For those longtime surfers who have a Surftech....

General Discussion
1

I’m 36, been surfing for over 25 years, and consider myself an “advanced” surfer. I make my own boards. I am thinking of purchasing a Surftech longboard in the next month just to have in my quiver and try. I KNOW this is “frowned” upon. I KNOW that everyone HATES Surftech. I’m aware of all this. I don’t care. So…If anyone out here in Swaylocksville has any good insight on how they perform, and/or models, please chime in,…I like to ride tradtional style single fins, so was maybe looking at one of the new DTNR Tudor models…

FLAME ON.

2

How big are you? I know several people who swear by the takayama noseriders. Say the shape and construction translates well to surftech construction. They are big guys who ride traditional style. Are the tudor models out? Where’s that pesky banner ad so I can go to the Surftech website again.

–BCo

3

I’m 5’9, 155lbs…Like I said, I think I’m a “competent” noserider…Here’s the model I’m looking at…I’m wondering more about the durability and feel of a Surftech more than anything else…

http://surftech.com/shaper.phtml?type=longboards&typeId=2&labelId=80&boardId=2361&thumbInc=0

4

I’m on Oahu so the situation is probably different but if you can why don’t you go rent one and try before you buy. I’m sure they have demo days somewhere close to you too.

I surfed my friends on a windless day and it was fun. Surfed another on a typical windy day and it sucked. Too light and stiff to handle the chop.

5

Reminds me of the recent “How light is too light” thread and the different preferences expressed.

6
Quote:

I’m 36, been surfing for over 25 years, and consider myself an “advanced” surfer. I make my own boards. I am thinking of purchasing a Surftech longboard in the next month just to have in my quiver and try. I KNOW this is “frowned” upon. I KNOW that everyone HATES Surftech. I’m aware of all this. I don’t care. So…If anyone out here in Swaylocksville has any good insight on how they perform, and/or models, please chime in,…I like to ride tradtional style single fins, so was maybe looking at one of the new DTNR Tudor models…

FLAME ON.

I used to carry them in my old shop. The wood ones ride the best of the lot and none of them ride like traditional longboards IMO. I rode the D. Tak. Model T and Wingnut wood model as personal boards way back when they first came out. The D.T. was crap…the wingnut rode better. Neither one paddled very well or handled chop very well. I think of all their models… Hobie and Joel Tudor have the best looking Longboard Designs. The one thing I thought they lacked was momentum and durability was not what I thought. The paint scratches off like a car getting keyed and whats under the paint is ugly. Both of the one’s I rode turned like rocks, but I have ridden a more performance style of board done by them and it was not that bad. The Mccoy I rode (which is what I ride in poly) was blasphemy. I rode a Wayne Lynch that was not that bad. I really think some designs are better for the tech than others. Like I said…Hobie and Tudor.

I think they are getting that tech figured out better now. Boards are being shaped specific to that tech it looks like. The Hobies I Have seen actually looked tuned in pretty well ( I have to go wash my finger now after typing that Ha Ha)

7

I REALLY enjoyed a wood veneer Randy French traditional model that i got in trade from a guy who hated it. it was 9’0" and very nice looking, but even better it rode like an old board from my youth–stable , firm and fast–overall a great longboard. however, in a major cleaning out of my quiver to raise funds for daughters wedding i sold it (for more than it listed for new) oops ;-(

as background, i’m old, and generally ride epoxy five-fin bonzers…(campbell bros, brian wynn, pointblanks)

8

I have a 9’-3" Yater Spoon. Classic styling and a no nonsense shape. You are, what you are, when you ride this board. Catches waves easily, and turns on a dime.

9

there’s so much BS about these things you have to be careful.

For close to a decade I’ve seen Lance Hookano and Dino Miranda ride theirs in waves most here wouldn’t have the guts to paddle out on. And I’ve surfed alot with Rodney Nakasato who is a regular at Haubush and is more of a classic style rider who usually places in most of the longboard contests in his age group on them. Mostly because of Rodney and Kym McKeague(another classic stylist) alot of folks where I surf ride Surftech long boards. Our waves mostly resemble mainland beach breaks than other reef breaks here in Hawaii so it’s a good fit. Most of these types of boards are performance oriented boards because of their weight and the weight of the riders especially the Hobie PSD, Patterson, Mctavish, Yater and Hakman designs. The real big boys 300lb+ love the Infinity Rad Clusters and the older guys like Uncle Grant who’s in his 70s+ like their Munoz’s. Rodney as a team rider gets to try and ride them all so I always ask him what’s his favorite and he always says the same thing, his mctavish.

