In our third SUPboarder PRO test for 2021 we’re testing Longboard Surf SUPs – looking towards the Longboard shapes that will offer a good level of performance for the more experienced riders but also the boards that will help the improver/intermediate SUP Longboard surfer to progress into more performance surfing.
Subscribe
27 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Kurt
3 years ago
Great review, I like this new format and appreciate this kind of dialog between you, different background, weight and preferences. For me 88 kg it would be interesting to hear about the bigger sized longboards like Stylemaster 10.6×30,5 or Starboard longboard 10×31 And how do they perform in comparison to a chunkier Wedge or Allwave with similar sizes. Aloha
Hi Kurt, thanks for the comment. We feel the larger longboard sizes from he brands would be a similar feeling to the ones we tested. Yes, they have a bit more volume, but the shapes are the same, so expect a similar feeling. When compared to the All Wave or Wedge, you’re definitely getting a more traditional longboard shape in the longboard specific shapes which means you can noseride much easier. The Wedge and All Wave surprised us with their turning ability. Are you keen to know about the 8’8 All Wave @ 135L or 8’7 143L Wedge compared to… Read more »
Hi Beau, thx for your answer and the insights. It would be interesting to here more about the longer models like the Starboard Longboard 10×31.
seanross
3 years ago
The best one yet! Love the new format! SUPS are near impossible to test where I live in Northern USA, so this information is so helpful. Plus, learning about the shapes / fins / experience of riding all these boards is an education about sup surfing. Can’t wait for the performance video.
Great stuff Sean. Me and Beau are glad to hear that.
Rod Knight
3 years ago
Great test guys I thought the two of you worked really well together. Entertaining and informative. Keep up the great work you all do at sup boarder Cheers Rod
Great work there, really like the back and forth format & perfect timing for the round up seeing as I’ve just finished watching your long board “how to ” stuff.
Gotta say I’m a little disappointed Sunova haven’t thrown their hat in the ring with you guys. I can test them myself over here in Oz but it would be good to see you guys and gal’s going over them, you do such good work on your reviews & they make a great board
We tried very, very hard to get some Sunova boards in these tests but there were some issues at their end getting the boards to us. Hopefully we will have some boards from them in the next tests. Thanks for the comment.
Marion Buchenau
3 years ago
Love the review! Looking for a second longboard SUP, next to my custom Pearson Arrow 9’4×28.75 (a pintail hybrid with a wider nose, similar to the older Laird’s, but thinner and with more of a rocker line). I LOVE this board, but recently had to do a bunch of major ding repairs, and feel like it’s time to add to my quiver. Looking specifically for a board to help me improve my cross-stepping and noseriding, but also still enable all around classic, longboard performance on often not perfect waves. I am an upper level intermediate, 5’4 and 165 lbs., and… Read more »
Hey Marion, Thanks for your comment. I would love to get Beau’s thoughts on this one too. But he is off for a few weeks. You are the same weight as myself and for me I really love the shorter boards but i know Beau love the 10 footers. Your Pearson sounds like an absolute beauty. The Fanatic’s sounds like the type of boards you are looking for. So nice to get the toes on the nose. The Sunova is a really nice board and I used one a few years ago and I would say that it has a… Read more »
Harry Benson
3 years ago
Great video guys! I am a 100kg prone intermediate longboarder and am looking at getting my first SUP. The 10′ x 30.5″ Stylemaster looks good but my question is, could this also be used for flatwater paddling (i.e. could it keep up with someone on an allaround isup?) or would I be better off on something like a JP Hybrid? Also, if I went for the JP Hybrid 11’6” how much would I be giving up in surf performance versus the stylemaster? Thanks
Hi Harry, great question! You’d definitely be sacrificing some surf performance on the JP Hybrid. But it depends on how much surfing you will be doing… How much experience do you have riding SUPs? Although the Fanatic Stylemaster is great entry SUP for lighter weight riders, it might be a little on the small side if you’re just starting out in the waves. If you’re after something that does have surf performance but also can keep up with other paddlers, may we suggest you up the volume slightly? The following boards could be good contenders: JP Fusion 10’2 x 32″… Read more »
Thanks for the very informative answer Beau, I like the look of the JP Fusion so will try and have a go on one of them if I can. Cheers.
JohnnyChaos
3 years ago
Hey Beau. i’m 100kg dry. like the look of the style master. Do you think it would prone surf? I sup surf on a 9.5 Widepoint and prone surf on a 8’6″ X 23.3″ Olaian soft top. I want a bit more glide in my prone surfing and fancy the idea of nose riding in my sup surfing. But maybe one board for both isn’t a good idea?
Hi Johnny, thanks for the question. You would definitely see some glide from prone surfing the Stylemaster. My only concern would be the width for prone paddling and to a degree SUP surfing. If you went for the 28.5″ wide version, it might be tippy with a paddle but you could manage prone paddling. And the 30.5″ would be better for SUP but you’d just be using fingertips for prone paddling which would sacrifice glide. Maybe 2 boards would be the better option. You could consider meeting in the middle, like the Naish Nalu 10′ x 29″ @145L, or the… Read more »
Mick Brett
2 years ago
Hi,
Thanks for posting the video, very informative as usual.
