I have a bit of a length issue. (No jokes please) I am going to build myself a new allrounder shortboard. Actually it will be a big guy thing, I weigh 95 kgs. I have a pretty good idea of what I want but am a bit unsure of what length to build. I have been riding different board lately from a 7’8 funboard to my 9’2 long board. I would like to get myself back into shortboarding. I used to ride shortboards but I havn’t riden them since my 7’0 wouldn’t float me anymore, about 4 years ago. My 7’8 fun board is pretty good to ride and gets into wave nice and early, which is what I like as I am a bit slow to my feet, so the back half will have pretty much the same dimention. the front of the board gives it that mini mal feel so I have decided to go with a bit of a combination between my 7’8 and a 7’0 or so short board.
The dimention are as follows
21.5 width
14.5 squash tail
12.5 nose
2 7/8 thick
A fairly relaxed entry rocker
single to double to vee through the tail (very slight)
As I said, length is the issue. I want to go 7’2 to 7’6. I want a board that paddles well and catches waves nice and early but I dont want an egg or anything like that.
I supose my question is, what would be the differents between say a 7’2 and a 7’6 in paddling/wave catching abbilities. Would it be drastic or minimal or would the width and thickness play more part.
I have a bit of a length issue. Actually it’s a big guy thing. I have a pretty good idea of what I want, but am a bit unsure of what length… I have been riding different lately . I would like to get myself back . I havn’t ridden them since my 7’0 wouldn’t f* me . My 7’8 is pretty good to ride which is what I like as I am a bit slow to my feet, so the back half will have pretty much the same. I have decided to go with a bit of a combination between my 7’8 and a 7’0
As I said, length is the issue. I want to go a 7’2 to 7’6. I dont want an egg or anything like that.
I supose my question is, what would be the differents between say a 7’2 and a 7’6 Would it be drastic or minimal or would the width and thickness play more part ?
Any advice would be much appreciated
Thanx MDS
no jokes , just some editing .
Sorry mate , I couldn’t resist…
ben
some say width and thickness matters , depends on the person involved , I guess ? You evidently like the Amazonians then ? 7’ to 7’6" ?? THAT’S a LOT of broard !!
I am pretty big and I like my boards to ride nice and easy. I am no Kelly Slater, I am just a guy who like to have fun when he is surfing. If I am not getting any waves, I am not having fun. I am also not one of those guys who likes to take off late and hope for the best or is into any of these radical monuvers, I am just an up and down surfer with a few cutbacks here and there. If is 1 ft, I will surf on my long board with my daughter, if its a bit bigger, say 3 to 6 ft, I want a board that will paddle easily, catch waves easily, but will still be lose enough to do some good (fun) surfing. I would prefer a board at maybe 7’0 or 7’2, but I dont want to jepodise my easy paddling and wave catching abilities because that will take out the FUN factor. (for me anyway) I will have to work much harder. Thats why I was asking if a board 7’2 will be much different than a board at say 7’6 with all the other dimention the same.
I remember reading an artical on Tom Carrol about him refering boards that were a lot bigger than people thought he would ride. He is only a little guy.
A 7’2 could be good with the dimensions you mentioned. That’s a fair sized board.
I ride a 13 1/2" x 7’ x 20" x 2 3/4"x 13"single fin [but I’m only 60-65kgs , and 5’10ish]. It seems a LOT of board for me…
But…when my mate “big Daz " [5’10” and 95kgs] rode it , it seemed FINE for him ! …the extra strength /weight he had seemed to help the board power through turns better. [It all depends on what you are used to , I guess. ]
For me , my 7’er feels a BIG board , because I ride a 5’11 fish a LOT of the time. If I rode a 9’ mal a lot of the time [like another guy I surf with does] , then , as he comments, a 7’er feels like a short board [to him] …mind you , he is 6’3 and I’m guessing over 100kgs…
hey mds…more width will help in the wave catching dept…more volume or length will help paddling…if you like the modern feel of a shortie go as short as you can…those dims are ok except for the tail width…if your riding off your back foot in avg powered waves go wider in the tail…
15 - 15.5…
im 175 and my little 6’4, 5.5lb magic carpet is 19.8 wide…14.9 tail…oodles of speed in minimal to avg conditions…
I am just pushing 6’0, with shoes on and fairly fit. I played Australian rules football most of my life and raced motorcross only up until 2 years ago. I am not as fit as I was then though.
Meecrafty
I was thinking of going a little bit wider in the tail anyway. maybe to 14 3/4.
Would 15-15 1/2 make a lot of differents? Also If I had 2 boards that were identical with their dimentions and contors exept 1 was 7’2 and 1 was 7’6, how would they perform different?
Mds, I am the same size as you , I ride 7’0 x 20 x2&3/4. I have a 7’2 of the same dimensions. These will work for you . I still have to paddle pretty hard sometimes to make waves but that is normal. I am going to go to 6’10 in the future . A mate of mine rides a 6’8 same width but 2&5/8 . If you think it is to small go thicker and roll the deck so you can keep the rail.