Description

• 5’10 x 21 1/2 x 2 /2 37.8  litres
• Eco board level 1
• HD Stringer
• EPS and Carbon construction
• FCS 2 quad fin boxes
• Custom order this board Click here
• Call us for more details on 01271 870831
• Shipping cost of £85 to UK (not including Scottish Highlands)

OVERVIEW

The Space Hopper is a Mini Simmons with shortboard performance. Our versions of the mini Simmons (the Sea Pea and Split Pea) are integral parts of most surfer’s quivers these days. The Space Hopper is the natural progression of this design.

It retains the width and forward planing hull of the Sea Pea, whilst adding a thinned out ‘batwing’ style tail and quad fins. There’s a single to double concave through the tail and the rails are low and shortboardy.

HOW IT RIDES

The result is a board that will plane at low speeds allowing you to trim on the smallest of walls. Once the board gets up and going the turning arc and responsiveness are all shortboard. Tight and precise turns high in the lip are easy, in fact, all of today’s modern surfing manoeuvres are game on with this ultra-modern shape.

In general round nose boards can feel sluggish or cumbersome in the lip but because of the Space Hopper’s thin foil and super light EPS/Carbon construction, it has a real shortboard ‘whip’ off the top. The quad fin configuration also helps to make the Space Hopper the perfect board for surfers looking to push their performance boundaries in small surf.

However, and this is a big, however, The Space Hopper is NOT limited to small waves. We have tested it time and again in well overhead conditions and it has not missed a beat. This is a board that is loose through the turn but fully stable and directional at high speed on bigger open faces. Steep and hollow waves present no barrier. Therefore The Space Hopper should also be considered as a one board quiver for surfers who need to travel light or are on a budget.

CONCLUSION

In general, we are recommending that you size The Space Hopper similar to your standard shortboard or an inch or two shorter. You probably want the Space Hopper to have something like 5 more litres than your shortboard to really benefit from the extra paddle in weaker surf.

Finally a note on the name Space Hopper. Because, in our opinion, the outline resembles a rocket and the fact that it transitions or ‘hops’ sections so well, we all felt that The Space Hopper perfectly sums up what this board does. One small step for a surfer, one giant leap for surfing!