Hello All, Question: “guns” – what makes a gun a gun (for all of you jokesters out there, not the kind you put bullets in) – and when would most of you take yours out? Are they thicker? Heavier? Softer rails? Rounder rails? Flatter rockers? Rounder bottoms? Lesser fins? I am assuming most are not waiting for Waimaeia or Mavericks or Cortez to break to take your guns out. TR
Hello All,>>> Question: “guns” – what makes a gun a gun (for all of you > jokesters out there, not the kind you put bullets in) – and when would > most of you take yours out?>>> Are they thicker? Heavier? Softer rails? Rounder rails? Flatter rockers? > Rounder bottoms? Lesser fins?>>> I am assuming most are not waiting for Waimaeia or Mavericks or Cortez to > break to take your guns out.>>> TR …I rode my 8’-1" yesterday out at lowers in waist to headhigh stuff.Cutbacks,off the lips,floaters,tubeys.It serves as a cheater,and gives me a board in which the longboarders have some competition to deal with…It’s one thing to be able to ride a shorty,funboard,fish,or longboard in smaller stuff,but it’s the person that can ride a gun in smaller waves that is a cut above the rest.Herb.
herb so guns (at least the one you ride) can be pretty versatile? TR
herb>>> so guns (at least the one you ride) can be pretty versatile?>>> TR …Yes, if you build it for a wider range of waves vs. a gun built for say Pipeline,Sunset or just big nasty stuff.It does take time to ajust,and master,but for me if I only had one board my 8’-1" (on the board page) would win hands down.Herb.
Whether tow-in or conventional surfing,the single most important element in a big wave gun is the RIDER. Without a high level of regularly maintained and proven physical and mental conditioning, one`s choice of board is dangerously irrelevant. Large, powerful waves are for watermen (not one-dimensional surfers) who are experienced and comfortable swimming, diving and bodysurfing in extreme circumstances without the aid of a surfboard or leash. In addition,the colder the water,the more critical personal conditioning becomes. Bottom line: you can never train hard enough for big waves. Another superb question, TR!
Whether tow-in or conventional surfing,the single most important element > in a big wave gun is the RIDER.>>> Without a high level of regularly maintained and proven physical and > mental conditioning, one`s choice of board is dangerously irrelevant. > Large, powerful waves are for watermen (not one-dimensional surfers) who > are experienced and comfortable swimming, diving and bodysurfing in > extreme circumstances without the aid of a surfboard or leash.>>> In addition,the colder the water,the more critical personal conditioning > becomes. Bottom line: you can never train hard enough for big waves.>>> Another superb question, TR! I can see how conditioning is key. It seems to exhude confidence and comfort when out there. I remember surfing waves that I thought were big at the time (they were at the time) and just not having the confidence to surf them to my ability, and this not surfing many waves and surely not surfing them well. I can also remember how that changes as I got into better shape and gained confidence in bigger waves. It is interesting how huge a factor my state of mind plays in my surfing. I suppose that is true in most things we do, but it seems so obvious with surfing.
I can see how conditioning is key. It seems to exhude confidence and > comfort when out there. I remember surfing waves that I thought were big > at the time (they were at the time) and just not having the confidence to > surf them to my ability, and this not surfing many waves and surely not > surfing them well. I can also remember how that changes as I got into > better shape and gained confidence in bigger waves.>>> It is interesting how huge a factor my state of mind plays in my surfing. > I suppose that is true in most things we do, but it seems so obvious with > surfing. TR, If you`re out in heavy water, the life you save might not be your own… being actively aware of the safety of others, is an important aspect of responsible surfing, no matter what the conditions. Dale
It is interesting how huge a factor my state of mind plays in my surfing. > I suppose that is true in most things we do, but it seems so obvious with > surfing. Boy ain’t that the truth. The mental aspects of surfing are huge. Surfing with confidence really boosts performance. By the way, swell.com has a pretty cool guide to surfboard anatomy that Dave Parmenter put together. It’s more thorough than you’d imagine a website like that putting out and he explains design aspects in pretty good detail.
i have a 7’2" x 2.5" gun that is my go to board whenever i’m unsure what the conditions will be. its 11.5"noseX19.75"wideX13.5"rndpin. i keep the rails soft up front going into a tad harder tuck than the avg. shortboard. flat all the way thru with a very subtle dbl concave thru the fins. rocker/blank is a 7’3"Pnatural. just like herb said it gives me a bit of a chance against the longboard masses and actually works great in smaller stuff.
