Sunova Ghost SUP video and design discussion

an explanation of this very innovative new model from Sunova... like nothing before, it will make you a better, happier SUP surfer!
contact me if you need ordering information, where, how:
[e-mail]

[@nicbeets7069]

Fascinating to hear the process. I always learn something from you Rick! Nice to hear you say that most of us are surfing 1-3 ft. You get a distorted picture when you look at what people post on sup forums

[@rickweeks]

Hi Beets Thanks for that, I am glad that you enjoyed the back story... it was an interesting process! Yup.... I hear the same thing from the Baltic, Mediterranean, North Sea, US East Coast, Australia, Japan, many on US West Coast as well.... most people surf 1-3' choppy conditions for most of their session. On SUP sites, it's only human nature to post the very best sessions

[@Gomez561]

Really enjoy your surf videos! I’m a younger guy at 44 and learning to SUP surf now after focusing on flat water racing for a few years. I’m in Florida so we don’t get ideal conditions often but watching your technique is helping me put a lot of things together to catch more waves. Rock on! 🤘

[@rickweeks]

Thanks Gomez, I appreciate that you took the time to comment! I also have a place in Florida just south of the Cocoa area, so I know your condition…. Great for dialing in the balance control 😊 Enjoy the journey, it’s an amazing sport!

[@Gomez561]

@@rickweeks thank you! Hope all is well ✌🏼

[@martinjandke40]

As always. The master of clear no bullshit video!!! Fullpower Rick.

[@rickweeks]

Tino!!! Thanks Buddy, glad you liked it! The board is totally awesome 👍👍

[@johnboone6417]

Rick’s a great wealth of knowledge and works tirelessly on bringing us solid advise videos!

[@rickweeks]

Thanks Johnny, I appreciate that my friend! Hope to get out with you before I head south

[@normanhann8671]

Great video Rick. I am stoked to get one of these up to the west coast of Canada. Maybe the 8'2".

[@bbqgator]

Looks like a great board. Of course you could make my closet door surf great. The 8'8" or 8'10" should be perfect for me.

[@rickweeks]

Thanks Gator, The Ghost really makes it easier…. the closet door would reveal my age all to poorly 😊

[@detacheddad3396]

You always have breakthrough videos. My last board was a 9’ FireWire quad and that board was something else, it broke in half ditching it. I finally broke down and bought a sup. It’s used and huge but will get me started. I am rearranging my life so I can enjoy it more. Thanks for the inspiration Rick.

[@rickweeks]

Enjoy the new arrangement... it will open a new world to you!! Big is a good place to start... it eases the learning curve. Then you will have a much better idea how you want to progress when looking for your next board. Just mind the big board... they are hard to avoid in shallow water and can do some damage. Try to stay in enough water to get under and away from the board until you have a solid grasp of SUP surfing.

[@markgamble568]

Excellent video and board design Rick! All the best with the Op.

[@rickweeks]

Thanks Mark, I appreciate the wishes and great feedback!

[@billpaffrath5971]

Hey Ricky !!! Thank you for your time making another awesome Video , Well Done Sir.

[@rickweeks]

Thanks Billy, See you soon my friend!

[@richartillustrator9316]

Super interesting! As always 🤙

[@rickweeks]

Thanks Richard, I appreciate that you watch and comment!!

[@anchorpoint5871]

Damn you Rick, i will have to think about getting one. Great vid.

[@rickweeks]

I love doing that to my SUP buddies!!! Save up 😊

[@eddiewouldknow]

I'm paying attention Rick, I like your logic and explanations, great stuff!

[@rickweeks]

Thanks Eddie, I am glad you enjoyed it!

[@bryannatusch2556]

Loving your videos, and congrats on the Ghost success! I learned to sup surf in maine on a 11'6 brusurf beast and now building a wood 9'6 to play on more. Gonna try to implement some of your ghost discoveries like the forward fin cluster. Now I i gotta go watch more vids of yours!

