I was having serious SUP-envy with SUPBru's Insane, so I googled. Bert Berger's blurb says it is for when the surf is "BIG...over-head to double over-head". Is that that big?
If I am paddling towards a wave and I am looking up at the lip, is that "over-head"?
And whose head? I am 6'3".
This wave is not big, and I am in the trough leaning over, but would you call it overhead?
In my 20's I spent a few months in Florida where the terms
Thigh High
Waist high
Chest high
Head high
and
Overhead , were used in every surf conversation.
After way too many thigh high and chest high surfs I knew it was time to move on.
Select to expand quoteJacksboards said..
In my 20's I spent a few months in Florida where the terms
Thigh High
Waist high
Chest high
Head high
and
Overhead , were used in every surf conversation.
After way too many thigh high and chest high surfs I knew it was time to move on.
I was in Florida recently and had a surf in some small waves (thanks to a very nice guy on the US forum) but later I heard those waves called shoulder high. They have short people in Florida.
I guess technically that wave is head-high, but it is not a big wave (it was fun, but not "big"). But how big does the wave need to be before you need a big wave gun board like the Insane? Even if you look at my little icon photo, that wave was well up above my head (the GoPro makes it look smaller) but I was fine on the Speeed.
I'd call it as "just head high" - but I'm 6'3" too, not from a surfing background and wary of overstating the size of waves as it seems to be a surfer thing to understate the size of waves...
After a lifetime of hearing surf talk around the world, I basically use these loose terms, when forced to talk size.
"Over-Head" surf most often means well overhead... not just head high in the trough.... more like overhead when trimming in the middle of the wave.
Here is a quick picture reference of what I have usually heard by experienced surfers.
It seems like the Insane might be pulled out for the "solid Over-Head" waves pictured below... on the low end of it's designed purpose.
Select to expand quotecantSUPenough said..
I guess technically that wave is head-high, but it is not a big wave (it was fun, but not "big"). But how big does the wave need to be before you need a big wave gun board like the Insane? Even if you look at my little icon photo, that wave was well up above my head (the GoPro makes it look smaller) but I was fine on the Speeed.
I reckon for the Insane you need proper fast double overhead to really light up that board. Most performance surf sups will easily ride head high waves and good ones will rip. Changing fins to suit bigger waves will give boards more range before investing in a big wave gun. I have the Sunova 8'10 Acid and that thing will handle double overhead no worries. But I rarely get ride waves that big.
When I call swell size I give a range say "waist to head high sets". Calling a wave head high is subjective enough but was it the only head high wave of the session or is it pumping head high the whole time? A big difference in the conditions! A mate of mine always over calls the swell size so we factor that in on his surf reports.
Select to expand quotecantSUPenough said..
I was having serious SUP-envy with SUPBru's Insane, so I googled. Bert Berger's blurb says it is for when the surf is "BIG...over-head to double over-head". Is that that big?
If I am paddling towards a wave and I am looking up at the lip, is that "over-head"?
And whose head? I am 6'3".
This wave is not big, and I am in the trough leaning over, but would you call it overhead?
No, 1 to 2 ft
Then there is the power in the swell. Some waves are soft some are angry.
This felt way way bigger than it looks in a photo.
Select to expand quoteStev0 said..
cantSUPenough said..
I guess technically that wave is head-high, but it is not a big wave (it was fun, but not "big"). But how big does the wave need to be before you need a big wave gun board like the Insane? Even if you look at my little icon photo, that wave was well up above my head (the GoPro makes it look smaller) but I was fine on the Speeed.
I reckon for the Insane you need proper fast double overhead to really light up that board. Most performance surf sups will easily ride head high waves and good ones will rip. Changing fins to suit bigger waves will give boards more range before investing in a big wave gun. I have the Sunova 8'10 Acid and that thing will handle double overhead no worries. But I rarely get ride waves that big.
When I call swell size I give a range say "waist to head high sets". Calling a wave head high is subjective enough but was it the only head high wave of the session or is it pumping head high the whole time? A big difference in the conditions! A mate of mine always over calls the swell size so we factor that in on his surf reports.
