Nose rider Length Question

General Discussion
1

Here’s a question about board length for all of you nose rider experts out there. I’m 34, pretty good shape, 5’11", 185 lbs., intermediate surfer whose been surfing for over 10 years, mostly surf the point breaks of Santa Cruz in the under head high range. My old Board: 9’4" modern longnboard… 2 +1 rode as a single fin, lots of rocker.

For my new board I wanted to go more tradtional… a nose rider… I ended up purchasing a Pearson Arrow CJ model… Here’s the specs:

Length: 9’6"

Nose: 19 7/8"

Width: 24"

Tail: 16 7/8"

Thickness: 3"

Originally I thought the length was fine (and of course it is designed as a nose rider). My friend said, “Bro, you’re only 34, save the six inches for later in life when you really need it.” Though after doing a little research I’m beginning to wonder if I should have gone longer. But how much differene can 4"-6" make? If it IS significant, maybe I’ll keep my eyes open for a 9’10" or 10’. Arrow provided a great deal and it is a sweet board, but they don’t demo boards and nobody I know owns anything longer than 9’6". The more I rider this new board the more I’ll learn of course (the swell hasn’t been cooperating:). But I’d like to hear other thoughts from the experts in regards to the length of nose riders.

Thank you…

2
Quote:

Here’s a question about board length for all of you nose rider experts out there. I’m 34, pretty good shape, 5’11", 185 lbs., intermediate surfer whose been surfing for over 10 years, mostly surf the point breaks of Santa Cruz in the under head high range. My old Board: 9’4" modern longnboard… 2 +1 rode as a single fin, lots of rocker.

For my new board I wanted to go more tradtional… a nose rider… I ended up purchasing a Pearson Arrow CJ model… Here’s the specs:

Length: 9’6"

Nose: 19 7/8"

Width: 24"

Tail: 16 7/8"

Thickness: 3"

Originally I thought the length was fine (and of course it is designed as a nose rider). My friend said, “Bro, you’re only 34, save the six inches for later in life when you really need it.” Though after doing a little research I’m beginning to wonder if I should have gone longer. But how much differene can 4"-6" make? If it IS significant, maybe I’ll keep my eyes open for a 9’10" or 10’. Arrow provided a great deal and it is a sweet board, but they don’t demo boards and nobody I know owns anything longer than 9’6". The more I rider this new board the more I’ll learn of course (the swell hasn’t been cooperating:). But I’d like to hear other thoughts from the experts in regards to the length of nose riders.

Thank you…

you’re thinking too much.

You should be able to surf that type of board at 9’0".

Just surf it.

3

For some reason, a 9’8" always feels like the prefect length single fin noserider to me. At 9’6" or less, it just doesn’t feel like it has all the length I like, and anything over 9’10" starts to feel like a SUP to me. It’s probably all in my mind, but that’s the way it is. I’m only 5’8", 160lbs…

4

same height as you and 40lbs less. My nose rider is 9’6" I can see having it be 9’4" but 9’0", hell no, not for a nose rider.

5

those CJ’s are magic at 9’9"

6

9’9" for some reason is a magic noseriding number. my friend has the 9’9" bing and it nose rides 10x better than my 9’6", but mine is a better all round board.

7

Based on your criteria of wanting to nose ride and surf waves under head high, a 9’6" CJ model is a great introductory selection for an individual that is your size. With that board carrying so much width through out the board, it should be plenty stable for you to dial in your nose riding and foot work.

Others who have input regarding you don’t need extra length, need to realize that you are getting a specific board for specific conditions to perform specific maneuvers. That is why experienced surfers have a quiver of boards. Right board for the right day for the right mood.

Keep in mind that the board should enhance performance, and not just allow you to be a greedy wave whore. Do not allow yourself to be typecast as the stereotypical longboarder whose board lets them catch any ripple in the water, yet is too big for them to control and keeps them from actually “surfing” the wave.

I consider 9’6" a starting target length for a traditional nose rider. IMO they generally range from 9’2" (groms, females, extremely lightweight individuals, etc. who have trouble turning longer boards) up to 10’0".

