Noel's fin recommendations for this board
Haydenshapes
Haydenshapes - Nova
SCALE 1-5 - Rating lowest (1) to highest (5)
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FLEX & FEEL |
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SPEED |
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USER FRIENDLY |
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CARVING |
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FLOW |
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RAIL TO RAIL |
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| PADDLING |
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POCKET SURFING |
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Where to buy Boards:
HaydenShapes
Where to Buy Fins:
Surf'nShow
In this episode, HaydenShapes founder Hayden Cox shares the design philosophy behind the all-new Nova, a high-performance groveler engineered for the less-than-perfect waves that most surfers encounter every day. Through exclusive footage, Hayden explains how the Nova was designed to generate speed, maintain flow, and unlock high-performance surfing in everyday conditions while also excelling in the consistent environment of modern wave pools. Noel then puts the Nova to the test at Waco Surf, riding it as a Thruster, Quad, and Twin + Trailer to explore how each fin configuration changes the board's performance. Throughout the review, he highlights the Nova's incredible agility, lightning-fast transitions, and responsiveness in the pocket, proving it's much more than just a small-wave board.
Meanwhile, Tanner Gudauskas puts the Nova through its paces in the small, weak surf of Southern California. Tanner explains why the Thruster is his preferred setup when the waves are really small, praising its balance of speed, drive, and control.
On the East Coast, Eric Petersen tests the Nova in the punchy beach breaks of North Florida, riding it as a Twin + Trailer, Thruster, and Quad. His sessions showcase the Nova's versatility across a variety of wave types and fin setups, demonstrating just how adaptable this board can be.
Whether you're searching for the ultimate everyday performance groveler or you're curious how different fin configurations can completely transform a surfboard, this review has you covered. Watch the full episode for all the details and find out if the HaydenShapes Nova deserves a place in your quiver.







