I came upon a custom Terry Martin Longboard about a week ago. It is a very sharp looking board. I got it used at a good price. The specifications are below. I was hoping that someone could comment on what type of person (height & weight) this board would be best for. I am 6', 200 lbs and this board is a bit small for me, but it moves well. I surf the typical longboarding spots in South Orange County such as San Onofre and Trails and I have been able to drop in and carve a bit on the slow rollers that call San O home, but this board is a bit hard to paddle along with tough to drop in on the slow rolling waves, etc. I am used to surfing Longboards in the 10' - 11' range. I plan to keep this board, but was hoping that folks may be able to comment on this board. Perhaps they have seen similar designs, etc. I am eager for some feedback on this board. I was hoping that someone may have seen a similar design and could comment on what type of person along with what type of conditions this board would be best for.
Length: 9' 3"
Top Width: 18"
Mid Width: 21 3/4"
Bottom Width: 15"
Thickness: 2 3/4"
Very little Rocker on this board design (very flat)
That's a nice looking board, but it seems you have answered your own question. You say you're 6 foot, over 200 lbs. and typically ride a longboard in the 10 - 11 foot range. So this is a 9 -3, less than 22" wide, and less than 3" thick.
I'm a relative newcomer to the world of longboarding, but it seems an obvious guess this board was made for a smaller, lighter surfer. I weigh 175-180, and my 9 footer is 23" wide and 3 1/4" thick. Its a volume issue, I suspect.
Terry Martin is a legendary shaper who recently passed away. Hang it on your wall. Or sell it to a smaller surfer who'll have a blast on it - that's more likely what Terry would've wanted, anyway. He lived to see the smile on someone's face who rode his shapes.
great find, beautiful board. I am 6’0 (I used to be magically 6’1…but…) and 210-220 lbs, 42 yrs… this is plenty of board, just not a 10-11 ft of board, I think spending more time on the board will prove to you that you will be able to ride this in real small stuff; just gotta get your mind and body in sync with it, I surfed bladed out 9’0 x 21-22 x 2.75- 2 7/8 boards for years and could ride them in just about anything. You are talking a lot less board than a 10’er or an 11’er, but its plenty given your weight nonetheless in my experience
then again, if it doesn’t meet your needs, thats more reason to have 2 longboards, this one and the larger versions you mention for real tiny stuff
A 9’3" board is a pretty forgiving piece of real estate and could be suitable for most anyone who can surf well. Obviously a 200# rider is going to need a little more skill and conditioning to get it going than a 100# girl but then again there are lots of middle aged guys @ 200# riding boards in the 6-something sizes without a problem. The question here isn’t what the board is capable of doing, but what the rider is capable of doing. If you think you “need” a 10ft board to get your waves then maybe sticking with this board and learning how to deal with the reduction in volume will make you a better surfer.
Thanks for the Feedback......Yes, I am used to the larger boards and it will take some additional conditioning to get in sync with this board. It is a nice looking board. Eventually, I think it will end up on a wall :). I have heard nothing but great things about Terry Martin.....Sad to hear of his passing, but it seems that he brought joy to many of his friends and customers.....A lasting legacy I am sure.
I don’t assume your conditioning is an issue with this board. I think you probably just need to adjust your technique and positioning a little. Acclimation. More about being in the right place than paddling into the right place, if you know what I mean.
Most surfers have different boards for different conditions. I assume you do, too. This board might not be a great board for you in weak and slow moving conditions. But it might be just the ticket for a more quickly peeling wave where the challenge isn’t catching the wave so much are moving more nimbly once you’re up. On those waves that you did get I’ll bet this board turned a lot better than your bigger boards and I’ll bet you enjoyed that.
Yes, this board cut much better once on the wave compared to my other larger boards. I agree with your assessment on positioning, etc. I have had many comments on the lack of rocker on this board from folks at the beach. My assumption is that the low rocker should allow for more speed, but I dont think I am feeling it yet...It cuts well, but I have a 10' Harbor SanO board with a bit more rocker and it seems to accelerate and glide through the wave a bit better, but that is probably due to more surface area. In any case, I look forward to when conditions are a bit larger and faster to give this board some surf time. Many thanks for the feedback!!!
This has rails more parallel than Terry’s usual shapes, and it looks like some other features were specifically asked for. When you let Terry do what he felt was right for the conditions and the rider’s size, you got something perfect for you, and that’s why his customs rarely are on the market. When you ask for wierd stuff, Terry would blend it in best as possible, and these are what I see for sale most of the time. Longboards that Terry shaped for my son when he was 120 lbs ran in the 2-3/4" thickness range, and your outline width also suggests a light rider. Low rocker was meant for paddling speed (well, faster than most 9’ boards), but you pay the price for this in the turns. I would do a similar shape for a kid or maybe a woman who complained about always getting snaked in small wave locations. In fast waves this board will support someone 200 lbs (once planing) but in smaller mush you’re better off at 3-1/4" min thickness (poly).
...Longboards that Terry shaped for my son when he was 120 lbs ran in the 2-3/4" thickness range, and your outline width also suggests a light rider. Low rocker was meant for paddling speed (well, faster than most 9' boards), but you pay the price for this in the turns. I would do a similar shape for a kid or maybe a woman who complained about always getting snaked in small wave locations...
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Hi Pete, that was my thinking too, posted earlier in the thread. The size, shape, and volume of this board suggested that it was shaped for a lighter rider to me as well, and seems a likely reason for the frustration the o.p. is experiencing with the board. Nice looking board, 'tho, I'd love to paddle out and try it for a few waves!
