as long as I get the take off angle right, as with any 10'.
Lastly, she's nice and light to carry up the hill after a 4 hour session, which is a bonus.
You won't be seeing this big blue beasty on Buy & Sell anytime soon.
Promise.

TaoJones said..

Brenno said..
So, having been surfing this board exclusively for a couple of months, I thought it was time for an update.
After half a dozen attempts to get my "photographer" son to take a pic or 2, I have given up.
To start off, this is the best longboard sup I have owned. Hands down.
My mate ET, who was out on one of my old deep boards, said this morning, "You've got that Smik board sorted out". More like it's got me sorted out.
This thing will catch any wave. I could hear my youngest son the other day yelling, "No way, no way" as he was flailing away on his longboard, and I came from behind, over the lip, and took the wave. Again and again and again.
Super easy to trim on a wave. As soon as I advance towards the nose I can feel the speed increase. So much so sometimes, I stay up there. Great fun.
Makes sections on it's own. The fin set up makes it dance and flow, really lively for a big board. The stock fins are great, awesome for cutties, but I prefer the ones I use regularly now, really nice flex and release. I tried it several times without the centre, but the rail to rail transition wasn't as smooth.
As far as construction goes, it really is bulletproof. No nicks, scrapes, chips or deck compressions, and I haven't been kind to it. At all.
On the 1st October (Mad Monday - go Eagles!) I tucked in to a closed out beachy, and made it out. Just. Being smart I went for a second, and paid the price. Dragged up and over, and over again, I could feel the fins digging in to my hip, elbow and shoulder. I came up coughing and spluttering checking for claret, but none to be found thankfully. I had manage to snap a fin and damage the box though. Poop. I filled the damaged screw hole, and using a pic that Scotty sent me of an uninstalled fin box, figured I could drill and tap from the other side. And crack on! Any other board would have suffered much worse.
I haven't learnt my lesson, and continue to drop her over steeper and hollower waves. Handles it all, as long as I get the take off angle right, as with any 10'.
Lastly, she's nice and light to carry up the hill after a 4 hour session, which is a bonus.
You won't be seeing this big blue beasty on Buy & Sell anytime soon.
Promise.

Hi Brenno,

How do you think one of these would go as a 9.6 ? ........ as an alternative to a Sunova Steeze for example.

Just sold a 9'6" steeze.
Working on a 9' something smik at the moment. Reckon it's gonna rip.
Don't get me wrong. The steeze was a heap of fun, the error was on my behalf by not shaving it down to at least 30". And maybe 9'.
The winner for me in the end is the light weight and ripple catching ability of the smik.

Choice Brenno.... loving your update.... you got me frothing.... 5 sleeps to go.
Packing the family fins kit

Brenno, Just reread your update, got me frothing .
Picked up my board from a travel weary Scotty yesterday at Sanur . Rail taped n HexTrac on last nite . Heading out to Torro Torro for introduction paddle now. Day pics later with feedback .

I feel ya pain Brenno.
Its been hotter than the devil's jock strap up here also. No swell to speak of - whatsoever- onshore, boxies everywhere and I'm over it.
Pipe starts tomorrow, so that'll keep me half sane...

Bighugg - the new stick looks sick - keen to hear how she goes mate. V jealous - hope you get good waves. Send photos!

Bighugg said..
Brenno, Just reread your update, got me frothing .
Picked up my board from a travel weary Scotty yesterday at Sanur . Rail taped n HexTrac on last nite . Heading out to Torro Torro for introduction paddle now. Day pics later with feedback .

any report on maiden voyage? pix?

Saw the pic on Igram. Didn't know it was your custom!

Sounds awesome!

Bighugg said..
Big shout out to Brenno for posting this,inspiring me to take the custom leap.
your follow up review sums it up for me also,
running stock fins Funky just flows from fast faces,late drops, flowing through to grovely knee high reBreak noses . Cruises the 700m out to break ok. Just feels easy. ( PS.. 8km return paddle to Jimbaran corner is not its forte )
Got some good sessions at Torro Torro easily connecting with second break. Before wind swung onshore after big rain bringing lots of big wood into the bay. So we have been Sanur 3 days at Towers, bigger outside for me with softer inner for wave beginner wife.
Snuck down to pool for Nooza like water shots.



Short board hungry profile



Rspro rail n HexTrac .... it disappears into the nose print.

STOKED

Great to hear mate.
Love the look of that stik, she's mint!
Been out on mine heaps over the last few days, everything from head high to 1 foot mush.
Made the most of it, looks like it's about to get ugly again!
Stoked you're stoked!

10" how did you get that to bali???

Scotty of Smik sup handed it over personally last week on his way through. Great bloke in person.
I put Bali delivery to him with long lead time as he passes regularly.
Scott's mate Jonni runs Rip Curl School of Surf , Sanur and has Smik demo's . Bunch of locals got various Smik customs, as Jonni does storage. Possibilities ? ? ?
Funky is staying @ Bali ( with Mrs pink prone )

bd , coming from Vic... Melbourne, you should have options. ?

MD - out of Darwin, recon your dunfor..... ( I give you a widow wave as we fly in n out Sat morning )
Jetstar had dropped their sizes real short.
Virgin, much the same.
So missing AirAsia...... could get 9'5 WP on Qantas ,Alice-Darwin, then AA Darwin-Bali rtn.

Brenno you so lucky to to not have to wait 3 months for water time.