i have been “researching” this for some time now and think i am getting closer, i’ll start with the longest and work my way down:
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paddle/surfboard: paddle it. surf it. really fun both ways. take your kids out on it. rides much better than you might think. really fun playing around on it. will catch a ripple. also note that if you become hardcore paddler get an unlimited shape.
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longboard in the 9’6" =/- 2" range: as simple as possible. little nose rocker, but in the last 24", flat most the rest. no concave, maybe even a slight belly. square tail. rails slightly pinched and slightly turned down in last 1/3rd. fin box (just one.) glassed kinda heavy.
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board in the low 7’ range. not a potato chip. thruster set up. soft square tail. hard turned under rails. wider and thicker than most of the boards in the racks.
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“retro” fish. get the real thing. get it thick. get addicted. have fun and don’t get frustrated initially. 6’ +/- 2".
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quality surf mat and quality swim fins. really only one quality surf mat out there. keep it in your car or strapped to your bike or in your luggage. ride it really in any condition. force yourself to take it out initially, then force yourself to stop.
of course you will also want to “fill in the blanks” with noseriders, hulls, eggs, guns and anything else that keeps you smiling