ok, i have a 9’ modernized longboard, hard rails in the tail and down the rest of the way up. flat bottom. and a 9" fin on it.
whenever i approach a steep section and go to the nose i always slide out, 80% of the time it feels as if the nose is sliding first and the rest it feels as if the whole board has just dropped out from under me.
would a new longboard better suited to noseriding help or is it my technique? anyone else have this problem? how did you solve it either technique wise or board wise?
Flat bottom coupled with hard tail rails is the problem…good for quick response and snap turns, bad for secure holding power on steeper sections.
Most nose riders have soft tail rails, killing turning prowess, but enabling the water to wrap up and around the rails, giving more holding power without dropping suddenly.
You bought a hi performance log, but want a traditional noserider.
I was riding a 9’0" 2+1 (sidebiter) hard tail rail moder longboard like you describe.
Because of this article I realized what I wanted to ride was a soft rail cruiser.
Have been really happy with the switch. Today my wife rode my 10’6" cruiser and I went back to my 9’0". Had fun but could not wait to get back to the cruiser. You definately nose ride the two board styles differently. Read Tom’s other articles as well. I found them insightful.
You didn’t mention tail shape. Since you said modern, I’m assuming its a squash or baby square.
Anyway, if you’re sliding ass, you need to change fins. Chances are, the board is fine. If its a baby squash or square, go for something like a really long rake fin. You want the end to extend past the end of your board. Rainbow noserider:
True Ames noserider:
If its a round pin or diamond tail, you want to increase drag a little. That means bigger & heavier, among other things. A traditional pivot fin is good for that - it’ll keep a smaller tail locked in.
4est, thanks for the link but i have read and re-read that info a thousand times. i am jus hesitant to blame the board, as i am new to longboarding and really cant say this works or that yet cause i havent tried much out.
benny, thanks for the fin advice, ill definately take it into consideration when i get my new longboard.
