Hello everyone! After talking to various, knowledgeable forum members on the last subject i have decided that the easiest way to describe my style is like, my favourite surfer, Rob Machado (albeit a considerable amount worse than him at the moment though!)I have tried to get through to various shapers like THIRDSHADE (thanks again to Bill for pointing me in the right direction) and others such as Maurice Cole, but i had barely any luck. I was just wondering what everyone would suggest as a shortboard that would best suit that laid back but powerful performance-based style that Rob Machado has, that I do too? Essentially a board that suits 4 foot plus surf and would cater for my laid back etc style.Thanks everyone, you’re the best!Joe
Interesting because I would consider myself the ‘casual goofy footer’ type and I prefer these aspects in addition to (roundpin) tail not too wide e.g. under 14" though I have no intention or results that have anything to do with emulating anyone… I think these factors allow for a slightly more upright speed carve approach that is a factor in ‘casual’
HOWEVER - here is my thought: if one really wants to gravitate towards casual and stylish I would say to use boards that FORCE you to go there by which I mean the opposite of short wide tri-fins which IMHO are a common tool employed for achieving a lot of the ugliest surfing I see. I have always been fond of saying that a longboard teaches you how to REALLY trim and turn and that you will look cool and smooth on a shortboard if you continue with the mindset. A friend recently commented that singles make you ‘surf the wave’ more as opposed to the ‘just keep doing manuvers’ style and I think he is right. I’d ride a 7’6" single fin with low rocker and a narrow tail if I wanted to push myself in this direction… hey wait a minute, I almost do already.
As far as Machado is concerened, it seems to me that his key is that he is so light footed (I bet he doesn’t weigh much) and I am certain that he looks pretty much the same on any board, kinda like we all do… I don’t know why in hell ANYONE would want to ‘emulate’ anyone elses surfing but supposing they did want to surf like Machado I think light-footedness would be the #1 focus
You should ride a bonzer-
Hahaha i will do!
Cheers mate, all the best.
Joe
Joe you need to bug your parents like never before to get a lift to the event. You’ll learn more in one day than you can possibly imagine…put it in your diary and make sure you chat with chris about the shaping lessons…he’s got a Facebook page called love foam. Search him out. Cheers rich
Thanks so much for all the help guys, i’ve learnt more in the past few weeks about surfboard design than i had in my previous 16 years of life!cheers for the links gdaddy, i’ll be sure to check those sites out. Bill, thanks as always, i’m sure you’ll understand; you get so many people giving you false info, it’s hard to know what’s right or wrong haha.Richard, i’m really sorry; your reply must have slipped under my radar! Thanks for the info, i hadn’t heard of the fish fry; i’ll see if i can go along! I hope you have a safe trip to Australia; don’t ride too many perfect waves 
Hey joe,
not sure what happened but just seen in your post that you’d tried contacting me…I did respond to an email you sent but got no reply back? Have just read through your post and my advice would be to go visit the fish fry in crackington haven at the start of October. You will meet britains finest shapers of alternative boards there and have the chance to chat to each one before making any purchase or decision. I have just sold off all my old quiver and shipped the rest as I’m moving to aus next Friday. You can connect with the organisers of the event through Facebook just type in fish fry crackington haven. They are a great bunch and if there’s any waves that weekend you’ll also have chance to demo some. Great to read about your enthusiasm…go ride some and then have a go at making one. You’ll meet a guy there called chris hartop…he offers shaping and laminating lessons the full process for newbies, again he’s a great chap. Best of luck in your quest mate and just keep on searching…
cheers
rich
Really. Tri Fins, for me, began in 1964. (shocking, eh?) First one I did, in late August of that year, was in what today is referred to as a thruster setup. I revisited the concept in late 1970 by developing the PressLock fin that was removable, or installed, with no screws/tools/pins. They were used by Weber, Hobie, Bing, G&S, Caster, Surfboards Hawaii, Surf Systems, and others. My point is, I have no reason to lie to you. I’ve explored multi fins long, before it was fashionable. Just passing along some firsthand knowledge.
