I just relocated from Southern to Central California, and I’m pondering my “next one up” board for OBSF. I’m 6’2 &195 lbs & in my late 30’s Right now my longest shortboard is a 6’4-20.5-2.6 board with a wider, more forgiving outline I think the nose is 13’ and the tai 15.7’. I had this board shaped in Oceanside before I moved up and It works really well for me as long as the currents are not very strong. I’ve had some great sessions at OB so far. I know that for the Bigger, outer bar days I’m going to need something MUCH bigger and when/if I’m ready I’ll look into a legit semi gun. The next board I’m pondering is going to be for the better inner bar days when there is a little too much current for my 6’4 to keep up with. What do you think, would moving up to a 6’8 with the close to the same dimensions make sense? I would still like to be able to hit the lip with it and surf it similar to what my 6’4, still forgiving as my skill level is relatively not that high. I guess I just need a little more little more paddle for those head high-overhead days. Thanks for reading my rambling thoughts for the afternoon.
Opps, I forgot to post my question: How long do you all think I could go with my next board and still keep the “shortboard” feeling? does 6’8 sound like a good length between my 6’4 and what would be a semi-gun?
You are correct. Just scale up to a 6'6 or 6'8". If you are happy with what you are riding and the general template, stay within those dimensions and just scale up over-all. If you are going to shape it yourself; Try Loehr's formula for scaling a shape that is in the archives here at Sways. Good, simple formula.
I've been surfing Da Beach for the better part of 25 years and OB has so many moods and conditions, you would be best served to have a board shaped to conditions rather than focus on a size. I've ridden my 6'8" some days on the inner bar, and my 6'3" some on the outer. For anything up to 12 foot faces, a 3 to 4 board quiver is good if you can afford it. A groveller for the summer and small windswells -a fish, longboard, dumpster diver type. An all around board that can get you through the flat spots and still handle the barrel, a good wave board for the perfect days, and a step up. You could probably combine the 2nd and 3rd board or the 3rd and 4th. I have a 5 board quiver from 6'0 to 7'2", of which each board sees use during the year. I consider a semi-gun something between 6'8" and 7'6" for myself but that definition is grey, depending on your size and skill. Some pros consider a 6'4" pintail a semi-gun. If I really wanted to charge the big top to bottom days on the outer bar, I would add a couple of Sunset beach type 7'10" to 8'6" guns. But OB has humbled me enough to know that I am not Greg Long and never will be. There's a lot of risk vs. reward on the truly big days, which happened a lot last winter. Good luck and be careful out there.
Thanks Baretoe, I’ll be careful for sure. Would you mind sharing your OB quiver & height + weight, just to start getting some perspective? I’m going to work with a local shaper for this I think, and it’s always nice to have some ideas to run with.
I am the same size and age as you and live at OB. When I moved here I had a 6’4"short board and a 6’8" gun.[img_assist|nid=1045447|title=Step up boards|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=640|height=417]
Now 20years later I have found that 7’6" works on most days at the beach and I have 19 boards.
Yup your going to need a quiver.
For the smaller days that require the full treadmill paddle I use a fat 6’8"-7’2" boards.
Give me a PM if you want to try some bigger boards first.
OB has some very varied faces from what I have seen and have been told(my best friend has lived there for 4 years) Consider this the best excuse you can give your significant other for buying a bunch of boards, they are for your safety.
“There’s a lot of risk vs. reward on the truly big days, which happened a lot last winter. Good luck and be careful out there”
+100
I surfed there some back during the mid 70s. The place can be EXTREMELY treacherous with size, especially when there’s a big tidal swing. Procede with caution and respect. Unless you’re a very strong swimmer, you don’t want to be out there when it starts mackin’.
Yes, thanks everyone for your input. I’m really a wuss & I don’t think I will be taking on macking Ocean Beach, at least not this year. Lavarat: Thanks for your generous offer, I may take you up on it.
One thing about OBSF is that often you don’t know what the size is until you get out there. What looks doable from the dunes might be altogether different on the outside. Watch it for a while. There are often nice channels. They may rove. Everything does. It’s all sand. Have fun. C
Don't know whyI didn't think about it; but if you are goning to have a board shaped; Randy Cone or Matt Ambrose down in Pacifica know board desiign foir larger surf.
I've only surfed OBSF once when it was small. A couple of years ago I had a meeting up in San Francisco in late December. It was that day they called Big Wednesday. My plane took off from SFO airport hooked around the Golden Gate bridge, and flew along the coast. What I saw was shocking. The golden gate had a narrow deep water channel that was flanked by gigantic breaking waves on both sides. Ocean Beach was completely unsurfable. I'm serious when I say that I saw waves breaking on bars that were a mile out to sea. Further South it was amazing to see perfect lines wrapping around every point from the Ranch all the way to Santa Barbara. Palos Verdes and San Diego looked good too, but Santa Barbara looked the best. When I landed I drove home, grabbed my board, headed out to the cliffs, and got my ass kicked -- but I had a lot of fun. :)