[@rickweeks]

Thanks Bryanna, I appreciate that.... enjoy the vids! Did you learn the wood board building skills at Grain? Amazing place! Good luck with your project, that takes far more patience than I have. Please make a video of your board... it would be very cool to watch!

[@bryannatusch2556]

@@rickweeks thanks! Just virtual training from a number of places, Grain is amazing, but they don't (or didn't) do SUPs. David Weber has stunning boards and training, too! I'll share for sure!

[@rickweeks]

@@bryannatusch2556 Nice, I'll keep my eyes out!

[@leannejack3940]

Just ordering my new custom colour 8'10 Ghost and looking forward to getting it out in our everyday conditions next year and having fun!

[@rickweeks]

Sweeet Leanne, I hope you enjoy it as much as I do! Please let me know what you think after you have some time on it

[@terryhall7770]

Rick…you’re the man!!! Thanx for all the classy Sunova reviews. I’m dead keen to get the Ghost…I quite like the idea of the forward position of the fins (just gotta sneak it pass my wife…lol). Keep up the good work Rick…Cheers T

[@rickweeks]

Thanks Terry, I appreciate your support!! You will find the words! Please give me your feedback after you get your Ghost, as I am eager to hear how it suits everyone!!

[@lalomora5746]

Que elegancia cogiendo olas 🌊

[@rickweeks]

Muy apreciada lalo, gracias! 😊

[@robertstrecker9925]

Brilliant!

[@rickweeks]

Thanks Bobbie, see you in the water in a few weeks!

[@johncopetti1253]

Cheers Rick.. Looks like a board that would suit me. I hope one of the local boys might purchase one so I can have a feel. I went the 8'8" flow. Nice board in all respects, but not my thing, but enjoying it for now. All the best and enjoy..😊

[@rickweeks]

Thanks John! I can't remember if you got some Quobba fins... if not, the Carbon Mixed Thruster set changed my Flow from "not interesting" to super fun So you may want to try some to get the most out of your Flow. Then save up for a Ghost!!!!

[@johncopetti1253]

@@rickweeks thank you Rick.. I will look into them. At the moment using a quad setup with small trailers and enjoying the experience of different setups. All the best, enjoy and keep up the great work 😊

[@capecodcdog]

Great video buddy. I got to get out there and give one a spin. Best, Johnny

[@rickweeks]

Thanks Johnny I will have three Ghosts in the mid Cape area, while I am staying there for the next month or so. Please contact me at [e-mail] We can set up a time and place where you can try one. After today, I will be unavoidably off the grid far a while and unable to communicate with people Please have patience if I do not respond after 5 pm tonight.... it may be a few weeks or just a couple of days.

[@zoecat808]

Looks like great board. !

[@rickweeks]

Indeed it is Zoe!!! Thank you my friend!!

[@epicv7dayz824]

Gday Rick, have recently stumbled upon your channel following my new foray into,sup surfing. I’m a prone longboarder for many years, however shoulder injuries have forced me to look at sup surfing. Harder than it looks! Anyway I’m currently learning on Naish 10’8” x 30 progression is somewhat slow., with an eye on my next board I’m conflicted between sunovas ghost and point-break. Probably vastly different boards but I prefer larger boards and surf and more drawn out manoeuvres. The Naish will remain in stable for nose riding on smaller days. Your thoughts very much appreciated. I’m leaning towards point break! Cheers, Ron

[@rickweeks]

