Which of these two boards would be faster in solid overhead waves? Which would be looser? Both are 8’-0". Why? (Borrowed from the resources section without permission)>
totally different boards for totally different waves.
put a little thought into the design characteristics of each…rocker, widepoint, foil, rails…you should have no problem coming up with your own answer.
Assuming you’d just rather read the answer…
Depends what you definition of solid overhead wave is, where you are surfing, and what you needs are depending on skill, your size, your feetsize, and your preferences.
For most good surfers, the gunnier board will be looser, who cares about speed??, and easier to surf when the winds turn offshore or get really steep.
To some out of shape surfers, the first funboard would float higher, be easier to paddle, and work OK in glassy conditions California reef breaks.
Given Pipeline…neither… almost everyone rides as narrow and thin as possible, with guys in the 150 lbs range usually 8’ x 18.5’s if they need that length.
Speed is not at all important in overhead, real waves. The drop gives you all the speed you need, and you need to concentrate on controlling it and channelling it into down the line distance.
I’m sure you’re bored by now, but plenty of other ideas and thoughts, but let’s let other’s chime in too…
Quote:
Speed is not at all important in overhead, real waves. The drop gives you all the speed you need, and you need to concentrate on controlling it and channelling it into down the line distance.
It’s clearly the case that sufficient speed is vital on any wave.
Perhaps what you are meaning is that in overhead waves sufficient speed is easily achieved ?
Have you ever surfed bigger waves when you actually needed MORE speed, for whatever reason?
I haven’t, and I’ve surfed most of the bigger waves in our area and also NorthShore, Hanalei, Middles, Cannons.
Now controlling the excess speed, and channelling it into more vert moves, might be something I’d like to add…
Assuming your talking about So. Cal overhead waves? just overhead, way overhead, 4 x overhead. Steep or mush? Lots of options around here.
without knowing the foil, rocker, bottom contour, rail shape, either one of those boards could out perform each other in solid overhead surf…But my money is on the Big Guy Tri. Fast overhead lined up waves need a few things. 1) Ample rocker in the nose and tail, 2) Hard edges in the last 1/3 - 1/4, a pulled in tail i.e. pintail, 3) a fast bottom design, ie small boards need concave for lift, but an 8’0" could go with a flat to reverse vee, to vee out the tail for drive…4) Fin placement and size of fins… I really think that the surfboards profile is further down on the surfboard atribute list.
Story: My beloved new Big Red Gun that did me well in our 1 month swell of the century is now residing on the North Shore.
I surfed the hell out of it here, but it never got straight up and down for it to perform well. My 8’2 Godzilla Green/Purple board surf circles around it. The red board has a forward entry vee in the nose, flat bottom, and vee out the back. Lots of nose rocker, lots of tail rocker. Straight fins…more or less. The purple board is fat ass wing pin tail, thin, wide, C-5 fin set up, with concaves all over the place, that just haul A$$. It works well in solid surf, but difficult to pull in and hold a tight line. Our surf got big, but only a few days were throwing out way overhead.
My buddy came over from the islands on a special mission just to abscam the red beast, he took my red rocket, …rat bastard. But it belongs there. He’s now calling it the magic board. he’s surfed Daystar, Silver Channels, Sunset, Jockos, all sorts of places. I guess he’s surgically attached to my board. If he breaks it, he will die by my hands…you can quote me. But it works well in that surf, thats what it was designed for, not So Cal. (be on the look out for a late model Black Chevy Truck with lumber racks, man answers to the name of Middy, works at the Suger Mill grinding granite…Goofy Foot)
Both boards will work well if the design is built for YOUR conditions. Surfboards are like golf clubs, you can play a round of golf with one club…but it will be ugly. Better to have a full set for a full round… Nothing like taking a 6’2" squash tail out on a solid 3 x overhead day.
-Jay
i see less than half the info needed…without rocker pics its tough…and howbout fin setup…and…
however looking at the outline alone and assuming similar rocker:
blue board is pulled, wide point down, with broad curvy hips = loose but reduced projection
white board seems slightly pushed, much less curve esp in the middle…not as loose but good projection
I agree the two boards are totally diff…theyre both fruit but one is orange and the other is apple…