A few threads lately have got me thinking.
Limitations of shortboards
Cup of tea
Hulls
Amongst others.
There’s many similarities between the world of motorcycles and surfboard design in a light hearted way.
Go back to the 50’s and surboards were (by todays standards) heavy, unsophisticated, straight forward wave riding devices.
Kind of like Harley Davidsons of the day.
Then both started to evolve through the combination of material advances and their riders desire for something different.
The stripped down Harleys in the 60’s and 70’s where like the shortboard revolution of surfing.
The bikers were riding choppers.
The surfers were riding single fins.
Both went great if you didn’t try to turn them too much.
Then sportsbikes turned up.
Of course the thruster is our sportsbike.
Nowadays the boards pros ride are like Moto Gp bikes.
Only great in the hands of a pro and will only make a novice look like a fool on them. Just like thin potato chip shorties which the young and fit can push to the limits.
I watch the Moto Gp bikes and wonder how much more they can do to improve performance as they strive to better their lap times in particles of seconds.
Seems like the improvements to be made in both bikes and high performance shortboards will be in materials rather than outward appearance.
The aging potbellied surfer may now choose a longboard which harkens back to the past. Not hard on the body to ride. Comfort over outright performance.
Just as the motorcyclists may choose to ride the Harley nostalgia models.
Both look like the designs of yore but don’t ride exactly the same.
The Moto Guzzi riders would be the Hullophiles in the surfing spectrum. Quirky designs which simply confuse most onlookers.
Maybe scooter riders (sneared upon by real motorcyclists) would all be riding funboards which are tough and low maintainance, inexpensive and mediocre in performance compared to the sportsbikes of those who kids themselves they can ride their machines to their full potential.
Even big Harley dealerships look more like clothing boutiques these days just like most surfshops.
But what about the fish?
Maybe the fish are a commuter bike. A revelation for many. More compact and lower maintainance which have shortcomings when put on a race track but great as a daily driver.