Hi Ron, Welcome to the magical world of SUP!!! It is so much more than to imagine... and will only get better the deeper you go into it!! Yes... Ghost and Pointbreak are very different! The Ghost is an amazing performance shortboard that sizes up to be excellent for even a beginner that wants one board to learn and grow into an advanced surfer. The Pointbreak is not a longboard style board... it surfs like a big shortboard, but may be exactly what you are looking for. The turns are performed like a shortboard but the length draws out the turns and makes nice long lines down the wave. It may actually be a bit harder to learn how to turn properly at first, because of it's length. Best to start on flatwater to get a sense for how the board feels under your feet. When taking it into surf for the first sessions, it would be best to find a less crowded point or inlet sandbar, where you have room to move. This will give you the room you may need to adjust to the difference from your Naish... because it WILL be different!! One you have the Pointbreak wired, it is a beautiful way to enjoy many days that others think are not worth going out. I ride it up to head high on pointbreaks, but it might be a bit of a beast in OH beachbreak.... it is a lot of board to fit into fast, hard breaking waves. Best used on waves with some room to move. Here is a link to a video that might not pop up in your search kzbin.info/www/bejne/iGjYXqZulLpljKs If you you would like to talk more, please contact me at [e-mail] Where you live may affect availability of the Pointbreak... because of it's 12' length, they are delivered only by container and sell fast, so not many in shops stock. I can help you sort that out if you email me Peace Rick

[@yakuza76]

Ahora mismo tengo 47 años, sueño con tener 75 y ser como tu!!!

[@rickweeks]

¡¡¡Gracias yakuza, sigue cargando, vive bien y estarás allí antes de que te des cuenta!!! ¡¡Amo y aprecio todos los días!!

[@ryanhorlyck]

awesome as usual rick. love your channel

[@rickweeks]

Thanks Ryan... stoked you are enjoying the vids!

[@derekhemmes]

I'd love to see a video of you comparing a Creek to the Ghost of similar sizes. How do they feel? What design elements cause those differences? When would you choose to ride one over the other? Or is the Ghost a quiver killer?

[@rickweeks]

Thanks Derek, great question! The quick and dirty answer is: Ghost is a quiver killer in most situations for most people, but then I felt the same about my 9'4 Creek. They are truly VERY different and I always chose the Ghost now. If I was traveling to Indonesia to ride steep reef barrels with size, I would definitely take the Creek, it handles size and juice really well, it fast and carves like it's on rails. The Ghost takes all I learned from so many great boards ( Creek, Sp25, Flow V2, Kanga & Placid) and adds a new dimension with the combination of easy width and fins forward. The Ghost is a new performance experience that never has let me down in any situation yet. I try to never compare different models head to head because one would usually have to be the "Winner" Truth is, each board has a niche it fits in and is always perfect for someone. I don't feel as though my opinion of one over the other would necessarily be consistent with another SUPsters reality.... so I avoid the head to head comps.

[@federicoknye6301]

Sos un genio Rick!!

[@rickweeks]

Gracias Federico, eres muy amable!

[@markgamble568]

Hey Rick, I’ve ordered an 8.8 in ghostly white. Also got a set of Jordy Smith white camo fins (thruster with slightly smaller centre) Looking forward to trying the combination out.

[@rickweeks]

ha ha... love it! Why didn't I think of that!! I want to see pics when you get it please! [e-mail] Who's your Sunova Dealer?

[@markgamble568]

Surffx (Australia) I’ll send pics when I get it.

[@rickweeks]

@@markgamble568awesome, please say hi to John and Guy for me!

[@markgamble568]

Will do

[@andysgarage007]

Right On brah You Da Man

[@rickweeks]

Thanks Andy, glad you enjoyed it!

[@strawdog397]

I had been waiting with some anticipation for the next Ghost video and this didn't disappoint. Good in 1-3ft, flat deck, stable, no need to get all the way back for turns - sounds special. Bert's backstory on the fins and the rest of the design features seems to make this a push back board on the received wisdom about width, volume and fin placement. Excellent. Could this be in part "Go big and have fun in the real world"? (I paused moving forward on a Speeed as I want to try it alongside a 9'+ Ghost. Hopefully soon.) Thanks Rick

[@rickweeks]

Thanks strawdude, much appreciated! Yes, I have been pushing back on the accepted conventional wisdom about width for a long time, because everything is relative…. smaller folks will say wide boards don’t work because they don’t need width or have never ridden a well designed wider board. The Ghost and Speeed over 9’ are not really comparable from a turning standpoint IMO ….. with the more parallel rails, a larger Speeed will turn best if you can move back toward the kick pad, where the Ghost doesn’t require that much movement to the rear. I would be interested in your take after you get to complete are them. Enjoy the research, I always love looking for a new board 😊

[@johnbaker7692]

Darn it Rick! This may mean that I will have to start saving towards a new “investment in my active retirement”. Of course you could surf a table top and make it look smooth.

