Sunova Nitro

No doubt, we live in a new era of surfboard design and manufacturing. Production techniques and imagination have finally come together after years of stagnation. But much of this boom in production has resulted in a seemingly endless army of clone boards pumped off assembly lines worldwide.

One ray of light, however, beams from , who looks to be entering this fray with fresh and creative energy.

With a sense of exploration and wonder in their new line of boards, Sunova is incorporating parabolic rails, full balsa construction, and a focus on flex in their shapes. I recently tried the Nitro (a full balsa, round tail, tri-fin) from

Here’s how it went:

Who Da Guy?

First, I filled out Sunova’s in-depth questionnaire that assessed every aspect of my surfing style and wave riding aspirations as well as my common surf spots, years surfing, and body type specifics. Maybe this doesn’t substitute for surfing with your shaper or hanging in the shaping room, but it moves towards an inherently personal vibe in the process with questions like “What’s your favorite maneuver?”

Art or Function?

I was struck first by the look of this board. At first glimpse, this ultra light fully glassed balsa wood model looks more like wall art. But this is a review, so I needed to force myself to soil this sweet nugget and head out for a few sessions. Ya know, bash it around in the surf a little bit. But even in the line up, the wood and clean outline provoked close analysis and discussion among the other surfers.

Sounds Good but is it True?

Admittedly, I was skeptical upon reading Sunova’s accompanying literature which described the Nitro’s “ability to generate speed from the moment you stand up” and “…react spontaneously to split-second situations.” It all seemed too good to be true.

Then I caught my first wave on the Nitro and found that Sunova’s claims and this board are the real deal.

The Ride?

The Sunova Nitro proved to be positive, versatile, and ultra responsive in both the small and mid-sized waves I rode. In short, this baby is built for speed. From my first pump off the bottom, the Nitro’s positive spring down the line was obvious.

But most surprising was how the Nitro held strong when pushed. Modern performance short boards often incorporate lots of drift and slide in their gig, but the Nitro remained snug to the wave but with lots of lift off the top and positive energy in directional changes (exactly the qualities I noted in the pre-order questionnaire). It’s this transition from rail to rail where the Nitro felt unique and which is where standard small wave tools lose their guts. The Nitro held and actually generated speed throughout each turn.

Even though I first believed the board I tried was a bit thin for me, I was impressed at how easily it caught waves and really dealt with flat spots on the waves. This specific model has a lower wide point and relatively little rocker. However, it seems that the subtle flex allows some play in the transition from bottom turn to lip re-entry.

There was lots of lift off the top and positive energy flowing back down on to the wave face. Straight up, the board ripped. Transition is often a problem for lots of small wave boards in that the flat bottom gets caught in more vertical waves (okay for floaters but not as much for more vertical snaps). The Nitro, however, made vertical transitions smoothly.

Yeah…but are they Green?

While polyurethane blanks and polyester resin have long been the standard for surfboard building, Sunova utilizes balsa wood, epoxy resin, and EPS foam, which have proven to be less harmful to our environment by limiting the release of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

The Real Deal

Based on my trial, the Nitro from Sunova Surfboards is solidly constructed and exceeds company claims. Its innovative construction and high performance design make the Nitro an excellent board for intermediate to advanced level surfers.

While I haven't tried any other Sunova models, I can state for the purpose of this review that the Nitro boasts unique qualities such as innovative and aesthetically pleasing construction, flex that ricochets the board through rail turns, and no spin outs even when pushed in the pocket.