I'm starting to look around for downsizing my JP 8'9 125l which i purchased 3yrs ago. Now I've completely lost the plot of companies, models, shapes and pricing of what is considered a good SUP. It use to be Naish, SB, Franatic, JP made the top boards and you just chose the wave board for your weight/height. Easy & happy.

Now boards vary so much in shape/model but website descriptions don't seem to differ greatly and pricing difference is huge. I cannot even go off volume or width anymore it seems. Weird name brands popping up all the time. East Coast brands get rave review not available of West Coast. Where do you start nowdays. Local dealers recommend the boards in stock but are they right for me?? I lost totally lost track of the market. SUP magazines don't seem to assist either.
reviews on seabreeze do seem slightly bias to folks spending their money and suddenly being very happy.

So where should i starting looking for a waveboard for good days at Margs, exmouth and in between. Looking for performance in Head high clean days or with small chop. I do like hard cut backs with rail buried. I'm not graceful, pretty stompy and very front footed (years of wavesailing). I'm 78kgs and the JP is too bounce on anything above shoulder for me. keeping the JP for small days. Like the look of the vanguard style boards only because they look odd but would a conventional board be better.

Any suggestions would be warmly welcomed. I only occasional get to Perth and never align with demo days so looking to narrow my choices for when i get to Perth next.

peguin said..
It use to be Naish, SB, Franatic, JP made the top boards and you just chose the wave board for your weight/height.

I don't remember any time like this :-)
The smaller brands have always been much more innovative (for surf SUPs, race is another matter) in my memories...

My suggestion is not to get a board.. but at least a quiver of 2:
- one for glassy conditions and one for chop (wider nose & tail)
- or one for weak waves (longboard, flat rockered simmons) one for powerful, hollow waves
- or one challenging (7'6") one for just enjoying a surf (8'6") - or the same length but one 4" narrower...
...etc...

Don't know a lot about his boards (Jacko sup) other than I saw both Rick and Jake jakovich absolutely rip up at national titles last year on his namesake boards.
Could be worth investigating as they're from the west

Thanks all for the advice, Chased up Jacko boards. Cannot find website or facebook page. Only basic details found on standupshop in freo and bit larger than I'm looking for. Anyone got further details>
Chased up Sunnova. great website & facebook. Contacted WA stockist, Stock is enroute but again smallest board coming is seemly larger than what i'm looking for, but of course I've not demo. I'm 78kg & 175cm tall. What Speeed board size would suit. 8.5' 28" & 112l . Was looking for smaller but with this design is that fine or too big. Width would indicate it might be alright.

I after a board with performance to grow into and keep for a number of years.

Any other suggestions. $2.7-3k for a board is too much for something that will get knocked about. Like the Deep boards but no dealers for demo.

peguin said...
Thanks all for the advice, Chased up Jacko boards. Cannot find website or facebook page. Only basic details found on standupshop in freo and bit larger than I'm looking for. Anyone got further details>
Chased up Sunnova. great website & facebook. Contacted WA stockist, Stock is enroute but again smallest board coming is seemly larger than what i'm looking for, but of course I've not demo. I'm 78kg & 175cm tall. What Speeed board size would suit. 8.5' 28" & 112l . Was looking for smaller but with this design is that fine or too big. Width would indicate it might be alright.

I after a board with performance to grow into and keep for a number of years.

Any other suggestions. $2.7-3k for a board is too much for something that will get knocked about. Like the Deep boards but no dealers for demo.

Bare in mind I know nothing, but I am ordering a Waterborn Evoke from TheSurfboardWarehouse this week and getting it shipped over. Even with freight it comes in around $1400. I am getting the new carbon one although there are cheaper models available. The 7'11" has had good reviews in waves so perhaps check that out. I am getting one of the larger ones as I weigh 90kgs.

Try this
www.rickjackosup.com.au/boards

peguin said..
thanks everyone. Jacko boards are 10mins up the road so something of interest there, supporting local etc.
Just need to spend time in perth on a decent swell to demo as many boards as possible.Seems just need to be lucky who's actually got stock in.
Cheers
again for all the suggestions.

I know everyone says demo-demo-demo, but I am yet to get on a new board and like it right away - unless you are looking for a comfortable transition. The first time I got on my 8'8" Hokua I thought it was possessed. It squirmed and bucked. Now it is my safe board - when the conditions are too rough for my other boards. But maybe that's what you can learn in a demo - if it is easy to ride then it is not the right board.