So the family and I are headed to Bali for a week at the end of June. Sadly, this coincides with the WCT event at Keramas, where I was hoping to get a wave. Not going to happen now.
Anyway, for reasons that I won’t go into, I can only take one board. I have a choice to make. I have to choose between a 6’5" single fin with a 70s style outline, but a more contemporary rocker (more ose flip and kick in the tail than the 70s), or a 6’ wide-bodied, high-volume quad.
I’ve tested the quad in clean OH beachies and it held its own, but I wouldn’t want it in anything much bigger. What would you take, given this choice?
Please focus on the choice at hand. I’m sure there are better options, that are better suited to the conditions, but these are the only boards I have to choose from.
And no, I can’t take both (sound of a whip cracking in the background).
If the single fin can ride the barrel then I say go with the single fin, to me it’s all about getting in and out of tubes. If by any chance you like to ride a bodyboard, they are great for traveling light and riding tubes, when portability is a concern (ie traveling in a cruise with wife, daugther, aunts and mom/dad) my quiver is a surf mat and a bodyboard… Flippers, mask and snorkel are always a plus! Have a nice trip and please post photos afterwards : )
if you’re olny going to bring one board, don’t bother, Huge selection of used boards in the many surf shops all located by each other, $200 will buy a good one. So save the baggage fees, find one that catches your eye, ride it for the week and then sell it back for $100.
Or better still, give it to one of the locals youngsters riding a really crap board…
On a Bali trip back in the mid 90’s, an Aussie out with us at DOH Temples was getting some deep pits, riding a ‘seasoned’ looking yellow single fin with a Lightening Bolt on the deck.
“Getting some nice waves, that board is working well.”
“Yea, can’t believe how well it rides the tube, effortless. Broke all me thrusters during the past month, found this in a surfshop in Kuta this morning for $50. All I could afford and seemed the best of the bunch. Hope it lasts me to the end of the week when I fly home.”
“Who shaped it?”
"Dunno, never really looked. Just grabbed it off the rack and jumped on the scooter to get here. "
Flips the board over and examines the bottom.
“huh, Gerry Lopez shaped it.”
“You might think of taking that one home with you.”
I’d take the 6’0 quad. it’s not all 400m barrels. a lot of the time you’ll be surfing less than perfect reefs with lots of others or even beachies.
I’m going over shortly for 3 weeks. taking a 5’3 x 19 next gen / MPH style board, 5’9 x 20 round pin channel bottom quad (shaped it today - hopefully have time to bag it and finish it before i go), and a 6’3 x 19 1/2 stub step up (like a rusty slayer style board)
Will be taking the single fin. I’ve been watching Morning of the Earth on and off for the past three weeks, since we booked the flights. They’re predicting DOH+ for Tuesday. Watch out for me, I’ll be the one doing the soul arch as I race down the line at Ulus, Steve Cooney style. Woot!