I ride mid-length boards for the most part but I’ve been itching to getting into longboarding for a while. The problem, longboards are really expensive. Knowing that my budget is limited, my friend has offered to sell me his 9’4" Harbour HP-1 (single fin performance board) really cheap. For someone as small as I am (5’8" at 130 lbs.) would you say the board is too big for me? I will be using the board primarily for smaller days.
Thanks in advance
Depends how you want to surf that log. If you want hi performance carving bottom turns and OTL’s, snappy cutbacks and floaters, maybe it’s too long for your weight.
If you want flowing, casual old school smoothness, have waves that allow you some time, it’s not too far off the reality charts.
You said small waves. Maybe not the best for quick shorepound, but longer does ride lil stuff with ease.
right size, but probably the wrong board for the type of conditions you want to use it in…although after one or two sessions with it in heavier surf, it’d probably become your “go-to” board. if the price is right, i’d say go for it. with longboarding, there’s no such thing as “too big”. one of the best longboarders i know learned how to surf when he was 10 years old on a 10’6" greg noll…he was so small he couldn’t even get his arms around the rails to paddle it lying down and was forced to knee paddle (not that there’s anything wrong with that).
I like the size of that for a 5ft8 person, I’m 5ft8 and I love 10footers, Its not too big and sounds like a good board, if the price is right its a go-er.Josh.
I have a 9’4 HP1 and I weigh 175 and its about right for me. I think it may be too much board for you at 130. As far as i am concerned this board is what I use when its shoulder to head high, and it does not perform nearly as well in small surf.
Longboards can be wridden by anyone at any length, there is no correct size.
that board length is well suited to your size and wieght. am guesing that it is about 2.75" thick? Board will be ideally suited to yur weight… it will have enough float to get you on the nose, and enough rocker to allow you to throw it around a litle.
Go for it…or better yet, borrow it for a few months and if you like it, buy it, or better yet, shape your own
Drew
I will agree with Kurt. There are better small wave longboards out there. Take a look at the tail on the HP then take a look at the tail on a small wave LB. The HP will really turn on at head high.
I will agree with Kurt. There are better small wave longboards out there. Take a look at the tail on the HP then take a look at the tail on a small wave LB. The HP will really turn on at head high.
would this be true with all so called high-performance longboards, or the HP in particular?
I have a big cruiser and want to built a hp lb and a noseridder. Sounds like the hp-lb might not be a good everyday board for riding in mush ?
4est,
I can only speak to the one true HP longboard I have even owed. My Harbor HP longboard has a very thin tail with down rails extending at least 18". I think by adjusting the foil thicker on the board you could make a board that is more versitile. My Harbour (9-2" diamond tail) performs okay in smaller surf, but not like my thick 50/50 railed 9-10 does. I think 9-4 is a good length. The foil is what needs to be adjusted. What are you looking to surf, small mushballs or small more pwoerful waves?
Are you thinking about building an HP lb and a noserider, or one all around kind of thing?
4est,I can only speak to the one true HP longboard I have even owed. My Harbor HP longboard has a very thin tail with down rails extending at least 18". I think by adjusting the foil thicker on the board you could make a board that is more versitile. My Harbour (9-2" diamond tail) performs okay in smaller surf, but not like my thick 50/50 railed 9-10 does. I think 9-4 is a good length. The foil is what needs to be adjusted. What are you looking to surf, small mushballs or small more pwoerful waves?
Are you thinking about building an HP lb and a noserider, or one all around kind of thing?
I plan to build 2 seperate boards: an hp lb and a noserider.
While I want the hp to noseride occasionally, that will not be
it perpose. The hp will be for more top to bottom surfing,
cut backs and floaters.
I live 1 hr from the surf so I don’t really no what it is like until
I get there. therefore my boards are used in a wide range of
conditions. Right now my big thick wide bellyed 50/50 soft railer tanker
gets used for everything. Last week I was at rincon in waste to
chest high fast point surf and the board was too slow. Made
the drop just in time to see the section in front of me close.
Except for the one larger wall that I got into earlier and thus
trimmed and covered 
I spent the day behind the white water.
Time another faster lb in my quiver for smaller faster surf.
This board has worked great for slower waves from 1’-12’ faces.