You can go smaller, for example, Joel Tudor often rides a 9’4" log at 6 feet tall, but weighs 170ish. I have also seen him surf extremely well on boards longer.

In the other direction, I have found that a riders footwork changes with the board length. For instance, 9’0" performance longboards are harder to get clean sets of steps when approaching the nose, hence a bit of shuffling due to the constricted deck/nose area. 9’4" to 9’10" for me is pretty comfortable. When they get longer than this, it is more challenging to get up to the tip more quickly (more steps), and can limit the amount of time spent up there. It also takes longer (more steps) to get back from the nose (a proper completion of a nose ride). Something about the difference in 9’10" to 10"0" (2 inches) for me is a big change in footwork as a full extra set of steps can be implemented as I walk to the tip. I think this is due to leg length, stride, and how it is incorporated into an individuals footwork. I am 6 feet tall for reference.

Spend more time on your noserider and through experience, you should be able to figure out your preference and fine tune your equipment accordingly.

8

If you have been surfing for over 10 years then noseriding should be no problem at all on that CJ.

I have rode countless CJ’s and they all work well at whatever length. That is all they do.

I think that if you spend the time to learn the fundamentals then board length should not really matter.

Noseriding for me is really about being in the right part of the wave, cross stepping and balance.

And as others have stated here everyone learns what works best for them.

Most times it seems guys with more weight prefer larger boards as they are able to handle the size

and guys with less can get that balance on smaller sized boards.

I am 6’1’’ 190lbs and my current noserider is 9’6’'.

I enjoy the shorter length with a lot of weight in the board. Mine is 24lbs without wax or fin.

But it does not really matter…

9

I’m about the same height and weight as you (5’10", 185 lbs). If I had to pick a “standard” length as a starting point for a traditional noserider, I’d go for 9’6" to 9’9".

I like a little bit longer board (all of my logs except for one are 9’8" to 10’0") but they’re typically thinner and/or narrower than what you’ve got there. I don’t know that it adds or detracts from noseriding, but I like the added length for the extra inertia as your swinging the board through a turn.

Like Epac said though, just surf it. You’ll get it dialed in just fine.

Oh yeah, one more thing to consider, moving the fin around or trying different fins or even the same fin but foiled differently can affect how the board noserides. A big old block of a fin with a thicker foil (like the tru ames heritage) will tend to slow the board down a little more and help it to hold in. Less fin or a thinner (foil) fin (like a 9.75" greenough 4a) may turn better but not be as noseride friendly. It all depends upon what you’re after.

10

Ah, now were talking. The bigger the fin the better! That of course is for noseriding…

Many people have rode my logs and told me the fin is too big and too far back. While it

does slow the board down; that is really what I want when on the tip, slow down and hang

one out there while in the pocket.

I also prefer slightly narrower boards… overall.

Sometimes it seems that those super wide boards fly out of the pocket and out on the shoulder.

Still, I think those CJ boards are the real deal…

11

Get out your chalk and find a very slightly downward-sloping bit of sidewalk. Starting at 6" and finishing at 12" up from one of the lines, draw a line parallel to the curb. That’s the fin. Now put your back foot at the front end of that in a pop-up stance.

From there, cross-step as naturally as you can, as if you’re on film, in a contest, in perfect Malibu 3’ peelers with no wind. And you’re killing it.

Take your first step with the back foot and cross it up behind the front one. Send the front one on ahead comfortably next. Repeat that paired process 2 more times. Then bring your finishing back foot up to match the toes of your front foot.

Mark your toes with the chalk.

Do it 2 more times, all casual. You’re still killing it out there, and all the hot longboarder girls are watching you now. No pressure, you’re in 1968’s The Golden Breed.

Mark each finishing point with the chalk, but don’t look down as you do it, look 10 yards ahead where you’d be watching for sections anyway.

Average the 3 chalk marks back to that original line in the sidewalk you measured the fin from. And measure your noserider.

Mine’s 10’2.

Yours will be different. But it will be yours.

