Riding the waves of change.. the going shorter addiction

[benjl]

I've now got the first part of the review of the 5'10 hypto!

I took it out 3 times in the weekend, firstly as a quad when it was 6-8ft and then as a thruster in 3-5ft.
Although my review is pretty limited so far a few things were apparent very quickly. The board paddles great. That super flat rocker seems to just churn along while not seeming very fast but at the same time I made it out back multiple times despite some heavy big waves.
The profile of the board does feel. But weird to paddle with all that volume at the front with a narrow tail. It seemed quite easy to dig the nose under the water while paddling and then find it hard to bring it back out which was a little frustrating. But overall a good paddler.
Stability- when I sold my 5'10 dominator with the aim of getting this to cover a wider range of ranges it nailed it. I landed several quite hollow and steep waves around 4ft (overhead) and the board didn't budge. It actually felt stupidly comfortable with this size of wave and could easily handle more. On a couple of really steep ones I did get a bit sketched out about the lack of rocker and pulled out but I also didn't have any that pearled and a couple I thought were quite late drops and I nailed them easily.
Initially the nose felt a bit like one of tomos mph boards in that it seemed to plane really fast and early. I later struggled with getting on the waves a bit as they were really off-shore but so was everyone else and I got a fair few.
Speed- I didn't seem to get that hyper speed that people speak of and I don't know if it was as fast as my 5'6 Dom but it did have enough speed, just nothing exceptional. I guess anything after the little Dom and its fat tail
Would feel slow though.
Manoeuvrability- I used the am1 fins that came with it so it's hard to compare directly as they're not
My usual fins but seemed
Ok. Not as lose as the Dom but I made one good cut back and had a long wave of spray. The am1 definitely have more 'release' but also
More carve on rail so I was adjusting my turning to suit. I nearly
Got barrelled once and the board held nicely in a steep well.
Construction- definitely
Stronger and heavier than the future flex hypto and probably
Makes it little bit more boat like but I'd prefer that than dinging!
Grovelling- could catch 1ft slop and ride it not with enough speed do anything and also found it quite hard to pump on.

Overall: it held up easily in some of the more heavy waves I've ridden in awhile (let alone a first surf and with new fins). Paddled well and would
Still grovel on small days.
I think a 5'6 or 5'7 version would be an absolute ripper, especially if the shaper could add a touch more rocker and vee but that would be more of a performance board than a higher
Volume all rounder like
Mine.

Would love to know what one of you think if you try one!!

[Big H]

Thanks for the review....I enjoy reading them.

Check this out....there is a board similar but not hideously expensive as the HS hypto krypto....it's epoxy, made in china, original shape done by Murray Bourton....it's under the Pipedream Label and called the Black Knight.....I looked for info online but the bourton site only had a dead end, so I sent an email and had a 9 email exchange with Muzz himself.....anyway, I asked for specs on the black knight board and he told me a bit about it and sent specs....it is designed like the hypto but with more rocker to work better in good waves and less of a groveller which is what I want....help with paddling on the initial out and back out after rides, but able to handle "good" waves which esp. during season is (sniff) pretty much all there is here..... ...he said that he was getting good feedback from customers....anyhow, I'm going to go down and pick one up....I'll let you know how it works out.

Anyway, check out the bourton site and read these that Muzz sent me....(I have seen it before so it must be part of the program, but I get a kick out of the beer volume equivalency! )

[Big H]

Looks like this:

[benjl]

Hmm that looks interesting big H! What size are you gonna get? With these quote flat shapes I would def recommend them on the smaller side for steep waves.
It looks to have maybe 5-6mm more nose rocker and maybe 9mm more tail rocker than my board. The tail rocker seems like a fairly normal short board?
Looks like a vee to single to vee outline?

I can't wait to hear how it goes for you! When do u pick up?

[benjl]

Big H, heres my old 6'3 aku shaper sheet for comparison (32.9L). The tail rocker is about the same whereas the nose rocker in my 6'3 is a lot higher

[oldmansurfer]

I need a board about a foot longer and a half inch thicker... that would be enough beers for me

[Big H]

Getting the 6'....one inch shorter than me; seems my feet wind up in the right spots on that length and the volume is what I'm looking for so I'll give it a shot. Galungan now so after the holidays then....

[drowningbitbybit]

Getting the 6'....one inch shorter than me; seems my feet wind up in the right spots on that length

I'm exactly the same... the shorter the board, the more reliably my feet are in the right spot. Any longer than about 6'4 and I'm all over the shop.

The board looks similar to the kind of thing I've been looking at. I was looking around the 6'4 and 40 L mark, but having had a good session on my 30 L 6'2 this morning, I'm back to thinking that I only need an extra 5 L or so volume to compensate for the injured shoulder.

Maybe I should hold off on that decision until I've had more than one good session in a row!

