What would be the best 9’6" longboard design for use in 4-6’ fairly fast and step beach breaks? The rider is an intermediate surfer (175lbs) and will usually wipe out on most waves at 7 feet or up. Need advice particularly on the nose: width,shape,concave etc. Thanks.
What would be the best 9’6" longboard design for use in 4-6’ fairly > fast and step beach breaks? The rider is an intermediate surfer (175lbs) > and will usually wipe out on most waves at 7 feet or up. Need advice > particularly on the nose: width,shape,concave etc. Thanks. Speed saves…I’d go with a 9’0" as 6 inches isn’t going to paddle much faster but 6 inches of nose will catch pretty easy. 22 inches wide up about 6 inches up from center. Doesn’t sound like nose riding surf so skip the fat, round nose and go pinched, semi gunny (that’ll reduce the “catchiness” of the nose even more). Nice even rocker with no kick on either end (speed will be your friend). Round pintail with a single adjustable box. 6oz on the bottom and two 6oz on the top. 60/40 rails with a tucked under edge. Flat bottom with a little dome V in front of the fin going to flat behind the fin. Dome the deck to make up for the loss of length (more foam-more float). My personal quirk is to put the slightest bevel (2-3 inches wide) along the bottom of the rail in the middle of the board to give it a little forgiveness. Skip the concaves 'till the rider knows how to surf better. Oh yeah, if these are the average surf conditions, let me know where you live! Newbs
What would be the best 9’6" longboard design for use in 4-6’ fairly > fast and step beach breaks? The rider is an intermediate surfer (175lbs) > and will usually wipe out on most waves at 7 feet or up. Need advice > particularly on the nose: width,shape,concave etc. Thanks. That is a tough question and all sorts of factors apply.Since the surfer is middle of the road I would build a very simple basic shape.The Clark 9’8"S is a good blank,the 9’7’'B is also good.Since we are talking about beach breaks I would make the board a wide round pin with 60/40 rails,slight roll bottom on the front third transistioning into a vee in the tail,single fin.No hard edges and no concave in the nose.Noseriding is not in this equation due to the fact that the surfer is intermediate and on a beach break versus point type surf.Basic dimentions would be…18"nose…23"wide…15" tail and around 3 inches thick or more.Another option would be to reduce the size to say around 9’0" and use the old 9’1"Y blank…using the same basic shape but pull in the nose dimensions.This may be a better option for crashing beach breaks…the shorter length will make it easier to turn…the 9’1"Y is a great all around blank for the conservative shapes that I speak of.I like single fins but it wouldn’t hurt to put in removable side byte fins…it at least gives you options.If you use the side fins keep the toe in at a minimum.All in all it is a tough call,the options are limitless.
I too like the idea of a slightly pinched nose with a rolled bottom. They seem to catch waves much easier than concave nosed boards. Perhaps a little tail flip to allow for late steep take offs. Side bites and a fin box will allow for fine tuning this rig.
I too like the idea of a slightly pinched nose with a rolled bottom. They > seem to catch waves much easier than concave nosed boards. Perhaps a > little tail flip to allow for late steep take offs. Side bites and a fin > box will allow for fine tuning this rig. Thank you John.I guess I should mention that the roll is only in the nose area and blends in to a flat bottom…the transition of the vee actually starts from around twenty inches from the tail.The actual vee is is pretty well defined at the end and effectivly increases the rocker at the rail line by as much as one inch.Therefore the rocker at the stringer remains fairly flat but when you put the board on edge for a turn you have the benefit of a “flip” tail.I like to shape this bottom configuration but it is by no means “the holy grail”.One of my most respected colleagues insists on putting a concave inside of the rolled nose…it all works and we have great fun hashing design concepts over lunch.
OK, how about stability on the takeoff/ drop? Would a wider, rounder nose with a concave be more stable and less likely to pearl than a flat bottom thinner nose? This is again regarding fairly fast and steep waves up to 6 feet.>>> I too like the idea of a slightly pinched nose with a rolled bottom. They > seem to catch waves much easier than concave nosed boards. Perhaps a > little tail flip to allow for late steep take offs. Side bites and a fin > box will allow for fine tuning this rig.
OK, how about stability on the takeoff/ drop? Would a wider, rounder nose > with a concave be more stable and less likely to pearl than a flat bottom > thinner nose? This is again regarding fairly fast and steep waves up to 6 > feet. Since we are talking about a longboard the shape of the nose is probably not a big factor.Most of the longboard takeoffs are at an angle to the wave face…you either point it in the direction you want to go or “fade” the opposite way to gain momentum for a bottom turn.If the surfer is prone to pearling it is probably due more to his lack of knowledge rather than the shape of the nose.
I thinks what the guys have come up with is the goods, something like a DT speed shape is the go, just take off wide on the shoulder, no late takeoffs, and remember to gently stomp on that back foot in a controlled manner to keep that nose out of the water. I find that being that extra couple on inches further back on the board with my knees bent and feet to the sky to keep the boatrd flat and fast is the best, then when you feel that lift, remember feet back to the board and hands on deck right under the armpits, snap and knees kept bent until your up and away! I’m just the beginner side of average, but this is my take Holger Ps I’m shaping something similar at present, maybe some concave mid board?