im sort of a newbie around here, an intermediate level surfer from the norcal area. im about 6’2, 180 lbs @ 16 years old. i ride a thick, wide, 6’6 al merrick flyer and an old 9’1 * 22 1/2 * 2 3/4 bill teas roundpin noserider. i recently had an eye opening experience, so if you will bear with me through the story and offer any advice i would appreciate it. a few weeks ago i had to play in a jazz band (saxophone) that i am in for a gig near san diego. the concert was in the evening, and well, no point going to school that day so i flew down (with a parent) to san diego. we got into the SD airport at about 8:30 AM, and i didn’t have to play until about 5:30, so what else am i gonna do besides surf . i did not deem it economically wise to pay an exhorbitant board fee to bring down my 6’6 just for one day of surf, so we cruised some surf shops looking for a board to rent. my best 2 options came out to be this - a typically thin and narrow 6’3, or one of those “pop out” bic boards, a 7’3. the surf was only about 2-4 feet and in danger of blowing out, so much to my ego’s shame, i gave in to good judgement and took the 7’3. what followed was somewhat of a revelation. the board paddled well, only slightly slower than my longboard. it got into waves early and i was getting waves when they were only half-jacked up swells, similar to a longboard. the waves were sort of alternately mushy and bowly, and this board would cruise right through the flat sections, but in a decent bowl it responded well to top turns, cutbacks, off the lips, and all sorts of things i wasnt expecting. i had a great(!!!) session, one of my funnest crappy wave sessions ever. i have been slowly building my quiver as i have gained surfing experience, and i believe a board similar to this, but built by an experienced shaper, could be exactly what i need to keep up my performance level and still have a ball in small waves. i believe this could be the perfect small wave/mushy wave board for my quiver, which would then allow me to completely fine-tune the performance level of my shortboard(s), rather than trying to compromise that with the ability to ride small waves. i was thinking something in the rough ballpark of a 7’2 * 21 1/2 * 2 3/4, fairly full nose outline, low nose rocker, big swallowtail. anybody have advice on this kind of board? (for those of you familiar with the norcal area, i will probably be riding this board - when i get one- in small or crowded or mushy or windy etc surf at spots like: manresa, the hook, 38th ave, 2nd peak pleasure point, really big cowells, middle peak, 4 mile, ross’ cove, linda mar, even OB) thanks a lot for any advice and words of wisdom…
oh yea- i’d probably make it a thruster set up w/ removable fins so i could screw around with things like trying out a twin setup, twin w/ trailing fin, etc. thanks for any replies
wow- probably something very close to this http://65.188.212.181/swaylocks/boards/db.cgi?db=default&uid=default&Validated=Yes&Category=7%27%20-%207%27%2011%22&view_records=1&nh=5&mh=1 but maybe with slightly less thickness, just 1/4 in. or so less… anybody care to put me on the right track if i am completely off base on this? thanks -
sounds good to me. very niceboard for small or sloppy surf. maybe a swallow tail, nice soft rails. good board for anyone’s quiver
Joe: I made that thing and several others like it. They have evolved (thankfully) and in that same group of boards you found that one in you’ll find another 7’0" that is probably a better example of what to look for. Take the 7’0" Hybrid Fish and use these as a starting point for numbers. N-17.0 M-21.5 T-17.0 I’ve ridden all of those boards, the 6’8", the 7’0" and the 7’2", all made for windblown surf. I feel like the numbers above coupled with proper rocker and foil deliver a really FUN board that is easy to pick waves up with. Good Luck. Tom S.>>> wow- probably something very close to this>>> > http://65.188.212.181/swaylocks/boards/db.cgi?db=default&uid=default&Validated=Yes&Category=7%27%20-%207%27%2011%22&view_records=1&nh=5&mh=1>>> but maybe with slightly less thickness, just 1/4 in. or so less…>>> anybody care to put me on the right track if i am completely off base on > this? thanks -
CLICK ON THE BOARD PAGE ABOVE,LOOK AROUND,HAVE FUN,Herb.
how far above center is the widepoint on a fish style twinzer? shooting in the 7’ range…