Can you give me three reasons why someone looking for a longboard sup should not get the starboard 10 x 29 ?
Ahhh no not really. Its a great board. A bit more technical then boards like the Fanatic but it is a great board in many surf sizes. My only advice would be if you are really wanting to learn to nose ride? Then go for a Fanatic, but if you are just wanting a easy fast fun style longboard that can really turn, then starboard is one hell of a board.
Jooles
2 years ago
Hi fellas,
Lovely review. Many thanks.
was wondering how well do you think the SB 10×31 would go in more choppy/less glassy waves ?
I ask as it seems the V hill could help cut through chop and as a beginner longboard rider at sub 80KG the 31 wide will help with paddling stability ? Allowing the board to be also suited to non ideal conditions too.
Like the idea that glides well yet will turn without having to stomp hard on the tail.
Hi Jules, thanks for the comment and question. The vee underneath does make it slightly tippy when paddling on it, but because you’re looking at the 31″ wide model and you’re on the lighter weight scale, it will have enough stability like you say for those less than ideal conditions – and turn well without too much effort.
Hi Beau, once again many thanks for the swift reply. Of course I meant hull rather than hill ! I am getting more keen on a longboard following how you guys enjoy them, but being new to it and paddling a stubby too it may make a good addition to the SUP quiver. Your comment ref the V hull is interesting as few SUPs seem to have that design along the full length of hull. Given the 10×31 is 147L that’s quite a leap from the 10×29 at 123L so was thinking it may be quite stable sub 80KG to… Read more »
The V-Hull is something that Starboard put on their 10ft design recently. I have a feeling it is going to disappear in the future models because it does create a tippy board when paddling. Have you considered any other brands? We’ll be bring out more of the longboard PRO tests very soon (haven’t had great waves to test them) which might be interesting to see. The 9’2 Wedge is another great choice but it is quite big for your size. Longboards are so much fun but it can be hard to turn a 10ft board. Infinity do a 9’6 New… Read more »
Hi Beau, An interesting comment ref the V hull. It does seem a little left field placing a double concave down the whole hull length. Many others use a single concave or scoop (gong) to get the front planing early. Indeed the Wedge and most other surfing SB hills have the single to double to V design that’s proven. Perhaps they will change the nose of the hull in next version ? Although 160L the Wedge seems pretty agile and at 32 wide I wouldn’t want to go any shorter due to glide. It would provide a lovely stable platform… Read more »
Rich
1 year ago
Really curious to know what that Smik would be like with larger center fin and two smaller side fins.
– to access more content and expert support, check out 
.
Great review, I like this new format and appreciate this kind of dialog between you, different background, weight and preferences.
For me 88 kg it would be interesting to hear about the bigger sized longboards like Stylemaster 10.6×30,5 or Starboard longboard 10×31
And how do they perform in comparison to a chunkier Wedge or Allwave with similar sizes.
Aloha
Hi Kurt, thanks for the comment. We feel the larger longboard sizes from he brands would be a similar feeling to the ones we tested. Yes, they have a bit more volume, but the shapes are the same, so expect a similar feeling. When compared to the All Wave or Wedge, you’re definitely getting a more traditional longboard shape in the longboard specific shapes which means you can noseride much easier. The Wedge and All Wave surprised us with their turning ability. Are you keen to know about the 8’8 All Wave @ 135L or 8’7 143L Wedge compared to… Read more »
Hi Beau, thx for your answer and the insights. It would be interesting to here more about the longer models like the Starboard Longboard 10×31.
The best one yet! Love the new format! SUPS are near impossible to test where I live in Northern USA, so this information is so helpful. Plus, learning about the shapes / fins / experience of riding all these boards is an education about sup surfing. Can’t wait for the performance video.
Great stuff Sean. Me and Beau are glad to hear that.
Great test guys I thought the two of you worked really well together. Entertaining and informative.
Keep up the great work you all do at sup boarder
Cheers
Rod
Thanks Rod. It’s great to get good feedback about it. We hope to be back together with the pro shapes test too.
Thanks for resolving my issues. Great stuff. I own a SMIK 9’2″ Hip Twin MiniMal. Rips!
I bet that one does! Thanks
Great work there, really like the back and forth format & perfect timing for the round up seeing as I’ve just finished watching your long board “how to ” stuff.
Gotta say I’m a little disappointed Sunova haven’t thrown their hat in the ring with you guys. I can test them myself over here in Oz but it would be good to see you guys and gal’s going over them, you do such good work on your reviews & they make a great board
We tried very, very hard to get some Sunova boards in these tests but there were some issues at their end getting the boards to us. Hopefully we will have some boards from them in the next tests.
Thanks for the comment.
