Finally, after lurking for months, I figured it’s about time to post my first question, so please go easy on me:)
I’m planning a trip to Costa Rica in july 05 and I’m gonna stay about a month. I taking 2 boards there one for mushy small waves and another for the bigger days. Here’s the point where I’m not sure what to use. First off, I’m 6ft tall and weigh about 150 lb. My plan is to use a 6’2’‘x18’‘x2,5’’ with a medium noserocker pulled a little over the middle, a flat with about 1ft length and a little tailrocker. For the tail I had something like a round or round pintail in mind. I also had in mind so thin out the nose a little and keep it quite slim. So thats about what i got in mind. So please let me know if that’s appropriate for this Season. Got any design suggestions? Please feel free to let me know.
First off, you’re gonna be there during the “wet” season so you’ll want to prepare appropriately. The conditions are constantly changing and depend greatly on location. It can vary from chest high to triple overhead in a very short distance.
Are the dimensions for the 6’2" taken from an existing board of yours? Are you comfortable with them? For small waves my inclination is to widen it 19 1/2" and use a rounded pin or thumb tail. Easier to paddle after the small stuff. Then again I’m a bit larger than you at 6’1" and 185 lbs. If you like to mix things up a bit, take a 6’ fish. You’ll have a wider range of surf on the same board.
For the bigger stuff I’d consider a 6’10" pin tail. This is the board I used in Playa Hermosa, Playa Negra, Witches Rock and Nosara. My buddies thought I was nuts for riding a 6’10 when they all had 6’6" - 6’8"s. Ha! When Hermosa hits DOH you’ll be damn glad you have the paddle power with the bigger board!
Everything here is relative. Costa Rica has a wide range of surf to offer. You just have to decide how broad across that range that you want to surf comfortably. You know your exerience and comfort levels better than anybody, so I would choose your equipment accordingly.
I had a 7’0" pintail semi that I used in my costa trips. I’m a much bigger board type guy, a little shorter and heavier than you, so the extra board was worth it. A couple friends of mine back in SC - who used to ridicule me for taking the 7’0" on the trips - were sitting on the sideline while I was scoring some great DOH + waves.
i was checking out the site to see who was in the know of costa rica. ill be moving over there this summer 2005. funny thing… im from charleston. and wonder who you know south carolina way. bryan lamb…hmmmmmmmmm. do i recognise your name? im here on kauai, are you gonna com over for tsunami relief 2005. awesome time. killer surf and super cool people. most importantly for a good cause! hobcawannie
I am going to Costa in may and also building a board to take. Listen to SrPato, mine is a 6'6" with the wide point 6" inches back from center at 19 1/2". The tail will be 14 1/2" and the nose 11 3/8" plan to make it thick maybe 2 5/8" got the outline cut looks real sharp, tear drop like tail and stealthy spear like nose. Anyhow post your progress I would like to know how it turns out.
I considered some stuff and here is what I got so far:
The tail is going to be a rounded pin for sure now, and I guess I’ll get the center to about 19’‘. I’ll go for a 6’8’’ or 6’7’’ (depends on the blank). I guess this will suit my abilities…
I also thought about shaping 4 channels in the tail region.
Btw: Here’s a picture of a board i reshape (I striped an old board for it) which is still in progress and its not even half done yet but represents aprox. the contour of the board I’m going to built. (Theres a bump in the tail, I know that, so please no comments on that:) What do you think? Is this going to work fine in bigger costa rica waves?
Reminds me of Cheyne Horan’s Lazor Zap boards. He could ride those in any size surf. It was pretty amazing. Lately I’ve been very intrigued with McCoy’s nuggets and this sure gives me the itch to shape one.
Yes, the tail region is a good place to put channels. (Just kidding ;)) Have you surfed a board with channels before? Folks here seem to be somewhat divided on them. There was a pretty decent discussion on it recently. I’ve ridden two boards with cannels: one was a 6’2", Matt Moore, Quad channel, winger, swallow tail. I loved that board. The other was a Hamish Graham deep six channel 6’8" that I used in bigger hollower surf. It just didn’t feel right to me so I traded it for a 6’10" semi-gun. Mo Betta’ for my style of surfing.
How long is the board? Width, thickness? What is the nose and tail rocker? What type of rail? Bottom contour? Sorry about the questions but it’ll give us a better idea of what the board really looks like.
Now everything needs to be scaled up a bit to about 6’8’’ … I know that this is a small board. It was an old board of mine which i stripped because the lam was really bad and after a couple modifications it turned out to be 6’’ shorter then it was originally. So this one will probably go to my little niece (2 yr), I guess it’ll be a longboard for her:)
I consider this board as a model for my new one.
I’ve actually never tried putting channels in my boards and never ridden one with channels before. I just heard a lot of stuff about it and thought that it won’t cost me extra so I could give it a try:)
So I finally finished my “dummy board” and thought I’ll give you an updated picture of the tail. I’ve tried to put in some concaves/ channels. Honestly I don’t know what they are considered to be.
It almost looks like a bonzer with curved concave. Right on for trying something new!
Hey Ben! (Chipfish61) I know your lurking out there in cyberspace. This looks like something right up your alley.
Geef- I wouldn’t go any deeper on those concaves. They’ll be difficult enough to glass as they are. I’m stoked and can’t wait to see the finished board.
It almost looks like a bonzer with curved concave. Right on for trying something new!
Hey Ben! (Chipfish61) I know your lurking out there in cyberspace. This looks like something right up your alley.
Geef- I wouldn’t go any deeper on those concaves. They’ll be difficult enough to glass as they are. I’m stoked and can’t wait to see the finished board.
Sr Pato
…“lurker” strikes !!
go Geef !!
…let me know how it rides eh ? [private message if you prefer]
…hopefully YOURS will end up looking prettier than THIS ugly duckling …and have more rocker , too !