Some good points & great pics! The way I justified buying the Insane was:
- it's not a board which should be part of a 2 board quiver because it's specialised & a luxury....unless you live in a part of the world where you see consistent big swell
- that being said, although a board like the Insane is designed for big surf, it's fine to use as a 'regular' board (it's vastly superior vs surfing a high volume 9'6 board with fat rails in waist/shoulder high waves)
- yes, many boards out there (like your Acid) will handle big surf no worries but the benefits of owning a board like the Insane are because of the superior paddling speed (just look at the width & volume of the 8'11 Insane vs your 8'10 Acid....this is why I opted for the extra length at 9'6) so it will get you into position quicker / you will get into the wave fractionally earlier + it's super quick & relatively agile once on the wave....look at the tail on this thing!
Bottom line - yes it's probably an overkill for someone like me but what the hell, you only live once & it makes me smile 
6 ft is double over head
A gun would be pulled out in 8 ft and above waves
Most performance boards will ride well above 6 ft however the gun shape boards will allow you to paddle into the wave earlier
The speed at which a bigger wave moves is what determines the glide you require
Also the bigger boards need "room to move" on the face of a wave bigger wave bigger surface area to swing the board without catching rails etc
Select to expand quotehilly said..
Then there is the power in the swell. Some waves are soft some are angry.
This felt way way bigger than it looks in a photo.
That wave has intent! (The board looks smaller than 9'6 on that wave.) For me on the peninsula (vicco) that is one of the big differences between surfing big left and zappers - zappers can get some size and can knock you around on the big days (rare), but big left enjoys knocking you around. I reckon the Insane could be good out there.
(And in case you are wondering SUPBru, I am looking for any comments that give me an excuse to buy one ;) It would make me smile too.)
Select to expand quoteSmash1 said..
That's not a big wave. 2' at best
I think 4 foot 
Overhead waves at town beach today.......15 foot faces
the big sets maybe 20 foot faces at makorori point (but fat and predictable)......the PSH 12'6......a good choice
some one was saying "any pics?"......but sometimes you are too busy staying calm and relaxed.......and making good wave choices......to even think about cameras :)
Just wanted to see some big waves... no surf here in NQ.. which is nowhere near the GoldCoast.
6'3 wave face is head high for yourself. If I was a 4ft, 10 year old, a 6'3 face is a bloody big wave, so true enough, well overhead!
I'm from Florida US. The wave height/body reference came about way back around here...late sixties or early seventies from my memory as a work around to the "it was so many feet high." It was a way to end the BS. Before the body reference your wave would have been called anything from 6 foot to 2 foot Hawaiian.
If your in the trough and your standing up relatively straight...and it comes to the top of your head..:it's head high to you. If the wave face is double your height it's double head high..,It's blatantly self explanatory.
What that means varies slightly by "your" height. If you want a standard size ...the average male is what? 5'-10" go with that. If we are standing at the beach ...and I see your height ...and you say it's head high... im going to think your saying it was 6'-3" up the face plus or minus a bit. It's not rocket science.
Personally I like to size the wave from trough to crest.....how big is it up the face. Intensity, shape and size up the face are the only things that really matter...the rest is ego...and BS. The different wave height measurement debates make as much sence to me as debating what "is" is.
If you feel the board is a wise use of your resources go get it..if not, don't. Good luck with your decision.
I would say your wave in the pic is chest high....looks to me like your are leaning over and it is at your head height so if you were standing up it wouldn't be head height.
In Hawaii I guess they would say it is toe high
Select to expand quotecantSUPenough said..hilly said..
Then there is the power in the swell. Some waves are soft some are angry.
This felt way way bigger than it looks in a photo.
That wave has intent! (The board looks smaller than 9'6 on that wave.) For me on the peninsula (vicco) that is one of the big differences between surfing big left and zappers - zappers can get some size and can knock you around on the big days (rare), but big left enjoys knocking you around. I reckon the Insane could be good out there.
(And in case you are wondering SUPBru, I am looking for any comments that give me an excuse to buy one ;) It would make me smile too.)
Nice wave Hilly.
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