Love the review! Looking for a second longboard SUP, next to my custom Pearson Arrow 9’4×28.75 (a pintail hybrid with a wider nose, similar to the older Laird’s, but thinner and with more of a rocker line). I LOVE this board, but recently had to do a bunch of major ding repairs, and feel like it’s time to add to my quiver. Looking specifically for a board to help me improve my cross-stepping and noseriding, but also still enable all around classic, longboard performance on often not perfect waves. I am an upper level intermediate, 5’4 and 165 lbs., and… Read more »
Hey Marion, Thanks for your comment. I would love to get Beau’s thoughts on this one too. But he is off for a few weeks. You are the same weight as myself and for me I really love the shorter boards but i know Beau love the 10 footers. Your Pearson sounds like an absolute beauty. The Fanatic’s sounds like the type of boards you are looking for. So nice to get the toes on the nose. The Sunova is a really nice board and I used one a few years ago and I would say that it has a… Read more »
Great video guys! I am a 100kg prone intermediate longboarder and am looking at getting my first SUP. The 10′ x 30.5″ Stylemaster looks good but my question is, could this also be used for flatwater paddling (i.e. could it keep up with someone on an allaround isup?) or would I be better off on something like a JP Hybrid? Also, if I went for the JP Hybrid 11’6” how much would I be giving up in surf performance versus the stylemaster? Thanks
Hi Harry, great question! You’d definitely be sacrificing some surf performance on the JP Hybrid. But it depends on how much surfing you will be doing… How much experience do you have riding SUPs? Although the Fanatic Stylemaster is great entry SUP for lighter weight riders, it might be a little on the small side if you’re just starting out in the waves. If you’re after something that does have surf performance but also can keep up with other paddlers, may we suggest you up the volume slightly? The following boards could be good contenders: JP Fusion 10’2 x 32″… Read more »
Thanks for the very informative answer Beau, I like the look of the JP Fusion so will try and have a go on one of them if I can. Cheers.
Hey Beau. i’m 100kg dry. like the look of the style master. Do you think it would prone surf?
I sup surf on a 9.5 Widepoint and prone surf on a 8’6″ X 23.3″ Olaian soft top.
I want a bit more glide in my prone surfing and fancy the idea of nose riding in my sup surfing. But maybe one board for both isn’t a good idea?
Hi Johnny, thanks for the question. You would definitely see some glide from prone surfing the Stylemaster. My only concern would be the width for prone paddling and to a degree SUP surfing. If you went for the 28.5″ wide version, it might be tippy with a paddle but you could manage prone paddling. And the 30.5″ would be better for SUP but you’d just be using fingertips for prone paddling which would sacrifice glide. Maybe 2 boards would be the better option. You could consider meeting in the middle, like the Naish Nalu 10′ x 29″ @145L, or the… Read more »
Hi,
Thanks for posting the video, very informative as usual.
Can you give me three reasons why someone looking for a longboard sup should not get the starboard 10 x 29 ?
Ahhh no not really. Its a great board. A bit more technical then boards like the Fanatic but it is a great board in many surf sizes. My only advice would be if you are really wanting to learn to nose ride? Then go for a Fanatic, but if you are just wanting a easy fast fun style longboard that can really turn, then starboard is one hell of a board.
Hi fellas,
Lovely review. Many thanks.
was wondering how well do you think the SB 10×31 would go in more choppy/less glassy waves ?
I ask as it seems the V hill could help cut through chop and as a beginner longboard rider at sub 80KG the 31 wide will help with paddling stability ? Allowing the board to be also suited to non ideal conditions too.
Like the idea that glides well yet will turn without having to stomp hard on the tail.
All the best.
Jules
Hi Jules, thanks for the comment and question.
The vee underneath does make it slightly tippy when paddling on it, but because you’re looking at the 31″ wide model and you’re on the lighter weight scale, it will have enough stability like you say for those less than ideal conditions – and turn well without too much effort.
Hi Beau, once again many thanks for the swift reply. Of course I meant hull rather than hill ! I am getting more keen on a longboard following how you guys enjoy them, but being new to it and paddling a stubby too it may make a good addition to the SUP quiver. Your comment ref the V hull is interesting as few SUPs seem to have that design along the full length of hull. Given the 10×31 is 147L that’s quite a leap from the 10×29 at 123L so was thinking it may be quite stable sub 80KG to… Read more »
The V-Hull is something that Starboard put on their 10ft design recently. I have a feeling it is going to disappear in the future models because it does create a tippy board when paddling. Have you considered any other brands? We’ll be bring out more of the longboard PRO tests very soon (haven’t had great waves to test them) which might be interesting to see. The 9’2 Wedge is another great choice but it is quite big for your size. Longboards are so much fun but it can be hard to turn a 10ft board. Infinity do a 9’6 New… Read more »
Hi Beau, An interesting comment ref the V hull. It does seem a little left field placing a double concave down the whole hull length. Many others use a single concave or scoop (gong) to get the front planing early. Indeed the Wedge and most other surfing SB hills have the single to double to V design that’s proven. Perhaps they will change the nose of the hull in next version ? Although 160L the Wedge seems pretty agile and at 32 wide I wouldn’t want to go any shorter due to glide. It would provide a lovely stable platform… Read more »
Really curious to know what that Smik would be like with larger center fin and two smaller side fins.
It is something we need to try! I’ll update you once I give it a go.