[@rickweeks]

Ha ha, start saving John, it’s not a table top! That is the goal of the Ghost…. make it easy for me to surf as well as possible in my mid 70’s !

[@samlorussojr]

Shredding!

[@rickweeks]

Thanks Sam! Much appreciated my friend!!!!

[@sector7676]

Those Sunova boards look sweet! Could u tell me which model/size would likely be best for catching waves early? I'm 145lbs never have SUP'd but have some experience surfing, usually knee to chest Florida waves...

[@rickweeks]

Sunova has so many shapes to fit a wide variety of conditions. Surf experience is important but to adapt easily to SUP, the right board is critical. I will be in Florida after Thanksgiving, with several modules that work well in the waves there. I would be happy to let you try some. Please email me at [e-mail] To discuss boards that would suit your transition to SUP.

[@lynnh8189]

Thanks for sharing Keep up the videos, What fin set up and what fins are you using the most? Does the fins set up make a big difference? Where can we get a Ghost and prices ? Thanks Dale

[@rickweeks]

Hi Dale If you are located in the US, please email me at [e-mail] and i will direct you to purchase options. Fins are not as critical on the Ghost because the design is the "fix" I needed! BUT... I only use Quobba fins on my Ghost as well! Pre Ghost: Fins changed the way I have been able to surf for the past 5 years.... Pre Ghost I "fixed" boards by using: "Ho Stevie" quad set (4.7" fronts - 3'6" rears) or Quobba Fins are game changers! My favorite set: Quobba Mixed Thrusters in Carbon Glass By far the best fins I have ever used use Promo Code: "Creek15" to save 15% when ordering quobbafins.com/collections/carbon-glass-series

[@tommyc5606]

Rick...how many inches further up is the fin cluster set from other Sunova boards? Very interesting concept. My main stick is an 8' 0" Hypernut (never ridden a Sunova). I love the board but am getting tired of battling the wide nose through the surf when its gets bigger (I live in NJ). I am on the hunt for a board with a more pulled in/pointier nose without giving up a lot of stability.

[@rickweeks]

Hi Tommy Somehow my answer to your question posted as a separate comment, please scroll down to read.

[@surfdetective]

Was surprised to see the standing area wasn’t curved, but flat. How are you reaching your volume requiremen?….. little thicker rails ? Linden made a flat deck mid length with what I thought was too beefy rails but it works amazing. Besides some of the reps from Werner paddles warned me rhar the heavy dome decks would eventually wear on your knees….. and it did!!!!

[@rickweeks]

Good detective work! Actually the rails are quite pinched performance rails. Flat deck is a combination of moderate thickness width and careful distribution. In the photos at the end I put a rail shot of my 8’10 that shows the rail profile. All Sunovas have fairly low volume performance rails. The GenRation models have higher volume rails because the Pros want enough volume to float at water level, not sink to their knees. They achieve performance by dropping the rail quickly right at the edge to get the results they need.

