Hi all, was hoping to gain some feedback re a performance longboard. I'm 50 yrs old and have had recent shoulder surgery, so need to now focus on easy paddling, but don't want to give up performance. I usually ride McCoy nuggets (7'1" and 8'2") but want something longer. I have a 9'6" Surftech Takayama In The Pink, which although paddles quickly and picks up waves well, is too wide to paddle comfortably (24" widepoint, about 20 1/2" 12" back from nose.) This board noserides incredibly well (its main purpose) but is slow and unwieldy with so much swing weight out front. Its flat rocker also makes steeper waves interesting. I am 6'1" and about 180 pounds. Does anyone have any ideas re dimensions for a (relatively) easy paddling performance longboard? I was thinking 9'4", 3" thick, 22-22 1/2" wide, single concave to flat under chest to vee or spiral double concave between fins, and a rounded pin tail. Not sure whether to go quad or larger centre fin with smaller side fins. Intermediate rocker. Noseriding not a priority (Takayama does that) so probably a nose around 17" would do. Any tips would be greatly appreciated. Alternatively, any suitable Surftech model would be considered, although I would prefer to support my local shaper (Rick Ford at Mid Coast Surf South Australia). It's just that the lightweight epoxy makes for easy paddling......
Ask Rick Ford for a modern longboard, and let him know you don't want it for noseriding. I have a Jackson 9'1'' modern longboard. Not lightweight, but not old school heavy ( 6x66oz? ), 22 1/4 wide, 3" thick, but foiled out and with a narrowish roundpin tail ( 14"tail, 18"nose ), not dead flat rocker, rolled bottom in the back end, with some edge in the rails. Up front is rolled up rails with a single concave ( light, blended, not a teardrop ). Personally i find the concave is great for catching wind blowing up the face, in turn lifting me out of the wave, and not much else, though im not an expert longboarder ( i like turning rather than noseriding, though not like a shortboard ), and its only a problem in windy conditions. For my 185lbs, it works best from chest high to a little overhead, but its fun in small stuff too. Turns great with a 2+1 setup.
Do You want this long board to be a noserider? or be able to surf more then just trim and walk the plank?
One of the best designed longboards i ever rode was a pig/ pod shaped board with wide point set back from mid point, nose was pulled in with a wide tail that stepped into a round pin. It was a 3-1 fin set up. Now I would go with a five fin or a Bonzer. Rocker and rails would be more like an Egg. Worked great in knee high to well over head surf.
Nice looking outline. You said nose ridding isn’t what ya your looking for so a outline like this would be spot on. A little less nose helps on steep waves and swinging it around. You could even go a little thinner like 2 3/4. I found thinner HPLB surf better then thicker. I hope ya find your dream ride
Thanks for replies, really helpful. I'll take this advice on board when I talk to my shaper. Thanks for photos Icc, that is a sleek board; very much what I had visualised.
