Recently acquired this new-to-me 7’8" x 22 1/8 x 3" board by Austin Surf Boards in VA Beach. My first board was a Takayama single fin longboard, and i liked the arching, drawn out turns it forced me to make, so I wanted to try a single out again. I also felt a little more float was necessary for the winter, as my paddle isn’t what it used to be and all that rubber really seems to slow me down.
I liked the board at first sight, but was a little leery about the tail shape - it looked kind of pinny to me, but i thought I’d try it out. The fin is an 8.0 SRO from Fins Unltd and it has something like 4" rocker in the front, about 3" in the rear. I took it out for the first time today in sloppy waist to chest surf and had fun once I got it outside. Didn’t paddle quite as well as i hoped, but it was very forgiving and seemed to trim pretty nice. Didn’t get to try any legit turns yet…
Anyhow, just looking for any feedback. BTW, I’m 5’8", 185 lbs, typically surf NE beach and occasional point breaks, am of average ability and like long walks in the sand…
I always try to not make any judgments or decisions on the first few go-outs. I think every time I take off on a new shape, it is really foreign feeling. Give it a chance. Believe me, there will be P-l-e-n-t-y of time to figure what you would tweak ( if you do your own shapes) that is.
Making significant changes in board sizes always requires some adjustment in technique. Switching fin setups makes an even biggere difference. Give it a few sessions, you’ll find the groove on that board soon enough. As noted above, moving the fin around a bit will make a difference, and fin choice will also make a big difference. Some people (like me) use different fins for different conditions.
It might not be a bad idea to contact Austin and ask for a fin recommendation for your situation.
I also took note of that board on CL, good pick up at a great price.
I would definitely give it another shot when the wind isn’t blowing at 30mph, i bet you’ll find that it paddles better once its not so choppy. As for fin placement, on a board of similar size, I have my fin pretty far up in the box (towards the nose), I feel that this loosens up the board alot which I like.
The fin is in a fin box - I’m going to play around with the fin position a bit to see how that affects the boards performance. I’m curious if position is more critical on a board of this size than on a traditional single-fin longboard. Unfortunately, I had to sell the Takayama when I left CA.
Austin makes very nice boards, with a lean towards the logging side of things. I’m sure you got a finely crafted board. As to the board, make sure you try it out on a glassy day as well. You might notice it paddles better than you thought. Just curious, is the fin glassed in or a fin box?
Now, as to getting the wrong board, you did find the right place. Not only will you get good advice with a wide range of great opinions, but you also have at this site the information you need to make the ‘right’ board yourself. And if you still have that old Takayama, take the dims off of it and make a new one. So get shaping.
Glad to see someone snatched that board off Craigslist. It looked like
a lot of fun and was a great price, but I have too many boards as it is. (Quotes don’t seem to be working for me for some reason).
Yea - it seemed like a good deal and after learning a bit more about the shaper, I found it hard to pass up. I was initially looking for something a bit longer, and have a pretty bad history of getting the “wrong” board for my ability, typical conditions, etc. (which is why I’m soliciting opinions on a very informed forum). I do hope to diversify the type of breaks I surf whenever possible - unfortunatley, a lot of times, I’m geographically limited by having to stay somewhat close to home to squeeze in a session before work.
Even in the somewhat sloppy conditions yesterday, I was able to get a few longer rides and link a few sections together I don’t think I would have been able to on my smaller board.
Glad to see someone snatched that board off Craigslist. It looked like a lot of fun and was a great price, but I have too many boards as it is.
I don’t feel like that board is going to be all that great in sloppy beachbreak. It looks like you would have a blast on long pointbreak walls. Looks really easy to turn from the middle but will haul over in a second if you step on the tail.
I have a 9’8" with a pintail like that, and it can be such a blast. It makes the board seem so much shorter.
Well, what did you expect? I’m guessing
your Takayama was at least 9ft? Dropping two feet in board length will
definitely affect paddling ease. Was the Takayama a Surftech?
I had that Takayama some 10 years ago - it was a beat up 9’ triple stringer with wood inlays on the nose and tail and a glassed-in (wood?) single fin. A really pretty board from the deck side - really beat and poorly repaired on the underside (hence - my first board). I haven’t owned a single fin since then, but still remember how differently it surfed than other more “conventinal” boards I had - long and short - since.
I haven’t owned a longboard in a few years, so the hopeful paddle-ease I was referring to was in reference in a step up in size from my 6’8" big-guy twin fin, not a step down. I think it’s more my lack of paddle stanima + a winter suit though!
Well, what did you expect? I’m guessing your Takayama was at least 9ft? Dropping two feet in board length will definitely affect paddling ease. Was the Takayama a Surftech?
