Coming back to SUP, need advise please.

[jonysan]

I want to return to SUP after two years, my last board was a 9'8 Soul, I ride on slow waves, up to head height. I weigh 76K, and like to ride Retro longboard style, but now would like to have a board a little less "dedicated" but not lose the old school feeling.
I cannot remember the width of the Soul , it was quite narrow! but OK.
I am looking at Moblog, Freak, NeverStick, Soul Pro ?

Any suggestions,

Thank you

John

[JGONG]

Hello John,

What kind of waves do you have at hand mostly?

You might want to stick with the Board you had left on if it was feeling good to you, it might help you jump back in easier and your body will recognize the feeling. But if to narrow maybe we should go wider. The NFA 10 could be a good way to go.

Let's talk....

[jonysan]

HI, Thanks for the reply, I sold my 9'6 Soul, wrong move!! it was my favourite board, sometimes the feeling was a bit "locked in" , a friend was riding the Freak, and it was maybe more loose , and carving.

Can't remember the width of the 9'6 Soul, but if the new Soul SP is the same width it would be ok, just need to find the width of the old one?

Or maybe get something less dedicated, but still longboard style.

this is where I ride, not always this busy, I crash a lot !
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nryVyNMcb5k

[coolas]

I would go with the Freak. As a modern noserider, it can do-it-all, from a big single fin for a locked-in ride, to insane carving witf its lightness and with a thruster setup.

Or, your waves seeming slow, either the Moblog or the Neverstick for a more modern or retro feeling.

The NFA 10' should be good too, but perhaps with a tad too much volume for your weight. The Pampa may be good also on weak waves with his "pig" shape, although it is designed for fast waves.
I am afraid that the Soul and Zero may be geared for faster waves.

[Ours]

Hello,

Freak is the best choice. Reaaally efficient in 98% of days on earth.

Zero would be more radical, maybe too much.
Moblog is super easy and really nice in small waves. Not as versatile as you want maybe.

Note that fins are responsible of 50% of what you like or dislike Keep an eye on them to upgrade the feeling of your board.

Thanks,

[jonysan]

Thanks, I appreciate all the advise, after reading the comments , a 9.2 Freak 110L , is maybe the right choice, I would like the SP version 120L but maybe too narrow for me. how does the width compare with the older Soul 9'6 .

Thank you

[Ours]

Hello,

125L is nice to. These are big boards, no need to go too small to feel the soul.
More volume means more noseride.

The 120L is really tricky.

Regards,

[jonysan]

Thank you, 125L it is !

[Ours]

[MagW]

Good decision to go back to longboard sups again, the wave count is unlimited!
The Freak is really nice and easy. More stable than the old Soul Caribou. I think the 2017 NS would be closest to Soul board, the SP Soul is much smaller. However the old Soul had round rails all over, the new boards have sharper rails in the tail. This makes the turn better, accelerate faster and keep more speed. The Freak is the most allround in the Gong longboard lineup, in my opinion. You can't go wrong! I also had a Soul and since then I have surfed about the whole longboard lineup, except NS.

[jonysan]

Hi Magnus, Thank you for that. Merry Christmas.
I am still deciding on 125L or 110L Freak, I weight 76k and with winter wetsuit around 78k, I like the idea of the slightly narrower 110L, and I feel the 125L might "feel" too big when going from rail to rail. but the 110L might sit too low in the water, for easy paddling.
difficult choice
I really liked my Soul, and I suppose it was not the most stable of boards, but it had a character.

John

[MagW]

The 110 is for sure quicker from rail to rail and it carves beautifully. But the 125 is really much more stable in wind and chop. Once you have learned the narrow- board "balancing-technique" you will spend more time on the waves than in. But you need some training, that is if you surf in choppy conditions. In glassy waves it is not such a big challenge. However the old Soul is much easier to balance than the new Freak 110.

[jonysan]

I notice you have also have a 9'2 Freak SP, quite narrow ! I wasn't thinking anymore of that one, Our's said it would be too tricky for me, I think it's volume is 120L ?
I tend to surf in fairly clean conditions, but I think you are right, the 110L might be OK, after getting some practice, but the 125L better for general messing about !

Thanks and good surfing.

[MagW]

My SP 2017 is almost identical to the the 2018 110. There si a 110 in Good deals right now!

[coolas]

The SP version is great for all the "shortboard" turns, and hanling faster and hollower waves, but the added stability of the normal version helps a lot with cross stepping and drop knees turns, etc...