If I was getting something 10’ and over I’d get a Rad Cluster or Munoz as they are very easy handling for their size. Personally I think the Munoz is the most underated shape in the entire line…

Between 9 and 10 foot the choices are endless but the newer Takayama’s and designs made especially for the materials like the Hobie PSD, Patterson and Byrne stand out. When they are a direct copy of their poly design they don’t work as well as a lighter composite but the designers have learned to use the materials over time and are thinning out favorite shapes to compensate for the effect of the light EPS core.

Bottomline though is that they will never ride like a good poly or a heavy volan glassed poly big board so there maybe some technique adjustment especially adjusting to swing weight and glide (unless you get a woodie). But compared to what you might typically get from a board maker with out paying extra they will hold up much better over the shorter run of 6 months than the typical pressures you might get from knee paddling or heels…

btw

I going on 52 been surfing almost twice as long as you.

my very first shortboard as I migrated from a woolworth double stringered coolie was a Dextra

so popouts are no stranger to me…

And yes we used to stand up on our skin removing coolies till they snapped and became paipos with wooden lances

cause when you’re poor and there’s surfshop around

well, you make do…

those damn Dextras were almost indestructable compared to Surftech,

weighed twice as much though…

Hope this helps

I’m not advocating them

I’m just reporting what I see in the lineups here.

Personally I’d prefer a custom Parmenter, Griffin, or BK 9’2" as my all around long board

10

I’ve always like the shape of the Wingnut II and Prince Kuhio models. The noses on those are little more pulled in. With some personalized fin tweaks you can make any board, including a Surftech, ride better. They are all good boards - just find one you like. If it doesn’t work out, they have good resale value.

11

my girlfriend and i were given a 9’6" woodlam yater hp back in 99’-2000. the board works insane and still pretty much looks new. no dents on the deck and only one small ding from when it was dropped on a curb. water got inside when the through the deck leash string wore through the outer glass from so much use!!! but it was drained and is back to normal… i could easily say that that board has been in the water well over 700 times with no end to its life in sight… it is a single fin only. the new models have side fin inserts. but i would never put side fins on that board… don’t know if they built them stronger back at the start but i am pretty amazed by that board…

12

I know a guy who bought a 10’0 RAugust ST with a step deck and really likes it.

Its the only ST Ive seen with flex, the guy says he can feel it.

Its almost big enough to SUP.

13

I have a Yater 9’10 serial # 60 its a wood veneer single fin. Overall I like the flex and feel of the board, I surf it with a G.G. propella fin as my daily driver. I have always kept it out of the sun up until this year when I started using my truck for the beach. I now have expansion cracks in the gloss coat running the length of the board bottom. I don’t know how the more recent “woodies” surf but this one is a keeper.

14

I had one of the early wood veneer models available in Hawaii, a 9’0" Randy French design. Although I only rode it a couple of times, it was were enough for me to say that it was a decent riding board. If I had ridden more I probably would have liked it a lot more, but I was a lot more active in my own shapes so I sold it. One thing I did notice about that woodie is that it plowed through whitewater really good. It was’nt until this year that I got another molded epoxy, a South Point 8’0" Carl Schaper/Bonga Perkins design. I did’nt have much expectation for that board but was surprised how much I liked it. It rides like any other board I have and actually feels a bit faster than what I’m used to riding. I can’t tell you anything about how the Tudor rides, his ST models do look rather interesting though. I got to check out the two shortboard models and really was’nt impressed much with them. I would’nt hesitate to take one out for a trial spin given the chance, but it would take some doing for me to plunk down the cash to buy one of them without riding one first.

15

I have a 10 foot Velzy Classic. You are welcome to use it anytime. I just got a 9’2" Harbour for free but it was snapped in half. Mark S and I put it back together. You can test ride that one too. I’ll talk to you at Keith’s house on Sunday.

Ray

16

Thanks Ray. I’d love to try that Velzy out for a week or so if possible…

17

I’ll throw it in the truck. See you Sunday

Ray

18

I’m in a similar situation…make my own, but have some surftechs for weekend crowds/traveling, etc…they are lively and super durable (can bump rails in a crowd with few if any ramifications)…my only gripes (other than the “soul” issues) are that they are generally light for my taste for noseriding and tend to be a bit too lively for me in bumpy/windy big waves.

19

normally log and love a wingnut ii poly, but i have ridden a surftech in small glassies and was surprised at how quick and effortless it was to swing around - in addition it was ridiculous for early wave catching. that being said, for general conditions, i’d opt for the momentum and smoothness of my poly log.