I’m making this shortboard for The Lane in Santa Cruz and I was hoping for some advice for those that are familiar with the break.
I’ve decided on a 6’4 roundtail shortie. It’s based on the channel islands V model. 19 inches WP, 3 inches below middle. Very backfooted design. It has a relaxed rocker (like a flyer). I’m 160lbs. and I’m a goofy foot so that means it’ll be backhand all the way for me.
So, two questions:
Any comments on my design choice for the lane? what would you change?
Bottom contours? what has worked for you at the lane?
I took out my 5’10 fish out today and what a mistake. I couldn’t seem to catch any waves because it wasn’t really grinding but very rolly and I think if I had more length I would’ve caught some good ones. The waves that I would catch, I would get stuck up because backhand on a fish is not that easy for me. My fish would usually excel in newport beach/trestles waves and it was really nice but at the lane today it sucked (could be me). So thanks in advance for all the comments/suggestions.
Point, Slot, MiddlePeak, are all three completely different breaking waves, with Slot and Pt. similar, but Slot is bigger when it finally decides to catch the right swells, so more power.
Assuming you’re surfing Point mainly, fish should work well, no excuses.
Slot breaks much farther outside, mainly on big WNW swells, and W also, so a longer board that handles juice and speed, that projects down the line is more important.
MiddlePeak is almost always a big mushball wave that can back off sometimes, changes to quick fast section, then slows down radically before getting into Indicators, so maybe a semi gun or funboard is the call there, as well as a log.
Mostly always glassy with all that bulbkelp, you can used subtle concaves from nose to slightly deeper in the tail for the “V” effect…don’t need flat or belly nose in glassy waters.
So if you’re having trouble with your fish at MiddlePeak, going to a 6’4" shortboard will be absolutely NO gain, as a big mushball is easier to catch on the flatter rockered, thos much shorter fish. For MPeak, just go longer towards a funboard or mini gun.
Slot breaks so rarely I’m sure you don’t want a board only for a fast, firing W swell wave.
I was at Pt/slot today and I guess I just need to get used to my fish with the waves at the lane. But I’m really thinking of going to a roundtail shortie just to make it easier on the backhand. You’re right its mostly glassy there so the concaves are definitely going to be on the board.
I’m goof too, and HATE swallow tail surfboards for backhand riding. It’s worse than rounded pins, as all that area out on the rail just makes it soo much harder to sink and hold a high line or a full powered bottom turn.
Better in thinner, steeper waves like Ranch, where it’s easy to push and keep a rail well in the wave.
Are you sliding out at all? Backside, usually fin sizing like 6" x 5.5 is minimal. Keel, closer to 9" x 5.25 is minimal.
But that flat rocker, even thos the board is short, should catch waves early and easy, without much speed paddling.
I don’t really slide out…anymore at least. I’m using those lokbox keels they seem to work really good. But I do think its more of the backside thing that’s really giving me trouble. You’re right if you can set the rail on a fish and drive straight through the wave it works but isn’t the best for bottom turns. Maybe I should take off deeper in the pocket I bet I could catch those waves then…thing is, I’m totally terrified of crashing into the cliff.
BTW where is this Ranch break that you’re talking about?
Only time I rode a fish was Cojo two years ago, about head high on average waves.
I hadn’t surfed in NINE months (I windsurf in the summer), and was riding 7’9" funboard, so my bud wanted to trade with me so he could wavehog some more waves in the crowd.
Caught maybe 7 waves with the fish, more than I did with my own board, and never had any problems.
Was a 5.6" x 22 Lis style fish.
Cojo is steep and thin, very slow moving, similar to Hook, Privates. Point at the Lane comes in faster.