NFA 8' and 9'

IcSurf
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Inscription : jeu. sept. 07, 2017 3:43 pm

NFA 8' and 9'

Message par IcSurf » dim. mars 31, 2019 10:48 pm

Hello, sorry this is in English..
I wondered how stable the NFA 8 and 9 are? I'm 70kg intermediate. I ride a 7'8 30" 115L Hypernut which is stable but I think I prefer a traditional shape. I also find the lack of glide means I sit inside other surfers and miss waves. I'm not into noseriding or longboarding but I would like a fairly short board to ride small, average waves and have fun. I'm not interested in big moves just nice carves and having a chilled ride. Would this board do this or any suggestions? It seems to be a similar shape to Jimmy Lewis Super Frank which has good reviews..
Thanks

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coolas
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Re: NFA 8' and 9'

Message par coolas » lun. avr. 01, 2019 7:42 am

Hi IcSurf,

If you are not interested in noserides, I would suggest the Karmen. It is a very easy and efficient carving machine, working in all conditions. Its streamlined bullet nose will paddle much faster than the big square nose of your current board, but will still have enough width to be quite stable. It is a true do-it-all-well solution.

The 8'4" 120L should be stable enough for you but still quite nimble.

The other, more specialized options for small slow waves is either to go shorter or longer:

- The Mob is the short option: slow paddling speed, but "automatically" gather speed from the weakest wave, and is a skate on the wave when you put your back foot on the tail. It does not have the glide to take off away from surfers, though. Shorts boards paddle slow and need an initial push, there is no miracle. You must have a better wave placement for takeoff than with longer boards.

- The longboard SUPs. length is what gets you the glide to take off early in the wave, and Gong longbards are especially refined to be very loose once on the wave. Thus the NFA 9' will have this glide to take off away from surfers. You will need to move on the board to make it work optimally but will enjoy noserides.

I am sure the Karmen will delight you. The Mob and NFA also could, but it is harder to tell without knowing you better. But a word of warning: "I would like a fairly short board" and "having a chilled ride" are not compatible: short boards need more commitment, in paddling technique (for the row effect), wave reading and placement, and leg push in turns. You may want to avoid high volume and thick rails that make a lot of production boards cumbersome, but with the proper shape, long boards can be very nimble.

Finally, I'd advise the FSP construction, it is incredibly tough, one of the best on the market.
2019: 7'3" Fatal 105L, Alley 7'8" 105L & 8'1" 120L, Zero 9'0" 115L
2022: Mob 7'6" cool 120L, Alleys custom 7'10" 112L & 8'1" 114L
2023: Karmen custom 7'11" 118L
Surf: 9'1" XTR proto glider

IcSurf
Messages : 65
Inscription : jeu. sept. 07, 2017 3:43 pm

Re: NFA 8' and 9'

Message par IcSurf » lun. avr. 01, 2019 9:38 am

Thanks Colas, the Karman looks a nice shape but it looks from the description like it's for clean glassy days. I agree moving to the larger 8'4 maybe the right choice but will this board handle choppy windy waves?
2019 Zero 9' 115L
Gong Carbon Pro Paddle 7
XLT, LT, Curve Pro Foil
V2 Alu 95 mast
85cm Carbon mast
5'1 Matata Foil 55L (and 85L other brand)

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coolas
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Re: NFA 8' and 9'

Message par coolas » lun. avr. 01, 2019 9:47 am

IcSurf a écrit :Thanks Colas, the Karman looks a nice shape but it looks from the description like it's for clean glassy days. I agree moving to the larger 8'4 maybe the right choice but will this board handle choppy windy waves?
Mmm I don't know what makes you think this? In the description you have:
"Her kicked nose cuts through the waves and chop easily, her row is moderate and drops into wave easily due to her speed."
"A dynamique surfer will exploit her even in the sloppiest of wave conditions without even having to push her hard."
"Type : an all conditions board, even in the wind and chop."

Very wide nose and tail will be stabler in chop, but will plough in it, blocking the board suddenly. The Karmen is in my opinion a very good compromise between a narrow nose that pierces chop and a wider nose that offer more glide when the wave weakens.
2019: 7'3" Fatal 105L, Alley 7'8" 105L & 8'1" 120L, Zero 9'0" 115L
2022: Mob 7'6" cool 120L, Alleys custom 7'10" 112L & 8'1" 114L
2023: Karmen custom 7'11" 118L
Surf: 9'1" XTR proto glider

IcSurf
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Inscription : jeu. sept. 07, 2017 3:43 pm

Re: NFA 8' and 9'