[@surfdetective]

I get it. Why pinch the board from center creating a dome,,,,like the last bit of nose rocker not compromising the flat rocker. Dream board @@rickweeks

[@robertzeeland]

I simply adore my Sunova Creek 9'4" and Sunova Shroom 8'3". Sold my Placid 8'10", which was stable and a great turning board, but too slow. What size Ghost would suit me? (90kg, wing foil, karate, SUP, North Sea 'chop hopper', 54y) Thanks for making time for your YT content, much appreciated, S.T.C! Peace, Rob :->

[@rickweeks]

Thank You for the great feedback Robert! I tested my 8’10 Ghost to my 8’10 Placid and came up with “they are unequally equal” 😂 Placid had the edge in the nose but the Ghost was an easy winner on the tail stability, making the Ghost overall comfortable so it was on par with the Placid. Also tested my 9’1 Ghost to my 9’4 Creek and the Ghost was noticeably more stable. So….. at your weight and age I feel you would find the same comfort in the 8’10 Ghost as I do on my 9’1 and that is super stable for me. …. and you will find the Ghost has great speed in all conditions. They are in production, so get your order in soon 😊 Please let me know what you think!

[@robertzeeland]

@@rickweeks Thanks for your insights, Creekers! Much appreciated. Peace, Rob :->

[@pedromiguelbaratasousarama1044]

It looks like a fantastic board, when will it be available in Portugal? Is the 8,5x30 -118l, a stable board?

[@rickweeks]

Hi Pedro It can be ordered now. Contact Tiago Silva Mauka Lodge Ericera The Ghost is a stable shape due to width to length and decent volume Stability of a particular size would depend on your stats, skill level and experience Contact me at me email and we can go over your numbers [e-mail]

[@markadams3264]

Hi enjoy the videos. I am looking to get the ghost as my next board. Can you give some advice on which size. I want to go as short as possible I’m 50 years old 5’7 and 90kg’s. I’m at a intermediate level. The waves here Australia have a-lot of power even when small. You make the 9’1 look really stable but not sure if that’s right one or if the 9’3 or 9’6 might be more suitable. Appreciate your thoughts.

[@rickweeks]

Hi Mark, thanks for the positive feedback! There is a lot that goes into the proper choice. If you would like more than a quick answer, please email me at: [e-mail] The 9'1 would work fine for you by numbers alone I am much older and 17 kg heavier and the 9'1 is super comfortable form me, even in serious wonk. Because you asked about much bigger, I suspect there is more information that I would need to match you up correctly. I have a short questionnaire that provides me with a better understanding of your waves and other factors that are important. I lived in Noosa for 7 months one year and had a great time back in 84/85

[@yakuza76]

Im from Spain. Love your videos!! Where do you live? Thanks

[@rickweeks]

Thanks yakuza, I am on Cape Cod, in Massachusetts USA I never made it to Spain, but I lived in Sagres, Portugal a few winters ago and had a great time!

[@yakuza76]

@@rickweeks Love Sagres. Maybe too windly in summer

[@rickweeks]

@@yakuza76 lots of wind for sure... but some good places to hide from it and score a session!

[@nashmc2675]

Nice channel! I'm learning a lot about SUP. Where are you from? The conditions looks so smooth over there.

[@rickweeks]

Hi Nash, thanks for watching and your question! I live on Cape Cod wher during the summer, the prevailing wind is offshore! Florida in the winter, where it is not as offshore all the time. If you ever have SUP questions feel free to email me at [e-mail]

[@chasingwaves11]

cool design ! , Agree Cape has nice fast punchy waves , then you get on south coast side by RI not so punchy lol on normal surf days .. Cape is more of a 1,2,3 you in the waves my neck of the woods its more like 123456789 10 maybe 20 lol then your in the wave lol

[@rickweeks]

Thank you my friend, if you ever want to try one of mine, get in touch!!

[@rickweeks]

Hi Tommy It varies from size to size but not a lot…. Still great drive in a drawn out speed turn, but so easy to turn! I am an official Sales Agent for Sunova and I am processing orders for the Ghost to US customers. Email me if interested [e-mail]

[@chasingwaves11]

yewww

[@rickweeks]

Yesssss!! Thanks CW!!

[@DS-wi3bk]

Where is this beach?

[@rickweeks]

Hi DS, It’s on Cape Cod.

[@DS-wi3bk]

@@rickweeks thanks man, i love your videos