Need some recomendations on long boards

General Discussion
1

Hey everyone,

First let me say that if I had the choice I would

find a local shaper to work with. Up here in

Oregon my options are few and the choices

I do have I’m not 100% impressed.

Second, I want a 9’ - 9’4" longboard to cruise

with in the mushy head high surf we have here in

OR. I find we need a bit more float and a bit less

rocker to really have fun on 80% of the days here.

I have boards for the hollow days and I’m tired of

going home feeling skunked. I want that glide

feeling, easy paddle, something thats not terrible to turn

(2+1 setup?) and built well. Finally maybe a bit of time

on the nose.

My one local shaper that I am curious about though

is Gerry Lopez, does anyone have any experience

on his longboards? I searched but found little.

I’m also looking into a Patagonia nose rider or HP, from the searches

it seems like they had a delam issue in the beginning and

I couldn’t find info if they have fixed it and if their longboards

ride like I want.

The final board is a Robert August WIR, but only because its

at the local board shop and looks decent. Again, not much

info that I could find.

I’m also open to other ideas and shapers.

Thank you,

Justin

2

I have a RA-WIR that’s a great all-around board, but if you’re looking for a real glide machine, I’d recommend something with a flat-bottom downrail nose rather than the rolled rail and teardrop concave on the WIR. I have a 9’6" Hobie Vintage that puts out an incredible ride. It’s a total glide machine and a great noserider, too.

3

Have you talked to Cort? Bryan bates?? Just curious…

7/10

4

I have talked to Bryan, but not Cort.

5

Cort Gion is a world -class shaper who spent many years on the North Shore and Santa Cruz before settling in Florence Or. several years back. He knows what works where! Does it all from shape to glass. He taught Brian Bates most of what he knows. Bates is also a good shaper and craftsman. Does it all from start to finish. He is located in Pacific City. I don’t know where you are located but Art Colyer is another great craftsman. I actually like his over 9 ft. boards better than most. He does custom glassing and his gloss and polish is second to none. You can see and order his boards thru Seaside Surf Shop. All three build beautiful longboards. How much differance there is in price I cannot say. They are “top-of-the-line” craftsmen and are priced accordingly. I don’t think you’ll get anything from them in the 9’ range for less than $750-900. As they say “you get what you pay for”. In this case your are getting a beautiful longboard for a fair price. Gerry shapes a great short board. If you want “glide and turn” go with one of the three guys above.

6

Joel Tudor was quoted in one of the mags this year as saying Gerry Lopez taught him where to put roll and how to shape rails: “Hey, Joel, you like eating shit? C’mere, lemme show you something.” Surely someone else saw that. Gerry Lopez him knows a thing or two about surfboards, trim and whatnot, I always figured. Joel Tudor, I think him is a pretty good longboarder.

7

Hammersurf.com I think less money but not as nice

of a finish as the other shapers mentioned. Surfed with

someone on the single fin that was surfing well.

Have you looked at Gorge performance and Cleanline?

8

Not impressed with modern day hammers at all, ever since the owner sold it the glassing jobs have gone to shit.

I have tried gorge and have my eye on a Robert August WIR and a bing model. But I’m really into the idea of epoxy, but the only experience i’ve had is surtech and I hated it.

J

9

Eps/epoxy? Try Lanny Shuler in Seaside. On the right just as you come into town from the south. If I were going epoxy I would rather have something from a custom shaper than a board off the rack.

10

Hey Justin

You have a gem in your state.

http://www.sevensurfboards.com/

(Although I have no idea where He is in compared to where you are).

Thats Bryan from Seven Surfboards out of Pacific city.

Contact info is here http://www.sevensurfboards.com/html/contact_us.html

He using nothing but S cloth and has some realy nice tints.

He tends to lower the rocker a bit for the the local conditions and makes one hell of a nice longboard.

If you see him tell him that Basswave sent you (seriously).

I don’t think you can go wrong with him.

Cheers

-B~