Hi Brains Trust, It's fantastic to be back in the water after a forced long break !!!
This is a sort of continuing topic of mine from Sep. 2021. I've just come down from a 7'2" x 28" 106L Hypernut and Minion 7'x 27 1/4" 95L and Sunova Shroom 7'6"x 29 1/8" 95L - all of which I loved. ( but are now for sale !! : shameless sales pitch :) ,
and I've bought a 6'10" x 26.5" 94L Hypernut. I've only ridden it twice but am absolutely stoked. It feels exactly like what I've been looking for in my supping journey to date, and as close as possible to a short surfboard feel.
I'm curious to hear anyone's thoughts and experience with the 7'4"x 26.5" 95L JP Surf Slate - latest pulled in nose and tail model, and the Starboard Airborn 7'4' x 28.5" 85L. As it's very early days on the new Hypernut and I've only ridden it in 2 foot mush, I'm wondering how it would compare, pros and cons, with the Slate or Airborn. Also I'd be going 6 inches longer than my new Hypernut and I I wonder whether it would be a step backwards. I only sup in up to about 4 foot waves so far, and usually happy to have a one board all rounder but would maybe consider something for maybe a bit more size but still have the surfboard style I'm after, easy to throw around, low swing weight but still have some bite on the rails. I've ridden surfboards nearly 50 yrs and my supping level would be improving intermediate.
On my last post there were a some great suggestions and plans on custom boards but I'd still prefer to stick with stock boards.
Thanks everyone !!
I've got a 7'4" hypernut and surfed it at pretty big Kirra a few years ago and it was unreal, probably one of the best sessions I ever had there.
They go so well when it's hollow, really fast board so its not just for mushy waves.
Looking at the boardsizes I think i,m a few sizes bigger with 188x95kg, but I owned/tried all the boards you mentioned but in the 120-125l range.Starboard Airborn (8.8x123l) the oldest and slowest of the bunch. I used it mainly as a Quad.
The wide tail is good in slow waves, and the tin rails has reasonable hold when it sizes up. Above everything it is an very easy and relaxed board with good glide. adding a nubster/ mini5th fin helps in bigger waves!Hypernut (7.8x118/7.10x133l): Less glide and needs more strokes/power to get moving but once on a wave its fast and loose.I like it till head high or weak waves, above the rails was for me too thick to properly turn/hold grip with the rails.On not too fast waves it makes you surf better then you are, but it isnt a big/hollow fast waveboard.JP Slate (8.2x120lsomething). sitting a bit higher/ more corky on the water as the Hypernut and due it sharp rails it tracks well.From the 3 boards this is by far the fastest and with the best rail grip., sometimes scary fast but when you fully commit the rails grabs and let you turn. Works well as quad as tri.From the 3 its also the least one in small/ slow/mushy waves.