Message par IcSurf » lun. avr. 01, 2019 7:06 pm

Thanks again, Are there any videos of the Karmen in the surf,particularly the 8'4?
2019 Zero 9' 115L
Gong Carbon Pro Paddle 7
XLT, LT, Curve Pro Foil
V2 Alu 95 mast
85cm Carbon mast
5'1 Matata Foil 55L (and 85L other brand)

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coolas
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Re: NFA 8' and 9'

Message par coolas » lun. avr. 01, 2019 7:30 pm

2019: 7'3" Fatal 105L, Alley 7'8" 105L & 8'1" 120L, Zero 9'0" 115L
2022: Mob 7'6" cool 120L, Alleys custom 7'10" 112L & 8'1" 114L
2023: Karmen custom 7'11" 118L
Surf: 9'1" XTR proto glider

IcSurf
Messages : 65
Inscription : jeu. sept. 07, 2017 3:43 pm

Re: NFA 8' and 9'

Message par IcSurf » mer. avr. 03, 2019 2:57 pm

Coolas, thanks.

I think the Karmen is coming out as the best option. I wondered what stability and speed onto the wave would be like with the 7'11. The 8'4 Karmen I think would be very stable for me at 70kgs and would bring alot of speed paddling onto the wave. Would the 7'11 at 28 3/4 and 105L be too much of a challenge for me? My balance is fairly good I also have a 12'6 26" Race board, I like to paddle surf for 2+ hours and also have 8'10 29" Red Isup when I travel.

The 7'8 30" hypernut I have at 115L is very stable but not fast to paddle and when on the wave sometimes too fast when the wave is hollow/fast. I think i will keep this board for very small days and choppy days. I wonder how the Karmen 7'11 and the HN 7'8 would compare in terms of stability and speed paddling? The board before the HN I had a 8'8 32" 140L board which was very stable but too much volume.

What do you think?
2019 Zero 9' 115L
Gong Carbon Pro Paddle 7
XLT, LT, Curve Pro Foil
V2 Alu 95 mast
85cm Carbon mast
5'1 Matata Foil 55L (and 85L other brand)

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coolas
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Re: NFA 8' and 9'

Message par coolas » mer. avr. 03, 2019 3:24 pm

The Karmen 7'11" 105 litrers will definitively be OK for you.

Coming from a much stabler HN, you will be surprized the first time you get on it, but you will very quickly adapt to it. Just paddle a bit on flat water till you feel comfortable with it. It will paddle much faster than the HN, due to its more streamlined outline (big square noses are very slow) and its reduced width.

I was advising the the 8'4" as a bit oversized for you to provide more glide into the wave. But if you keep the HN, you'd better go with the 7'11", which will be more nimble on the wave for your weight. The stabler the board, the harder it is to put on the rail for turning, it is all a compromise. I think that the Karmen is the best compromise for most people: smooth turning ability but enough stability to keep the fun.
Dernière modification par coolas le mer. avr. 03, 2019 4:48 pm, modifié 1 fois.
2019: 7'3" Fatal 105L, Alley 7'8" 105L & 8'1" 120L, Zero 9'0" 115L
2022: Mob 7'6" cool 120L, Alleys custom 7'10" 112L & 8'1" 114L
2023: Karmen custom 7'11" 118L
Surf: 9'1" XTR proto glider

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JGONG
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Re: NFA 8' and 9'

Message par JGONG » mer. avr. 03, 2019 4:31 pm

I totally agree with Don Coolas!
Jeff Spicoli : All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I'm fine.

Lieutenant Colonel Kilgore : Charlie don't Surf............

Shane Dorian : I Surf to get a Tan.....

World Master of Customer Service in the GONG GALAXY..

IcSurf
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Inscription : jeu. sept. 07, 2017 3:43 pm

Re: NFA 8' and 9'

Message par IcSurf » jeu. avr. 04, 2019 8:11 pm

Another option would be to sell the HN 7'8 and get the 7'11 Mob. This has 120L bit perhaps with the width easier than the 7'11 Karmen. How do the Mob and Karmen compare paddling, catching a wave and on the wave?
2019 Zero 9' 115L
Gong Carbon Pro Paddle 7
XLT, LT, Curve Pro Foil
V2 Alu 95 mast
85cm Carbon mast
5'1 Matata Foil 55L (and 85L other brand)

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coolas
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Re: NFA 8' and 9'

Message par coolas » ven. avr. 05, 2019 10:33 am

The problem is that you said you wanted more glide. More glide means more length and less width.

I suspect however that what you actually want is getting in the wave earlier. You can do it on shorter boards, but for this you need to progress in technique: basically not paddling with parallel feet anymore, improving your paddling technique to gain power, and playing with your body weight to push the board into the wave. It will be more important to read the wave and place yourself and time your stroke at the optimal time for each wave than just paddle as fast as you can. Short boards do not conserve speed between paddle strokes, so you do not really build speed like on a long board.

