Hi Guys
When ever I see a someone surfing a surftech they never seem to get to the bottom of the wave. Are they too light that it has become inefficient or is it just a case of my imagination. I am reffering to shortboards. I have never surfed one so was just wondering.
Well…Swiftyo -
I’ve just taken delivery of a new balsa sando shortboard…vvvvvv light - substantially lighter even than a surftech of similar dimensions…First impressions are that I can’t surf it like a normal board…I have to push harder and crouch more on my bottom turn…top turns on the other hand …well they seem lightning fast and easy…
I’m kinda feeling the weigt of a regular pupe makes for easier surfing…BUT it’s early days…
Will report some more soon
I rode a 6’4" peter Mel Machine surftech for 6 months last year, I found it rode quite well on my backhand bottom turn as I can throw much more power into the backhand. My forehand however is weak and I did find the bottom turn was not as Good. I got rid of it because I really didn’t like the amount of volume and its distribution, plus they are way too stiff, particularly in onshores where they transmit each bump. But on perfect waves it would be great.
French 7’0" Squash
Merrick 6’8" Flyer
Linden 7’0" (Boardworks)
These are older versions
They work
they just get sketchy at high speeds (i,e, big powerful waves)
and stop dead after a big turn with out a followup pump.
They hang up in heavy winds too
because they are so light and stiff
they are very very quick (throw-around-able if that’s a word)
and can hop from point a to point b (including airs) at a whim
but being stiff there’s no feedback to your feet to get a rhythm
The newer versions (Byrnes, Pattersons, Webbers)
seem much better
because they are thinner and not an exact copy of it’s poly prototype.
That’s the secret
go way smaller than you would think
to get a better performing response.
But like Gary Linden admitted to Sam George…
Stiff Super Light StyroEpoxies all stall
unless you build in flex for some snap
so go for the drive the core weight a 3lb PU gives you
or go for the flex curving snap a perimeter styrocompsand provides.
just one dummy’s opinion though