I gain all my practice skating downhill @ speeds of 60mph+ there is very little room for error…I also love to bomb my favorite hills at night to add to the feel…Anyone want to watch?..need a cameraman…this will be done in LongBeach/Signal Hill,Ca. BY THE WAY KIDDIES…DON’T DO THIS AT HOME!!! This kind of boarding is best left to the pros.Herb.
I can see how conditioning is key. It seems to exhude confidence and > comfort when out there. I remember surfing waves that I thought were big > at the time (they were at the time) and just not having the confidence to > surf them to my ability, and this not surfing many waves and surely not > surfing them well. I can also remember how that changes as I got into > better shape and gained confidence in bigger waves. Question(s): Would a gun help you gain a little more confidence in bigger waves? When do you bring out the guns, or put another way, how do you define ‘bigger waves’? And what’s the main advantage of a gun, catching the big waves before they get too steep or a stable and fast platform? Best regards, Håvard
…The narrower nose, is for basically takeoffs in big waves.It gives less resistance,especially with alot of movement going up the face of the wave,be it chop/water or air/offshore winds,and provides a sleaker line for suckedout sections where speed is a concern. …Tailtypes/width, should also accommodate the larger faster waves,with a narrower outline,and a tail design that give as little resistance as possible. …Rockers, will vary,but a lot of flip in the nose and a low tail rocker is uaually what you see in a gun. …Thickness/width,I prefer a meater board for earlier entry(so you don’t peril your needle nose)this is very helpful in smaller waves because of the narrow nose,they just don’t fit in a smaller curl well on takeoffs.Body widths,again vary alot,… …all this talk about big waves has got me going…No surf lately,I think I’ll grab my leathers,helmet,and double thick sppeedd deck and hit airplane,or shell hill Friday night…As SK said…WANT TO RACE???Herb.
it’s the person that can ride a gun in smaller waves that is a cut above the rest.Herb. It does take time to ajust,and master,but for me if I only had one board my 8’-1" (on the board page) would win hands down.Herb. I gain all my practice skating downhill @ speeds of 60mph+ there is very little room for error…I also love to bomb my favorite hills at night to add to the feel…Anyone want to watch?. This kind of boarding is best left to the pros.Herb. …all this talk about big waves has got me going…No surf lately,I think I’ll grab my leathers,helmet,and double thick sppeedd deck and hit airplane,or shell hill Friday night…As SK said…WANT TO RACE???Herb. Please--------------------------stop---------I feel so inferior—o great one
Sorry if you feel inferior, IN THE 70s I raced downhill with the best of them,The SignalHill races were the basis of all speed skateboarding. Like I said… WANT TO RACE?Herb.
Sorry if you feel inferior,>>> IN THE 70s I raced downhill with the best of them,The SignalHill races > were the basis of all speed skateboarding.>>> Like I said… WANT TO RACE?Herb. Since you`re the master, why race against those poor unfortunates of lesser skill? Try beating yourself.
Sorry if you feel inferior,>>> IN THE 70s I raced downhill with the best of them,The SignalHill races > were the basis of all speed skateboarding.>>> Like I said… WANT TO RACE?Herb. Herb- Spinning out of control again? Time to go back to your Docs and recheck your meds.
Herb, what’s your downhill setup? Ever ride any of teh landyachts with the lowered decks?
Herb,>>> what’s your downhill setup? Ever ride any of teh landyachts with the > lowered decks? Nope,I’ve seen some guys kicking ass on the dry lakes out in the desert on sailcrafts,while skydiving.looks like a gas!Herb.
… Anyone that can make it to the bottom of Shell or Airplane hill without biffing it,is a winner in there own right… … I’ve raced against top pros like John Hutson,Mike Goldman,Waldo Autry,Guy Grundy,and Hitchcocks.ALL who were or are better than I am at the art of downhilling… …I still race with a few friends,none that match what I do,but they are willing to give it that extra effort and go for it …rather than whine,and cry about it.Herb.
Herb- Spinning out of control again? Time to go back to your Docs and > recheck your meds. …You’d think after all these years orig.tim, you could post something more intelligent.Herb