Looking for help in purchasing a hokua X32GT . I am thinking 9'1" or maybe 8'8". I am an average surfer and presently ride 9'5"Mana
and weigh in at 90kg.
Im about 104kg and ride the 8'8LE with no dramas. Imo it might pay to demo the 8'8 and 8'3 to see what feels better.
Hi Brian,
Stepping off the 9 5 Mana you should be able to get away with the 8 8"X32 The 8 8"is 140ltr 23ltr less than your existing Mana so you should be able to handle it. It really just depends on your own personal balance level.
The X32 is a brilliant board and is a great step up from the Mana if your looking at pushing your surfing to the next level.
On the off chance you live close by Ocean Addicts has both the 8.8 and 9 1 in demo.
We also have an 8 8"' X32 for sale that has only been used a couple of times with rail tape that you may be interested in....http://www.oceanaddicts.com.au/shop/specials/ex-demo-hokua-88-x32-le/
Luke
Thanks Luke but I am on the mornington peninsula vic. Have read some other revs of the mana at the present I am having the same experiences as others with this board that I tend to noise dive it a little and are hoping that I can angle the hokua a little more to save this. thanku all the same for the offer of the demo.
Hi Brian .if you are happy with the literage of the 9.5 mana ..and don't want to drop down to much .the 9.1 will be a massive change for you ..as the shape has lots more rocker than the manas ..I'm 97 kg ..and ride the 9.6 .hokua .
jumped off the 10 mana but didnt want to drop too much ..20 litre to be exact .but no more nose diving ..I have to paddle harder .but once on the wave ...wow ..the Hokuas are made for it ..good choice.
Thanks Tardy I was thinking that 9'1 would be best at 68yrs I don't see Ill get a lot off improvement in the surfing just looking to get down the line abit quicker (maybe).However there seems to be more used 8'8 Hokuas available.
Hi Briansup19 Im on the peninsula in rye i ride a 8"3 X32 its fantastic in small waves to head height they are quite bobby and at my length it does not track straight when paddling
You are welcome to take my 8'3 for a bay paddle any time. its 130 liters..
Im 95kg and its paddles fine ive surfed indo and up the coast and usually surf it at gunna rye portsea etc.. but its terrible to surf at big left on because you have to be right in the right spot to take off and it does not paddle into the longer waves well at all. the bigger boards might be different
I also have a 9'2 JP surf if you wanted to take that for a paddle.
The rocker on the naish will help with the nose diving problem and they are great to surf but one it gets bigger they can be tough to bottom turn because of the shape.. but I dont think you are looking for steep heavy over head waves now are you.
Slugga - can you give us a comparison of the JP vs the Hokua?
(I have had a JP which I loved, but am considering the X32).
Cheers
Damo
Select to expand quotebriansup19 said...
Looking for help in purchasing a hokua X32GT . I am thinking 9'1" or maybe 8'8". I am an average surfer and presently ride 9'5"Mana
and weigh in at 90kg.
I love my 9'5" Mana (about 165 ltrs) and I also had a 9'1"x32 Hokua (150 ltrs) that I found a bit tippy for my 95+ kg weight and balancing ability.. I recently sold the 9'1" and bought the 9'6" x32 Hokua (170 ltrs) and I'm loving it.. It feels very similar in stability to the 9'5" Mana but surfs more like a short board.. Personally I'd recomend learning to use the Mana because in time you shouldn't have any nose dive issues.. I don't have any with mine.. But if you're looking at a x32 Hokua I'd recomend the 9'6".. (you are welcome to paddle mine if you can't find a demo).. 
Select to expand quotebriansup19 said..
Thanks Tardy I was thinking that 9'1 would be best at 68yrs I don't see Ill get a lot off improvement in the surfing just looking to get down the line abit quicker (maybe).However there seems to be more used 8'8 Hokuas available.
Hi Brian ..the Hokua 9.6 .is harder to use than the 9.5 mana..maybe as DJ said ..go the 9.6 .like us ..mature dudes ..you can still push the limits .
it's twice as loose ..feels alot smaller than it is .as for the 9.1 and 8.8 ..they are made for shredders .
they are a wave machine ..it really depends on what kind of wave you ride and how good you are and what style of riding you do.
with my Hokua ..I can take off side ways down the wave and straighten it up on the way down ..and you can pull off a few more moves that the mana struggles with , due to the shape.
i really think you need to have a rip on one so you can see the HUGE difference .to the mana....I learnt alot from the mana ..but the Hokua is the next step ..to your shredding career ..
tardy 
I am in Merricks North and you are welcome to try my 8'8" X32 (i'll be away until the weekend). I got it after 8 months experience, and at 95 kg+ at the time I found it tippy at first. Now it is my stable board (thanks to the width) but that is after 2 years of surf SUPing. It is great fun on a wave!
Select to expand quotedamo666 said...
Slugga - can you give us a comparison of the JP vs the Hokua?
(I have had a JP which I loved, but am considering the X32).
Cheers
Damo
Damo the 2 boards are so different the Jp is a dream to paddle it's fast and easy to catch waves it's great on the back hand but it is a bit harder to turn just have to use more of the wave to turn the x32 is slow to paddle is more tippy front to back and it turns when paddling so you pretty much have to swap sides every 3rd stroke. Catching waves you need to be right under the lip in the sweet spot as the wave is breaking but once on the wave it's epic you have to surf it like a short board I have it as a thruster with shaper Jackson close fins and it turns so well you can get the tail to slide real easy from the back foot it's great in 2 to 4 foot beach breaks but I find it too wide once the wave gets around the 5 foot mark where as the Jp loves the big stuff I'm actually waiting for my new board that will be in between the 8'3 naish and the Jp 9'2 it's a sunova flow 8'7 x 30 120 liters I'm hoping it will be a perfect all rounder
thanks Slugga
It sounds like that 8'3 might be a bit small and you are correct heavy overhead is not where I am at.
Select to expand quoteDavidJohn said..briansup19 said...
Looking for help in purchasing a hokua X32GT . I am thinking 9'1" or maybe 8'8". I am an average surfer and presently ride 9'5"Mana
and weigh in at 90kg.
I love my 9'5" Mana (about 165 ltrs) and I also had a 9'1"x32 Hokua (150 ltrs) that I found a bit tippy for my 95+ kg weight and balancing ability.. I recently sold the 9'1" and bought the 9'6" x32 Hokua (170 ltrs) and I'm loving it.. It feels very similar in stability to the 9'5" Mana but surfs more like a short board.. Personally I'd recomend learning to use the Mana because in time you shouldn't have any nose dive issues.. I don't have any with mine.. But if you're looking at a x32 Hokua I'd recomend the 9'6".. (you are welcome to paddle mine if you can't find a demo)..
Thanks DJ
I have chosen the 9'1 hokua because I have seen you on the 9'1 in westernport where I do most off my surfing and at the time you looked fine, it was you that recommended the mana so thanks if I spot you I may be able to take you up on the offer.
Thanks Tardy
Looks like I need to see if I can demo a couple of sizes before I jump in. I fine with any new board it takes a few surfs before you learn what you can and cant do on it.
