Sunova Pro T3 Paraflex - Futures - 2 + 1 Fin - Longboard

The PRO T3 was born from a simple need: to catch waves on small days, yet still perform when it gets bigger.

As competitive longboarding emerged, surfers began asking for a more versatile board that offered superior performance without losing sight of traditional longboard criteria. The PRO T3 combines a full-featured performance thruster setup with SUNOVA's Paraflex construction technology. The result is a board so free and loose that nobody believes a longboard can be surfed so radically.

The PRO T3 is the ultimate performance longboard, striking that fine balance between competitive sharpness and longboard tradition.

Fin(s) included: No

What is the general purpose/theme of this board?

A highly refined high-performance longboard that feels at home everywhere.

In what wave type/size does this board perform best?

All waves. From just below waist-height to double overhead and larger.

Which maneuvers does this board excel at?

All-around performance, and it also goes really well vertically.

What level is this board for?

From beginner to pro.

How is the paddle power?

Average.

What was considered in the design?

Originally designed as the ultimate competition longboard: it had to perform at a high level and nose ride in all conditions.

Where might it then fall short?

Due to the focus on performance and the advanced full-performance rocker, it lacks glide when waves get really small and mushy. At very low speeds, the nose rocker pushes water away, and you'll fall off the back of soft, rolling waves if you try to nose ride.

Shape details and design info

OUTLINE: Traditional, clean longboard outline with a subtle flyer and a rounded pin. The outline is quite balanced with the widest point in the middle. It maintains width for about 3ft from the tail, then tapers into a performance shortboard outline. This allows the board to be easily pumped for speed and surfed freely from the tail. If you've never had one, you'll be surprised by how well this board surfs.

RAILS: Low profile, shortboard style. These very low rails do a few things at once. Thick rails are harder to bury, especially at speed, so the low rails make the board super sensitive and responsive in turns. Because Sunova's stringers are in the rail line, the board has a greater flex range and more rebound. The low rail sits deeper in the water while walking and nose riding, making the board nice and stable to walk on: water flows over the rails and pushes them down. Finally, the bottom edge is significantly tucked in through the tail, giving the board good hold on late drops and generally a smooth ride.

ROCKER: Full high-performance rocker. This amount of rocker fits nicely into the tighter parts of the wave, but is still flat enough to carry speed without pumping – and allows effortless pumping when the wave demands it. The curve runs evenly all the way out to the tail, so you maintain speed even when standing right on the tail. If you stomp your back foot, the board gives a nice squirt or acceleration, instead of a tail flip that acts like hitting the brakes.

BOTTOM: Flat bottom. The idea is to keep the board fast. There are already enough features to make it loose and sensitive, so extra contours are not needed: the design does not rely on bottom contours for control. In addition, the Sunova construction with the flexible bottom adds another dimension that reduces the need for contours.

DECK: Standard deck roll. Not much else happens here, except for the thickness distribution. Because the nose and tail are quite refined, the swing weight remains low and the board feels sensitive.

FIN SETUP: 2 + 1. The larger center fin provides a more stable platform for walking and maintains a cleaner, more direct line during nose riding. When walking, the board tends to wobble a bit from rail to rail if you don't walk perfectly and lightly over the center. The deeper fin counteracts that wobbly feeling and keeps the board flat and stable. The side bites help initiate turns, for more efficient changes of direction.

CLOSING REMARKS: A high-performance longboard that will blow you away with how well it surfs. A combination of a proven shape and superior technology that together elevate the performance of this complete package.

Construction - Paraflex

Paraflex is SUNOVA's premium performance construction. Developed over the past five years from the persistent pursuit of perfect performance and SUNOVA's elite construction for all surfboards under 8'.

Paraflex is designed to give shorter boards more spring and rebound than its predecessor, Balsaflex. This provides a positive, "more flexible" flex pattern as the board is loaded and unloaded through sections. They flex and bend deep into the pocket and rebound predictably, allowing these boards to shoot out of sections with great speed and life. A lightweight EPS core is bonded to a ½" parabolic balsa/composite rail, which is then sandwiched between balsa skins on the top and bottom: excellent for unparalleled spring and rebound.

The bottom is a 1.5mm Paulownia/fiberglass sandwich that is not fully rigid. This softer area on the bottom dampens the ride and makes the board astonishingly insensitive to chatter, allowing you to glide smoothly even in bumpy, average conditions. The deck is a 2mm Paulownia/fiberglass sandwich with highlighted mini I-beams connecting the glass under the wood to the glass over it. This creates a very stiff, strong sandwich structure that is incredibly resistant to impressions and feels strong and responsive under your feet.

Finished with solid balsa/composite nose and tail blocks for extra ding resistance, these boards look even better than they perform. They feature a self-regulating air vent with a slightly permeable Gore-Tex membrane in a special aluminum vent, designed and engineered by TBF. Paraflex boards are functional and progressive.

About Sunova

SUNOVA Surfboards creates high-performance, lightweight surfboards with advanced materials and innovative technologies, designed for serious surfers who expect durability and class in every wave. Each board is a testament to craftsmanship and precision, delivering an unparalleled surfing experience.

SUNOVA was founded in 1976 by surfer and shaper Bert Burger. The brand developed its core values as Bert learned his craft in the rugged testing grounds of Western Australia. He shaped his first board at thirteen and was later named shaper of the year by Surfboard Magazine for his revolutionary 'Parabolic Rail' design.

Bert took his competition-winning designs to the next level by opening his own factory, where he combined traditional board-building techniques with advanced engineering.

Bert started shaping SUNOVA Surfboards over 50 years ago, spending countless hours experimenting with different materials to develop a revolutionary new surfboard technology. His award-winning innovations reached the general public when he co-founded Firewire Surfboards with Nev Hyman.

After Firewire, Bert returned to SUNOVA and joined Martin and Klaus to further his vision and push the boundaries of watercraft design. Martin and Klaus were the perfect partners with their extensive experience in manufacturing, R&D, and sales. Martin honed his skills earlier at Cobra International, the world's largest surfboard manufacturer, and Klaus has a background in the automotive industry.

The Board Factory (TBF) is the home of SUNOVA Surfboards, where the brand creates, innovates, and plays. The factory is located in the south of Thailand, in the coastal town of Khaolak, also known as Khaolak Surf Town by locals. It's the perfect place to test and develop boards: close to the ocean and surrounded by nature, the team remains inspired and connected to the essence of surfing.

This is not your average surfboard factory. It's not just where the team builds award-winning, record-breaking watercraft; it's also increasingly becoming a destination for visitors from all over the world. You can pick up a demo board and some wax at the SUNOVA Flagship store, grab boardshorts from one of the retailers on-site, cruise through the skatepark, and get a bite or coffee at the 'nTrance' café before hitting the beach.

Sunova thus builds its boards in Thailand, using wood composite technologies like Paraflex and Balsaflex. The brand is known for unusually light, resilient boards that offer much more than an average surfboard. At Hart Beach, this suits surfers looking for one board that will last for years and still perform at a top level.