Hey guys – There seems to always be a lot of talk about short boards for bigger guys. Last September I came on the forum here as I was transitioning from an 11 ft long board to a short board. Everyone here was fantastic about offering support and advice and I was stoked to be pointed in the direction of a local shaper here on the Jersey Shore – Tom Mahady from Mahady surfboards.
At the time I was about 6’3 285lbs give or take and Tom built me a Big Guy Short board on steroids – a 8 Ft Line Up Killer that was 23 2/4 wide by 4 inches thick. The board did wonders for my surfing after a while I wanted to go a bit thinner and narrower. I slid down to the same 8 Ft Model – except this one was 23 wide by 3 1/4 thick. This was Tom’s personal board that he had not ridden yet and was nice enough to lend it to me one day – well I never gave it back and ended up buying it from him the same day.
After surfing it a few months and reading on the board here how guys were going shorter and wider I wanted to give it a try so I called Tom and we put together new model Tom calls the **“BIG QUIG” - 6’10 by 24 inches wide, by 3 3/8 inches thick.** He put a wide rounded squash on it (I think it was 18 inches) and kept the nose a bit full as I have big shoulders and chest to keep the board floatier up front. Well…I had a chance to ride it yesterday in solid 6 ft surf and again today in 4 ft surf and MAN what an amazing board. My surfing in just the past two days has really improved. The board is extremely loose and maneuverable and turns on a dime, yet is fast as SH--- and holds down the line. Floats me great and I get into waves with not issues at all. I had Tom put a 5 fin on it. Rode it as a tri fin and a quad – loved both but there was something about the quad that really made the board fly and turn like crazy. I was a bit skeptical about going 24 inches wide but I am SOOOO glad I did. I am now weighing in just under 260 lbs and consider myself to be in fairly good shape for a bigger guy at 45 yrs old. The width is a non issue. In fact I am already thinking about going shorter and wider!
For all of you bigger guys out there don’t be afraid to go shorter and wide. Tom put just enough rocker in the board and made the rails high performance. For me this is the ultimate short board. I will ride it in waist high to way over head with no problems.
I cannot say enough good things about working with Tom Mahady. He takes such care and pride in the development and shaping on my boards and truly understands what bigger guys need because he is a big guy himself. I was a part of the shaping and development process the entire way. Cost was very reasonable and the turnaround time is fantastic. This one was literally under 2 weeks!
**I do not know how to post pictures but hopefully Tom can Jump in here as he has some good ones of the board. **
Thanks again to everyone on here who gave me advice and to Tom for making such great boards!