Hi folks.....not anywhere near to try one so was wondering what I can expect from a performance longboard as opposed to an all round longboard shape? Will they go okay in average surf? Wave catching ability a bit less than a standard longboard? Suppose lots more turning ability, lighter and easier to take steeper drops?
Easier to get out back? Thanks for any opinions.
HP competition long board will be thinner , have more rocker , lighter glassing . think of it as a streched out short board .
all arounders will be a bit heavier , thicker , less rocker . if you are just out to have a good time and not try to impress anyone then its you perfect board .
http://www.proctorsurf.com/Surf-Boards/longboards
http://www.stewartsurfboards.com/surfboards
feedback from someone who had a custom 9’0 epoxy HPLB made a month ago for punchy, steep beachbreak…
Pros -.much less swing weight so easy to turn, very responsive, easy to swing and go late, definitely handles more wave size, fast down the line, catches waves easily
Cons - doesn’t noseride as well as a more classic shape, being lighter it’s more of a handful paddling back out as it doesn’t penetrate oncoming whitewater as well, more “pump”, less glide…
all depends on what kind of waves you’re going to ride, and if it’s just part of a quiver. if for smaller summer waves and you’re going to jump on something else if the swell kicks, go single fin longboard for tip time and the good times glide…if you’re looking for something that has more range and can ride well overhead waves, a HPLB is a good way to go…
if you do go the HPLB route, consider riding a round/RP tail, and make sure the front fins are up at 16"…makes for a board that rides “shorter” then a squaretail with the front fins further back…
might want to check out Joe Blair’s high performance longboard on his website…
FUN
I have a "modern" longboard 9'1 x 18 x 22 x 14 x 3. I dont think its high performance, just modern. It goes great in small waves ( not as good as on old style lb maybe ), and when it gets head high+ and punchy, it freaking rocks. Steep drops are fine, and you can turn it great. I love it!.
One of Bonga Perkins competition surfboards was for sale at a surf shop in Kirra (after using it in the malfunction) years ago.
It was wider in the tail than he would use in Hawaii, but was otherwise a good all-round modern longboard shape. It was glassed in all four's and did not have the logo's even glassed in , just stickers applied to the outside of the board.
As for what to expect, I think you would have a great performing longboard that you need to buy in a six-pack.
I went throught a three year period where that is pretty much all I rode. You can go vertical and do many of the short board moves, just a bit more drawn out. I think they can both nose ride well and turn if shaped right. I never found weight made a huge difference in the nine footers, but it did when it went over. I used to have an epoxy ten footer than rode like a 9’0’’ I also rode the long and heavy classic longboard styles during that period in the 70’s when you were hated if you rode a class L.B. but after the modern L.B. came out I never saw much of a reason to go slower and our waves quite breaking in long rollers and become closed out so it wasn’t good for them either. There is something to the momentum of the heavier ones though.
I'm surprised no one has mentioned the versatility of modern fin systems on most performance longboards. Compared to the glassed on 'D' fins of the past (and recent retro models), any quad box layout or 2+1 system will allow a big boost in performance. I realize that there are those who prefer the ride of a single skeg type fin but you aren't likely to see many in the top ranks of the longboard circuit where high performance is judged.
You should expect improved overall performance in a wide range of conditions with one of the systems described above and a fin quiver to match.
Thanks for the replies folks.....reckon a multi fin option is a good idea.