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[190cm x 75kg] Help choosing first composite wave SUP!

Publié : ven. juil. 13, 2018 6:26 pm
par thecixx
Hello everyone!

I'm a beginner wave-SUPer from Italy, last summer I bought a CHIP 10' pack which has been my go-to during this year.

I mostly did cruising with the CHIP but recently I started doing some wave riding with SUPs available where I rented (mostly with a Fanatic allwave 9.4 2018)...I still tend to surf only 20-30% of the waves before falling off but I'm considering to buy my first composite board to be able to move around Italy and find good spots to practice.

What would you advise from the Gong 2018 line? I can't choose!

I had a look at the 9'10 CLOUD 165 WOODCKFUSION and to the 9'1...

Also, from what I heard, it is not simple just to choose from liters: it mostly depends on how they are "distributed" on the board.

Please give me your honest opinion.

Thanks,
Cixx

Re: [190cm x 75kg] Help choosing first composite wave SUP!

Publié : sam. juil. 14, 2018 7:37 am
par coolas
Welcome Sixx,

On the volume, you need enough volume so that the board will stay stable even if you place your feet outside of the "sweet spot". Volume gives you a margin of error. A good rule of thumb for beginners is to have at least your weight + 50 liters in volume, that is 125 liters. If there is chop, you will need even more of this margin of error.

But the stability is mainly given by the width, and especially the widths at the nose and tail, especially for you who are tall.

This said, Cloud or NFA are the best boards for you. Both are similary stable (NFA wider in the nose, Cloud wider in the tail and middle). NFA 9' or Cloud 9'1" could be OK in glassy condition of if you had already surfing experience, but since you say you only make 30% of the waves on a 9'4" x 175 liters boards, I would advise the Cloud 9'10" or NFA 10". Getting a board a bit too big is much better than the opposite, it will make you progress faster.

Re: [190cm x 75kg] Help choosing first composite wave SUP!

Publié : dim. juil. 15, 2018 9:11 pm
par thecixx
coolas a écrit :Welcome Sixx,

On the volume, you need enough volume so that the board will stay stable even if you place your feet outside of the "sweet spot". Volume gives you a margin of error. A good rule of thumb for beginners is to have at least your weight + 50 liters in volume, that is 125 liters. If there is chop, you will need even more of this margin of error.

But the stability is mainly given by the width, and especially the widths at the nose and tail, especially for you who are tall.

This said, Cloud or NFA are the best boards for you. Both are similary stable (NFA wider in the nose, Cloud wider in the tail and middle). NFA 9' or Cloud 9'1" could be OK in glassy condition of if you had already surfing experience, but since you say you only make 30% of the waves on a 9'4" x 175 liters boards, I would advise the Cloud 9'10" or NFA 10". Getting a board a bit too big is much better than the opposite, it will make you progress faster.
Hi Coolas,
thanks for the welcome and the advice!

During this weekend we had almost "flat" water conditions, so I tried some board...allwave 9.0 and 8.9 ( 159 and 145 lt ) and then a Stylemaster 10" ( 135 lt )

I noticed a lot of difference and I preferred the last one which is a Longboard (I even managed to catch some veeery little waves on it, while with the others I couldn't) but I don't know if it counts, since the water was almost flat.

From my understanding, a longboard is easier on small-medium waves, which are the most common in this part of Italy.

Which is the most versatile board, the Cloud or the NFA? From the description on the website I can't understand it!

Thanks,
Cixx

Re: [190cm x 75kg] Help choosing first composite wave SUP!

Publié : lun. juil. 16, 2018 8:29 am
par coolas
thecixx a écrit : I noticed a lot of difference and I preferred the last one which is a Longboard [...]
Which is the most versatile board, the Cloud or the NFA? From the description on the website I can't understand it!
Both are, they just have a different feeling. The NFA nose allows to use it to get lift from the water, so it helps in taking off on waves by leaning on it, and you can do noserides later. But the more pointed nose of the Cloud pierces better through chop.

I'd advise the NFA 10'. The glide of a longboard shape is really fun, and especially useful in the (relatively) weak waves of the Mediterranean sea. But they can handle size on the big days.

Re: [190cm x 75kg] Help choosing first composite wave SUP!

Publié : ven. juil. 20, 2018 12:56 pm
par thecixx
coolas a écrit :
thecixx a écrit : I noticed a lot of difference and I preferred the last one which is a Longboard [...]
Which is the most versatile board, the Cloud or the NFA? From the description on the website I can't understand it!
Both are, they just have a different feeling. The NFA nose allows to use it to get lift from the water, so it helps in taking off on waves by leaning on it, and you can do noserides later. But the more pointed nose of the Cloud pierces better through chop.

