Thanks for the updates ...

So what's been your goto fin setup mate?

ChrisP3 said..
Thinking of upgrading my 9'5 Starboard Nut, it's not a bad board but I demoed the Starboard Longboard and can't now stop thinking about how much more performance I could have. The downside to the Longboard I found, was a tendency to pearl on steeper drops, it may be my technique? So I looked at other options and found the Hipster longboard which sounds ideal but doesn't appear to be available in the UK.

Can't help thinking this twin setup would be ideal for conditions here on the south coast of England. So I wondered if the Starboard Longboard might work with a similar fin setup to get the speed and frictionless feeling described of the Hipster? If so, what size fins?

Also, any thoughts on the Starboard Longboard? My local dealer only sells Starboard and I do feel some loyalty. Can't find any reviews on here although SUPboarder review rated it highly.

Cheers!

Drop Scotty a email he seems to have boards all over the world.

I bloody love my hipster longboard it's such a fun board it nails the slow longboard moves yet is agile enough for some quick snaps.

Steeper drops you can manage by just getting back as quickly as possible. I have stuck the nose under a few times and it recovers quite easily.

Thanks guys, I checked the UK importer website and the Hipster is listed but not the longboard version. I'll get in touch with Scotty as advised at some point.

Bighugg said..
Hi ChrisP3 , how did you go with your board choice ?
Scotty is a easy bloke to talk to if you choose Smik.
Enjoy

One of us must be psychic, was just thinking about this!

Scotty was brilliant, also put me in touch with the UK distributor who was also very helpful but hadn't received my message.

Anyway, Scotty personally offered to bring one over for me, can't argue with customer service like that!!! He recommended the 9'2 x 28. The UK distributor has a 9'2 x 29 and I chatted with him about the options. Not being quite financially prepared for such a quick turnaround, we agreed to see when the next UK shipment would be and I should know the answer to that in the next week or two.

Not sure if I'll notice a great deal of difference between the 29 wide and the 28 but as my current board is 9'5 x 29 and I find that really stable, I feel like I should push myself to go a little bit narrower so I think I should wait for one, that will also give me a bit of time to make sure I get the money together. Really looking forward to it.

Agree with Nugdam re steep drops, there's a lot of tail kick when you get way back.





Or if looks like a Oooooh Noooo drop ,flick it side ways into the face n run up nose n slide out of it ...... this habit discussed with Scotty so am unsure of stock profile .

I still need to order these 5'79s. Everyone seems to be loving them.

Loved the 10'r up at noosa last week when it was pumping! Such a fun board when it's got some go go juice behind it.

ChrisP3 said..
Bit of a dilemma - doesn't look like there will be any Smik shipments coming into the UK anytime soon but the distributor has a 9'2 x 29. Really wanted the 28'' wide ideally.

So my question is - how much less turning ability / edge to edge performance will the extra inch involve? and would I regret not waiting? Current board is also 29'' wide but 140L. I see the difference in volume between the 28'' and 29'' Hipster is just 4L.

Confused.

I have the 9'2"x29 and it turns UNREAL. I don't think you'll regret the 29" and unless you live somewhere that's always glassy you'll appreciate the extra stability. I've not had it long but I've been lucky enoughto try it (14 or 15 days Out of the last 21) from knee high dribblers to double head high. From smooth and glassy to choppy rubbish. It's handled everything brilliantly. It's almost to the point where I wonder why I have another board (Smik Spitfire 8'3"). The caveat to all of the about is I haven't ridden a 28" wide version though but for me this was meant to be my go to board, my one longer board and I also live in Perth WA where there is frequently quite a bit of chop so I didn't really consider the 28"

Can't rate the board highly enough 10/10

Brenno said..

ChrisP3 said..
Bit of a dilemma - doesn't look like there will be any Smik shipments coming into the UK anytime soon but the distributor has a 9'2 x 29. Really wanted the 28'' wide ideally.

So my question is - how much less turning ability / edge to edge performance will the extra inch involve? and would I regret not waiting? Current board is also 29'' wide but 140L. I see the difference in volume between the 28'' and 29'' Hipster is just 4L.

Confused.

The 29" will still rip, and will be stable enough in crap conditions.

I have a 10 x 29 x 130L, and a 9 x 28 x 125ishL. Both customs.

The 10 x 29 now feels like a supertanker, and my gut feel is it's the combo of the extra foot in length AND the extra inch in width. It's a lot more surface area and a lot more out the front to turn. A little more volume makes it slightly more tippy side to side too, which I never noticed before.

Having said that, it still gets up and dances on a decent wave, and there's something about the size that makes it less daunting to throw it over a decent drop. Like a fricken freight train!

I've never been more settled on a board than my 9' x 28" hipster twin longboard, and I'm stoked that I took the plunge.

I have a 9.0 x 29 which I absolutely love
Just ordered a 8.7 x 28 x 113 lt to try as a not so long board shape
Im approx. 5.10 x 80kg

Thanks so much for all the replies. Maybe I'm overthinking it but just want to be sure I'm picking the right width. Have asked Scotty for his thoughts but unless he advises differently, I'm beginning to think the 9'2 x 29 might have my name on it.

Scotty has given me a technical explanation of why I'm unlikely to notice much difference at all between the 28 and 29 in a board of this length.

Feeling reassured!

ChrisP3 said..
Scotty has given me a technical explanation of why I'm unlikely to notice much difference at all between the 28 and 29 in a board of this length.

Feeling reassured!

Unless your a tall fat bastard like me, looking for that balance between stability, and enjoying trying to push the fins out of their boxes

I'd like to have a play with my 9' longboard and stick a 2 + 1 Fin setup like the Hipster LB. What size are they and any recommendations to buy a set?

IanInca said..
I'd like to have a play with my 9' longboard and stick a 2 + 1 Fin setup like the Hipster LB. What size are they and any recommendations to buy a set?

What board is it?
A lot of the magic is to do with the tail shape and fin placement.

IanInca said..
I'd like to have a play with my 9' longboard and stick a 2 + 1 Fin setup like the Hipster LB. What size are they and any recommendations to buy a set?

Basically it's a Mark Richards, Twin with trailer, Fcs MR-TFX
all thow Scotty does his own and has tweaked them.
Brenno and others are running Shapers 5'79 AP Twin n trailer ,
There are a number of other Hipster posts that have fin setups