Here are two websites that you can pick through for inspiration. Since you like Machado’s surfing you might be interested in learning he’s actually doing some shaping (or scrubbing) on his own designs.
http://driftingproductions.robmachado.com/garage-project/
There are lots of people working on the short singles and widowmakers, but one shaper who’s really close to the source for widowmakers is Neal Purchase’s son, Neal Purchase Jr. He’s gotten into short quads lately but he still does a really functional 2+1 as well as the widomakers. His 2+1 setup is a bit different than how most people do them but I’ve used it and it works exactly how he says it works.
http://nealpurchasedesigns.blogspot.com/
Obviously not a 2+1, but I just put it up because I love the lines on it. At your weight, a 5-10 version of something like this could work.
Really? I always thought that you needed to have side fins to give it some drive?
Yes, as well as with a single fin without the sidebites.
I guess that explains it all then. Thanks a lot!When you say hold a rail all the way through turns, would you be able to get that on a single with maybe 2 sidebites?Cheers,Joe.
Easiest way to surf with style?
Ride the right board for the conditions.
Right turn on the right section will (almost) always be stylish
Speed and flow without forcing anything.
No such thing as a one board quiver (doesn’t work for me anyway)
But…
If i was going to say anything, I’d recommend a board/fin combo that will hold a rail ALL the way through turns.
‘Machado don’t power slide’
Ahh that’s a brilliant idea! so basically get a shaper to work something similar for me? why didn’t i think of that?
You’re the best guys, cheers\1
Joe
Just don’t go down the thick short wide path. Develope your surfing from ya core strength. That machardo top pic, spot on… id get one if I didnt shape, nothing wrong with ci there awesome
hey surfjomama, no one said get a CI surfboard - I suggested you look at CI’s Rob Machado models, in response to your question: what shapes are good for Rob Machado style surfing. If you like the way he surfs, and your style is similar, then it makes good sense to take a hard look at what he rides.
Channel Islands Machado Model
You can have the board shaped by anyone you want, and customized for you in any way you want.
THE GRAVY BY ROB MACHADO
MODEL DESCRIPTION
When Al and Rob get together, the possibilities are endless. Al steering Rob to a more conventional board, and Rob taking Al back in time, a direction he doesn’t always want to go. Reminiscent of Rob’s Biscuit model, The Gravy is shorter and wider than a normal shortboard, but with the addition of a few more performance characteristics. A more foiled and slightly narrower outline with a touch more rocker and fresh new look. With the nose width matching the tail width, not only are small waves fun again, but you can also still tear into them.
This board should be ridden approximately 4″ to 6″ shorter, / 8″ thicker, and about an inch wider than your normal shortboard.
Machado’s dimensions are 5’3 1/2″ x 19 1/4″ x 2 1/4″.
I know exactly what i want, i’m just not sure what dimensions would be best suited for what’s in my head… I’d rather get a board shaped for me anyway, rather than get a Merrick. Then i won’t have to choose a board that is about right for what i need. I’m 16, weigh 9.5 stone, been surfing since i was 6, normally surf Croyde, Putsborough, Porthleven, Fistral, but i have a Webber fish (my avatar) for anything up to head height. don’t worry about it anyway, i probably should’ve thought this through before posting. I’ll just talk to Gulf Stream.Cheers anyway
Hahaha sorry! no one’s ever taken a picture of me surfing. However, seeing as i have so many god damn ideas i’ve decided to, on my next surf, take a detour to Braunton and visit the guys at Gulf Stream. If i tell them what i need, it will be much easier to get a board shaped for me. Cheers for the rocker guidance by the way everyone… sorry for being a bit ‘all over the place’
Not to be harsh, but…
In my opinion if you don’t know what you want then it doesn’t make much difference whose name is on the board.
Let’s start with you: Age, weight, surfing experience, location where you normally surf. Local conditions will play a big part in how your style develops.
Mate, your all over the place… post a pic of you surfing
Please