I'd advise the NFA 10'. The glide of a longboard shape is really fun, and especially useful in the (relatively) weak waves of the Mediterranean sea. But they can handle size on the big days.
Thanks a lot Coolas!

Talking with people I heard the general rumour that Gong composite boards, while having a very good quality/price ratio, are not good for the beginners, while they are perfect for intermediate to pro surfers.

Is it just a rumour?

Re: [190cm x 75kg] Help choosing first composite wave SUP!

Publié : ven. juil. 20, 2018 1:49 pm
par MagW
I have learned myself on a 10' Gong longboard, and so have many of my friends. In slow, choppy waves. Everyone is very very happy with how easy the NFA10´, NFA11' and Cloud 9'10 are for beginners. I don't know where you heard this rumor... and I don't know the reason why?
Maybe they mean the XTR/PRO/SP carbon fibre boards, because these are made for intermediate surfers and not beginners in focus? The Bamby/WoodTech is perfect for beginners!

I advise the NFA10' for you, or NFA11' if you want a really stable but bigger board. But the 11' is a BIG board.

Re: [190cm x 75kg] Help choosing first composite wave SUP!

Publié : ven. juil. 20, 2018 1:57 pm
par thecixx
MagW a écrit :I have learned myself on a 10' Gong longboard, and so have many of my friends. In slow, choppy waves. Everyone is very very happy with how easy the NFA10´, NFA11' and Cloud 9'10 are for beginners. I don't know where you heard this rumor... and I don't know the reason why?
Maybe they mean the XTR/PRO/SP carbon fibre boards, because these are made for intermediate surfers and not beginners in focus? The Bamby/WoodTech is perfect for beginners!

I advise the NFA10' for you, or NFA11' if you want a really stable but bigger board. But the 11' is a BIG board.
Thank you for your opinion!

I don't really know why the people I asked to ( mostly other SUPer/people renting equipment ) answered that way...

Another question I had in the back of my mind...should I try surfing with my 10' gong chip?

And learn on that? It should be similar to a longboard...or is it completely nonsense?

Sorry if it is a stupid question!

Thanks,
Cixx

Re: [190cm x 75kg] Help choosing first composite wave SUP!

Publié : ven. juil. 20, 2018 2:15 pm
par coolas
thecixx a écrit : Talking with people I heard the general rumour that Gong composite boards, while having a very good quality/price ratio, are not good for the beginners, while they are perfect for intermediate to pro surfers.

Is it just a rumour?
Yes, it is a rumor, and a quite idiotic one. But there is no stupid question!

What is important for beginners is to chose the proper dimensions (length, width, volume) and shape. And Gong has, with at least the NFA and Cloud, perfect boards for a fast and easy progression in the first stages, but super performance afterwards. For instance, you may keep the NFA 10' for weak sessions even if you move to smaller boards after some time, you will still enjoy it.

If you do not know yet how to take care of boards, the WCKF construction is more resistant than the Pro one to small shocks. And there is of course the inflatables.

Re: [190cm x 75kg] Help choosing first composite wave SUP!

Publié : ven. juil. 20, 2018 3:07 pm
par Ours
Hello,

you can hear everything about GONG. The most important is : you always hear something about GONG :wink:

Of course as says Coolas, you can choose a Pro board on my shapes. But I do 350 shapes on the line. It means that most of them are for beginners to intermediates.

Remember 2 things :

- I am the man who launched the SUP as a mass activity in Europe. The first one to make mass production in the world.

- My shaper style is to do high performance boards, always rooted in the pure surf culture. Yes, but always easy. I don't like inaccessible high performances. You must access to the potential of the board without any problem.

Enjoy,

Re: [190cm x 75kg] Help choosing first composite wave SUP!

Publié : mer. juil. 25, 2018 3:35 pm
par thecixx
Ours a écrit :Hello,

you can hear everything about GONG. The most important is : you always hear something about GONG :wink:

Of course as says Coolas, you can choose a Pro board on my shapes. But I do 350 shapes on the line. It means that most of them are for beginners to intermediates.

Remember 2 things :

- I am the man who launched the SUP as a mass activity in Europe. The first one to make mass production in the world.

- My shaper style is to do high performance boards, always rooted in the pure surf culture. Yes, but always easy. I don't like inaccessible high performances. You must access to the potential of the board without any problem.

Enjoy,
Hi!

Thanks for your answer...it means a lot to me that you actually put the effort to personally clarify all doubts.

I will try to surf my CHIP 10" in the meanwhile and then decide what to do for a composite board, probably NFA!

Thanks,
Andrea