[Big H]

i'm starting to understand the recommendations now when they say "meant to be ridden 4-6" shorter than your shortboard" and the like.....I also notice that the more experienced riders looking for used boards will only mention the length of the board and the style rather than the volume.....would seem that they have a feel already that if a standardish shortboard at 6'1" works for them they are going to look for a 5'8" groveller or a 6'6" step up with the main focus on being where your feet wind up.....I had a groveller that was 6' and when I lay on the board in paddling position my head was nearly to the nose, meaning my feet wound up ahead of the tail pad unless I tweaked my pop up.....I have a 6'4" where I lie further back and I come up right on the pad without thinking about it....my step up 6'11" is such that I come up in the right spot as well without any push backs or overly jumping forward......anyhow, as far as the pipe dream, i'll let you know if they are worth a look.

[drowningbitbybit]

Hmmm... I seem to be getting sucked into the custom world again... this was supposed to be a relatively cheap board, but I'm liking the look of one of the local shapers...

If I haven't got $400 to spare on a board then surely it makes no difference to not have $750 and to get a custom...

[benjl]

Yeah that's exactly what I've been saying- when they say 'ride 5-8"' shorter than your normal short board they aren't kidding!
At 5'8 that FireWire Vader I brought was the shortest board is ever owned and far shorter than I ever thought I'd go- how the hell did it end up being too big for me!!? Sure I could ride it but couldn't get anything close to what I could've gotten out of it if I'd ridden a 5'4.
Same goes with that 5'6 Dom I have, the 5'10 was great but the 5'6 is another level and like riding a completely different board.
I think if you ride them any longer the suggested lengths then you start running in to pearling risks and sluggishness usually due to their flat rocker. I haven't had my new 5'10 hypto long enough but I imagine a 5'6 version would be out of control! (Awesome)

That short rail line is pretty addictive once u go back to a longer board! I also found that you could drop the volume a bit once going shorter and flatter as it will still paddle great.
Here's another couple of pics of my new board standing up to compare to your pics big H.
Ps I'm about 5'7 so the 5'6 Dom is shorter than me and awesome! If you're around 6" then I think that 6'0 or 5'10 would be mint as an all round board

[benjl]

Hey big h

Have you got that board yet? Would love to know how it goes.
I've had a few days on my 5'10 now and it rides considerably different with different fins.
The more I use it the more I'm struggling with the dynamic of the wide flat and heavy nose compared to the pin tail. I've never come off the board so many times yesterday while pushing turns! It does seem that the wide nose just wants to accelerate straight rather than turn round the corner. I did do what felt like the tightest ever backhand snap I've done Though.
I think it would be a killer when rode correctly ie a 5'7 or 5'8 for me instead of a 5'10 and with a touch more rocker I would have more confidence on steep stuff.

Can't wait to hear how you find yours!

[Big H]

No...it was a used board and after thinking about it I got cold feet thinking about a light epoxy board in my usual afternoon chop, and since I've been enjoying the Skye Bourton board lately I didn't feel the need...I was still mulling it when the shop called and told me they sold it so that took care of itself.....I want to try a hypto one day, but I think I'm going to bank the money and get in touch with the shaper and order a gemini like I've been wanting to for awhile now.

[benjl]

that would be awesome, I would love to know how that thing rides! PLease go and buy one

[Surf Hound]

Short and fat for me. 6-2 next generation simmons by jeff McCallum. Love it as a quad.

[benjl]

is that a real dollar bill under the glassing??! That's very Floyd mayweather

[Surf Hound]

Yes. It's the shapers thing. Look up Jeff McCallum boards. He makes beautiful pieces of art that surf really really well.

[Big H]

So I got rid of a fish board I had....not enough rocker for where I surf....so money burning a hole in my pocket this thing came up used so I met with them today and knocked the price down far enough so that I could re-sell with no loss.....so I'm giving it a go.....6' x 21" x 2 3/4". These are pics from the local shaper's site; he still has this board listed there from a few months ago.

Not a hypto krypto, but same double ended idea, volume forward, thick, low rocker, etc...tail is narrower than a hypto and the nose is as well, both of which I like....nose rocker looks higher with a glance as well.....will try it as a single, a 2+1 and a thruster with an adapter I have already......had a ding so it is in the shop now.....next week I'll try it out.

[benjl]

That looks like one of the new rob machado boards by FireWire!

Ps. I also brought a new board today.. Haha you and me have got it bad! It's a hs love buzz at 5'9, I'll post some pics up soon!

[Big H]

That looks like one of the new rob machado boards by FireWire!

Ps. I also brought a new board today.. Haha you and me have got it bad! It's a hs love buzz at 5'9, I'll post some pics up soon!

Hahahaha.....well, with these used boards I break even or come out ahead, find out a lot about different kinds of boards and what different features translate to in the water, and also find out what actually works for me beyond a weight chart and volume calculator......and it's fun right?