im 175, age 49…in good shape…have a 9’x2.75 x14.5 x17.75 high performance long board…lookin for a baord to catch more waves with, but can handle head high days- knee high.nosride, turns well etc…the boards im thinkin about have the following dimensions…9-6x23.5x16x3.5x18.5 its a rounded pin with real eggy rails…and a little concave in the nose…also has v in the tail that extends about 1/3 the way up from the tail…rocker is fairly flat…4.5 in nose, 4 in tail…the other board is a 9-6 as well x 23.5 x 3.25x 15x 18.5concave in the nose, square tail, 5in nose rocker 3.5 in tail…flat bottom, 60-40 rails…both are single fins…never rode a board with 3.5 in of thickness…not sure if i need that much…seems like most boards i see are 9-x3.25 x23.5x15x18.5…any suggestions???thanks for the help.thyre aot of money and want to make the right choice…
If your in good shape there is no need to go more than 3’ thick on a longboard with those other dimensions. Check with the shop thats selling them, they may have been made for big boys.
Jerry, The right shaper can key you into the kind of board your looking for. Here in Santa Cruz we have a number of tremendously talented shapers. They all do things a little differently and how a 9’6" board is shaped has has everything to do with how it performs. I weigh about what you do and I have three longboards They’re all round pintails and each surfs very differently. Of the three the 9’5"x17.5"x22.5"x14.25x3.0-" Junod is for me the most versatile. The 9’0"x19.5"x23.0"x15.5"x3.0 Freeline is magic and very responsive but is much happier in small waves that when it gets overhead. By the way it catches waves as easily as the 9’5". The 9’10" Volan glassed Hap Jacobs is like riding in a luxury car – sort of like taking a Sunday drive in a Bentley. It will handle much bigger surf than I’m willing to take it out in. It a lot of board and I’m I prefer a midlength board when it really pounding. Talking to a top shaper about longboards is the best place to start. So after you ook at their work if you have a chance and talk to someone like Michel Junod or John Mel or Hap Jacobs about boards. Hopefully you can look over some quality work and discuss what will work for you best. These guys and many other shapers are very approachable and discussing your ideas can help you make a much better choice about your next board. If you can’t get to any experienced shaper to talk things over at least rent a few boards and see what works for you before you take the leap. Doing both is probably the best approach. I hope this helps and that you can find something that suits you. Mahalo, Rich