Greetings all this is my first post so I will try to keep it breif and to the point, but I have been wondering for quite some time about G&S swallow tail longboards that were floating around Tourmaline in San Diego in the late 90’s. I spoke to a few guys and they said that it turned great, but did not nose ride very well. I’ve been thinking about shaping a 9’4 swallow tail for this winter (silver strand, Pitus point and Rivermouth) and was wondering if anyone has either ridden/has/or shaped one and what the results are. Would love your guys input on it, the do’s and don’ts on it I am a little green when it comes to shaping.
Okay not as good feed back as I would have hoped, but at least it got me thinking more about the board. I asked a local shop owner about the board and he said that he remembers the board having down turned rails and a shape not favoring small surf. So that got my mind turning that this board and I believe it will not nose ride at all. It was meant for top to bottom turns, late take offs (For a longboard) and going fast. What the heck I got a discount blank today and I am going to go for it. Ill post some picks to show progress if anyone wants to see. If not oh well I am going to go down in the blaze of glory trying. I will try to get it to noseride if I can.
Ah yes I remember those boards and days well. They would be all lined up against the link fence, right by the white truck with the chalkboard tide, water temp and swell info. I believe those were among the Frye guys boards probably shaped by Larry Mabile. I’ve seen both Skips and Larry’s but only ridden Larrys which tracked like crazy as a quad. I understand Skip clusters his 2+1 set ups close so the kind of act like a single fin. I don’t remember much else but you can shap any tail design you want but the rails and rocker (and your ability) are going to determine whether it’s a nose rider or not.
hi- my present daily rider is a 9’6" swallowtail singlefin. it was shaped be eddie gutierrez under the island influence label. it is wicked fast. i make sections, catch and pass drop-in and generally have a very good time on it. when i trade boards in the water with others everyone likes it. yes it turns great- pretty pivoty, and no it doesn’t noseride well. the feel is bit like a longboard hull. if you would like me to take dimensions off it i will. fast and fun- i rode it tonight under the full moon!
What you be cool would be a 4 + 1 fin set up so you you could ride it at quad or a 2+1 or Single.
I’m having a 9’1" set up like that now with the front fins at 15" (usually at 16" for a 2+1) but if I ride it that way I will go with slightly smaller fins, but then again I’m going with Lokbox so I can push it up a bit also.
Planning on doing a 4+1 with a 12" box so I can slid it fore and aft to make it more like a hull if I so desire and a quad at other times. Would love and demension you all have so I can play around before the blank goes under blade. Was though thinking more of a spoon nose, but like anything its not done till its covered in glass. Still pondering though. I’ve got a 10’3 blank that is first in line.
does the skip noseride? I would like to know because I am shaping a double wing noserider (still has a wide) and haven’t decided if I am going with a square or or swallow tail