With this technique, you will be able to take advantage of width and volume in boards like the Mob to compensate for the reduced length: for paddling, these boards will accelerate better but have a limited top speed.

But some people are reluctant to invest into learning this new technique (and this is perfectly OK: we are all different), and for them going to shorter boards will be counter-productive and not fun. A lot of excellent SUPers are going back to 10'+ boards because they love the glide.

So, not knowing you, it is hard to advise you. The Karmen is the safest choice, it will work for most people. But depending on your will to change your technique or not, the Mob or NFA could be better adapted to your needs.
2019: 7'3" Fatal 105L, Alley 7'8" 105L & 8'1" 120L, Zero 9'0" 115L
2022: Mob 7'6" cool 120L, Alleys custom 7'10" 112L & 8'1" 114L
2023: Karmen custom 7'11" 118L
Surf: 9'1" XTR proto glider

IcSurf
Messages : 65
Inscription : jeu. sept. 07, 2017 3:43 pm

Re: NFA 8' and 9'

Message par IcSurf » mer. avr. 17, 2019 5:50 pm

Hello again, I'm still undecided. My short board take off is definitely improving on the HyperNut. However yesterday in a solid 4ft beech break the board was really slow paddling out the back, there was a lot of inside white water and it was very sluggish. I like the feeling on the wave but upon reflection I think I prefer the less skatey felling of a traditional shape like the Karmen. Therefore I will sell the HN and purchase either the 7'11 or 8'4 Karmen.

I think i'm a mid-level intermediate and the HN is comfortable at 115L and my previous board was a 8'8 140L 32" Wide Surf shape (I was 85kgs) which I loved. I'm not sure if the 105L and 28" wide surf shape would be a step to far? On paper for my 75kgs this would be the best option but would the 8'4 120L mean longer sessions and a bit more speed paddling and comfort?

I know that you have covered this a little already but its really difficult with no option to demo the board.

Thanks again..
2019 Zero 9' 115L
Gong Carbon Pro Paddle 7
XLT, LT, Curve Pro Foil
V2 Alu 95 mast
85cm Carbon mast
5'1 Matata Foil 55L (and 85L other brand)

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coolas
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Inscription : lun. août 10, 2009 1:24 pm
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Re: NFA 8' and 9'

Message par coolas » mer. avr. 17, 2019 6:26 pm

By re-reading your posts, I am more and more convinced that you will have tons of fun on a longboard SUP. Let's be frank, paddling speed comes with the length. And in all your posts, the paddling speed (and takeoff glide) seems your underlying concern. And you say you so not seek the skatey feeling: on a longboard the volume is spread on a greater length, and thus the rails are thinner, giving a more precise and sensitive ride.

A Karmen will feel more nimble on the wave when ridden in a shortboard style, but the NFA 9' can be also ridden quite agressively, and I have the feeling that ultimately, you will have more fun with a NFA 9'. In your posts you talk more about things that favor the NFA than the Karmen.
2019: 7'3" Fatal 105L, Alley 7'8" 105L & 8'1" 120L, Zero 9'0" 115L
2022: Mob 7'6" cool 120L, Alleys custom 7'10" 112L & 8'1" 114L
2023: Karmen custom 7'11" 118L
Surf: 9'1" XTR proto glider

IcSurf
Messages : 65
Inscription : jeu. sept. 07, 2017 3:43 pm

Re: NFA 8' and 9'

Message par IcSurf » mer. avr. 17, 2019 6:28 pm

Should be 70kg not 75kg..
2019 Zero 9' 115L
Gong Carbon Pro Paddle 7
XLT, LT, Curve Pro Foil
V2 Alu 95 mast
85cm Carbon mast
5'1 Matata Foil 55L (and 85L other brand)

IcSurf
Messages : 65
Inscription : jeu. sept. 07, 2017 3:43 pm

Re: NFA 8' and 9'

Message par IcSurf » mer. avr. 17, 2019 6:42 pm

Coolas, thanks again..

You are right - thats why I started looking at the NFA. There were normal longboard surfers yesterday who caught the best waves and were having a great time doing some really nice carves and long long rides. My problem is I really dont like big boards. The NFA 9' seems huge to my 7'8 HN. For my 70kg what would the 8' NFA be like compared to 7'11 and 8'4 Karmen in terms of glide and stability?
2019 Zero 9' 115L
Gong Carbon Pro Paddle 7
XLT, LT, Curve Pro Foil
V2 Alu 95 mast
85cm Carbon mast
5'1 Matata Foil 55L (and 85L other brand)

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