I have been offered a Balsa Longboard and just wanted to know if i bought it what i could expect from the ride. It is 9ft 2 x 22 1/2 x 3 chambered with a D fin. I have seen work by this shaper before in Foam and it is top notch so i dont have any real fear about that. I have always wanted a Balsa board but never had the oppurtunity to try one so i wondered if anyone could tell me what the differences would be to say an identical board in Foam.
I normally ride a Hobie Retro Classic (shaped under Liscence) 9ft Triple stringer Volan cloth, so perfomance is not what i am about.The board would be used mainly in small beach break summer waves about waist high .
If it’s chambered balsa around 9’2", I can only guess between 22-30 lbs. finished. Balsa Bill and others can give you better numbers. You can catch ripples. At least I do on mine. Goat Boater/Sweepers will be envious of your new found ability to sit out on a beautifully carved piece of surfboard art and paddle into waves sans carbon fiber appendage.
As you say you ride more weighted styles of longboards, your perception may be different.
I go from ultra-light comp, eps longboards with epoxy to a 10’ chambered balsa and it is a significant difference. Ultra glide and old school walk to the back, turn and trim and get your quick cross step in order.
Thanks for the reply, i was unsure about how thay catch waves compared to their foam counterpart. I figured once they were up and going they would carry a lot of momentum and hopefully glide like a dream.
Old school sound cool to me. And it is something i can pass down as i think it will out last me.