I’ve ridden this performance Hobie for some 40 sessions now and it’s been nimble, very fast, user friendly & turns really well.
-It’s 9 foot, 18 x 22 1/4 x 13 3/8 x 2 3/4, single to double concave bottom, not much cant in the side fins
-Rails from spoon nose to knifey/round rail in the front, ‘normal’ rail in the middle to hard&thin rail in the tail
-Low rocker, nose 4 1/3", tail 3 1/4"
My previous ninefooter was a bit more rockered and dropping in steep waves I sometimes miss the rocker. In the other hand the Hobie is very easy to put on the rail right after standing up, but sometimes a little nose rocker would give more confidence.
I’m an intermediate travelling surfer (150lbs), soon 40 years and surfing 60-70 days per year. For the sake of travelling simplicity I’m also a firm believer in one longboard quiver.
I’m going to Bali again soon and I’m still wondering if this is the board that in addition to covering my all-round needs will also give me those memorable head high drops that won’t go forgotten.
To go for something more rockered or to rely on the quick angling & speed of this board. That’s the question?
THANKS
PS. The new Brazilian world champ ripped on this board in overhead Anglet beachbreak (then again, I’m not a world champ)
The rocker, as described, is MORE than adequate. The only thing thing I’d change about that board, is have a narrower nose. That would improve your experience, on the drop/turn. Well, there is one other thing I’d do. I’d shorten the board to 8’ 4 ‘’, and increase thickness to 3 1/4’'. The board you have, is the ‘‘devil you know’’, and that is more important anyway. Knowing your equipment, and it’s limitations, if any. I believe firmly, in the one board quiver, as a concept. Hope you have a good trip, and good waves.
I measured the nose rocker from the very tip of the nose. However, there’s some thickness in the nose and a smooth spoon type rail that joins the bottom to the deck. If I deduct the nose thickness (measure the rocker from the line that projects forward from the nose concave) the nose rocker is a half inch less. I don’t know what’s the proper way to measure?
I definitely buy your argument on “knowing the devil”. Compared to falling, almost falling but somehow making it is good fun;-)
By way of an example of adequate rocker, the board I’m riding in the avitar photo, is a 10’ 3’’ gun with a max nose rocker of FIVE INCHES. If the waves were small, and I was taking off late, it became an angled takeoff. Either into the pocket, or toward the edge, didn’t matter. The name of the game was to get into the power zone of the wave, and ride.
A four, or four and a half inch nose rocker, on a 9’ 0’’ board, especially with the tail rocker described, is plenty.
Not surfing at that level I might prefer just a bit more forgiving rail in the front half, like my board has?
That 5" noserocker looks like an inch really makes a difference. If you’re happy with hang 5 and can live without hang 10, what harm does it do if it’s accelerated to 5,5" or 6"?
How do the nose rocker&width and tail width relate? One would think that with narrow tail you can have a bit wider nose or a bit less nose rocker? But can you take an inch there and put it in the other place?
My buddy who surf in your neck of the woods has been surfing you HP Longsboards for a few years now (all older T&C’s). He paddles out all over the place on your boards, either big Daystar, Silva’s, Rocky’s, Makaha…It doesn’t matter to him.
So I guess my point is too all who care is, I’ve seen Greg’s boards in action under the feet of a good surfer, but not a sponsored pro, and they work extremely well.
Also if you notice Giffs boards with the 5 in rocker, isn’t like a gun rocker where it elf shoes in the nose, it’s more of a subtle increase from about 1/4 back. Probably when you need it, you’d notice it, and not vice versa.
The quote I copied from an old post tells us some pros have 6 1/2" nose rockers in longboards. The reasoning in the post is logical, but does it apply for the average Joe too?
You are so right Pete, so to keep it relevant to design I thought you may be interested in a conversation I had with Brendan and Josh C a few weeks ago at Huntington during the Longboard Mag comp. I have shaped a lot of boards for both these guys and their boards could not be more different.
The craft Mike shaped Josh for the “World Title” win has about 6 1/2" of nose rocker and about 3 1/2" tail rocker, 17 nose 13 1/2" plan (im not giving away how Mike got from nose to tail regards rocker) Brendan�s board is typically 5 1/4 nose and 4 1/8 tail rocker 19" nose 13 1/4"tail. This is not that extraordinary but what I find fascinating is the geographic influence in the development of these two surfers� designs.
Brendan is the sultan of San O, a soft breaking wave in southern California a click south from Trestles for those who aren�t familiar with the spot, he utilizes lower nose entry with accelerated tail rocker typical to modern longboard designed in the US (and copied everywhere else)
While Josh hails from Noosa Heads in Queensland famous for the long reeling points when they work, which is not that often. The secret beach breaks on that 20k stretch of beach south is where Mike StJohn has tuned Josh’s rockered up nose and lower exit. The waves are punchy and hollow. Josh is 6’4" solid with a typical aggressive aussie approach to his surfing. His a big strong guy and turns off the front foot loading the low tail curve and putting the extra mid curve on rail, while Brendan a smaller guy turns his board on a dime off his back foot is nimble and can get to the nose in a flash.
2 top surfers, 2 different styles, 2 different shapers and 2 geographic locations that have influenced they way they surf.
Another intresting point: Josh Constable won the 2006 World title and he rides 6 1/2" nose rocker. Phil Rajzman won the 2007 World title with 4 1/4" rocker. Both of them are rippers, not oldschool at all??
Another intresting point: Josh Constable won the 2006 World title and he rides 6 1/2" nose rocker. Phil Rajzman won the 2007 World title with 4 1/4" rocker. Both of them are rippers, not oldschool at all??
phil rajzman surfs pretty shithouse for someone of the ‘world champion’ title. the judges had no clue.
The rocker, as described, is MORE than adequate. The only thing thing I’d change about that board, is have a narrower nose. That would improve your experience, on the drop/turn. Well, there is one other thing I’d do. I’d shorten the board to 8’ 4 ‘’, and increase thickness to 3 1/4’'. The board you have, is the ‘‘devil you know’’, and that is more important anyway. Knowing your equipment, and it’s limitations, if any. I believe firmly, in the one board quiver, as a concept. Hope you have a good trip, and good waves.
Hey Bill,
Back from Indo I must say you got it right. The Hobie was perfect even in waves like overhead Nusa Dua. I was able to take of early enough and angle the board sans problems. The steeper the section the better the board handled, sometimes it felt like the shaper was riding instead of me;)
I guess, If anywhere, I could use more rocker in re-entries, not the takeoffs, but I guess that’s more about my lack of skill anyhow.
Funny thing, I only pearl with the board when riding local small inconsistent ultra-short period windswell. Seem’s it’s more demanding than Indo reefs;)
