Am i alone to prefer widish swallows than pintails in barrels?

General Discussion
1

The main board i spent a lot of time on learning to tube ride was a modernised fish twin keel, 8 inch keels, 10 inch tail, 5’10 2 3//8 around 20 wideA little more rocker than flat fishes.That board was amazing so much instant drive even in barrels where people wondered why i would ride that thing like in indo.However lately ive been spending a lot of time (not enough) riding rounded pintails some with fishy noses like snub ups (wizard sleeve/rusty slayer style) boards.Am i alone to think pinnies have too much pivot on those slabby small yet moderate length reef breaks?I paddle in on some and i just want the board to get in early which it doesnt due to the increased rocker, then drop then it pivots a little too much. Maybe i spent too much time on the fishes as my stance changed a lot riding those, yet that 5’10 could be surfed from  waist high peelers or slop to 8 foot g-land or 2-4 foot slabby reefs around home.The glide and drive was so addictive. Somethings else missing when i ride the more pinny boards. So am i alone in prefering widish swallows and twin keels to pintails?Might need to change my style a bit but 35 now, thinking about just going back to what worked for me all around rather than teaching an ageing dog new tricks 

2

If You aren’t dead you can still learn new tricks.  A well made fish loves to hang out under the lip. 

3
4

Im having trouble with this posting replies, ill download a better browser and come back…

5

The three most important traits in a good board are 

  • Rocker
  • Rocker
  • Rocker
Then after that comes template, thickness, fins and rails.  Not necessarily  in that order, but pretty close.  I ride lots of rounded pins to pintails, and with the right rocker, not "pivoty" at all.

This one draws out an easy 50’ long bottom turn, solid and at high speed, after a pretty steep drop.  No pivot at all.

[img_assist|nid=1075385|title=|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=330|height=437]

 

6

Thanks…Real nice looking pintails there ES…I think its my weird rear foot stance that developed from riding fishes for too long…

It was from trying to get tighter body closer to wall in smaller or bending tubes  while also getting more drive and hold from the big inside keels, mostly forehand. Also from riding mals in bigger or hollow waves when the tail starts skipping out…Started getting rear foot real close to the outside rail and heel lifted, toes down a lot for pressure.IMight have  started in downhill snowboarding or skateboarding actually…

The toes down is such a narrow pressure point on the tail that worked really well on that fish but not on pintails. Because its a long lasting habit it might take a while to go flat footed again.Might take going backhand more often too where i think its more flat footed…

FWIW it wasnt a retro fish more like the Alien Rastavich rides without such a pulled in tail, a little less hip too.But still pulled in, more tail and more refined than  retro fishes. Did get lipped a few times though.Gave it away to a friend regrettably. Glass in keels arent good to travel with.

 

7

I’ve always loved the feeling of a keel fish in the tube. Some swear they don’t tuberide well, but I know otherwise. Many years ago, in another thread, I said, referring to the foot position you described, it reminds mem of slacklining.