Unconventional yes, but intuitive in a way the ‘surf industry’ never is. Trust me on this one.

And all you who said the “magic” length is 9’9 or 9’0 or 9’6… go walk your own sidewalks. It has very little to do with how tall you are or what your inseam measures out at - its all about your gait. Be comfortable and end up at the nose. You’ll see. And if you end up with a length shorter than you think you like, add width. If you turn out to take long steps, pinch the rails but go with your length. :smiley:

12

interesting point of view. so many ways to slice the cake.

I’m not a much of a nose rider. too fat. but really think it’s the surfer more than the board. Watching, and watching the endless newbie crowd in the kiddy cove burying the tail and pendulum to the nose. Pretty boring to watch and limiting persective, but cool to think you are like CJ.

13

epac - I’m with you on this one - longboards are so limiting :-/

http://youtube.com/watch?v=eoUuj9wOgck - nice eh?

Makes me wonder why so many larger gents struggle on overly short boards…

14

I find 9’2 works for me just fine. But where I surf it’s beachbreaks, not long, peeling points, so the ability to get out on the tip quickly is key. Once I’m out there, it really doesn’t matter how much board is behind me, until it’s time to get back when the section’s over. Then you want it short again.

15
Quote:

epac - I’m with you on this one - longboards are so limiting :-/

http://youtube.com/watch?v=eoUuj9wOgck - nice eh?

Makes me wonder why so many larger gents struggle on overly short boards…

I’m not saying longboards are limiting. The one trick pony noseriders are though. Taylor and CJ are good examples of guys who can surf anything fron 1’ to 12’ on longboards of any size or shape, seen them both do it. Taylor noserides 9’ light longboards really well, and he’s built like Laird.

nice!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mU8ue-CIKEA&feature=related

16

“Take your first step with the back foot and cross it up behind the front one. Send the front one on ahead comfortably next. Repeat that paired process 2 more times. Then bring your finishing back foot up to match the toes of your front foot.”

Benny, did you mean cross back foot in front of the front one? That is how I do it. Watch the Knost clip… But either way, this is a brilliant idea! Gets right to the heart of the matter. One point to consider, if making your own so multiple boards is cheaper…if it feels to long or short at the length you come up with, small adjustments in rocker as well as width and rail thickness can make a lot of difference in how long the board rides.

17

Aloha Epac,

Word up on the pendilum type nose rider crowd. Pointed moistly straight toward the beach, standing on the rear of the board until it stalls and nearly loses the wave, then run to the tip until you pearl is certainly not noseriding (more like see-sawing). Amazing how many you see going through that motion then come out of the water with a big grin talking about the duration of their nose rides. Funny stuff. Love to watch the guys that are good at it. Bottom turn, trim out, find that nice plane a little high on the wave for speed, lock the mid to tail section into the wave til it grabs nicely, then step out on the front porch and claim whatever stance turns you on, time it right then step back and kick out. Nice! It’s all about the glide and the smooth.

Richard

18

You Guys are great! Thank you for all of the thoughtful responses. South Swell came in and I finally had a real chance to test her out. My conclusion… great board perfect length. I also had a chance to ride my friend’s 9’7" GP single fine (weighs about 25 lbs). Man what a difference. My next board will definitely have a thicker glass job. But for the time being… I’m stoked.

19

Aloha seabright,

I didn’t go back through all the posts in this thread to see if it was brought up before, but you are right on with the weitht issue (in my opinion). A noserider wants a little more of that classic weight for that glide and cruising through the sections. I’m getting ready to build a noserider for someone who rides a lot of boards built by a lot of shapers here. He’s a guy who has surfed here in Hawaii for many years and he’s adament about weight (wants it heavy). Another aspect that I don’t recal being brought up in this thread is the type of wave or the “homebreak” where you surf. Noseriding requires a certain kind of wave for ideal conditions but different breaks deliver different waves requiring a little different board. All things go into the equation. Then again, at the other end of the spectrum there’s always that saying: “a good surfer can surf any board in any condition and make it do what he wants”.

Bottom line: enjoy the ride!

Richard