What kind of board do you ride and why do you ride it?

[joshkava]

hey man, thanks!

I'll stick with this board for a while and see if I can overcome the frustration! I fell it love with it when I saw it and I want to make it work... if not, maybe I could get a bisect, maybe the only way to deal with a true longboard here in the city!

I checked out that guy's site and it looks cool. I emailed him, maybe we'll be able to talk about stuff... like long skateboarding. Do you think this would help with my surfing??

mucho mahalo,

Josh

[Rastro]

I make and use mine to work out longboard stuff on. Cross steppin, drop knee turns, switch stance, hanging heels and walking back. I don't know how much you would get out if it if you are not into that style. Not for kick flippin, ollie, and rail grinds, you know. Anyhow they are tons of fun. Check out my homemade deck I posted on this thread on 07/09/03. It's all about the GLIDE.

[joshkava]

thanks rastro,

that board looks sweet! Too bad I'm not as handy as you are!! I've been checking ebay for some longboards, the ones they sell over at the blades shop near me are just too damn much. any advice on a good board to buy for a beginner? size and brand?

peace,
josh

[Sea Geezer]

Dude!
They are only "fun boards" if you are an acomplished rider, otherwise they are "no fun." :eye: Get used to the fact that if you want to learn quikly and enjoy your time in the water you'll need something 10 to 11 foot for someone your weight. I'm a 150 lbs. and surfed many hours a week for years and years. I ride a 9-10 in clean juicy waves and a 10-0 in smaller, junkier conditions. Why? 'cause it's FUNNER! Go get 'em Tiger.

[pina]

got the summer blues so bad I'm window-shopping for a longboard at the moment. This is where I need your advice: I just want to get a longboard so I can catch those teeny summer waves AND improve on my 'eternal beginner' skills. I currently surf a pointy-ish 7 foot board that I'm too slow popping up on, so I think that putting some quality time in on a longer board is a very sensible idea! So please advise me.. how long should I go? I'm 5' 5" and 126 lbs. There's a lovely 8' board in my local surf shop that's tempting me, but I don't know if that's neither here nor there: too short for longboarding, and too long for my summer wave quest/improving my 'stuck in a rut' skills. Thanks!

[Kathy]

I use a 7'3" mini-mal My dad was really supportive about my interest in surfing. I guess neither of us knew too much about boards and stuff. So he walked into a surf shop and told the guy at the counter, "I have a daughter about this tall... she bought herself a leash yesterday... should I take the hint?" The rest is history. As a complete beginner, I haven't gotten too frustrated with the board, although I must admit my friend's 8'4" Magnum is easier to use. Can't wait to surf again!

[Sea Geezer]

Long boards are wonderful for surfing small waves, even if you are an expert. At your size a 9-0 about 22" wide and 2.75" thick should provide you with optimum fun in your local summer waves. Hope that helps, and make sure you pass on what you learn.

[coldwaterwahine]

Aloha everyone - newbie here (to this board at least)!

I have a 8'2" mini-longboard that was shaped for me - it's a beautiful board ... and great for east coast waves most of the time.

(excuse the distortion - it's hard to get an 8' board in the frame!)


My shaper is currently making me a 6'7" fish to mess around with, too.

[Haoleboy]

That's a pretty board!

[Iwi Nalu]

I'm trying to figure out how to post pics....let's see if this works

[Iwi Nalu]

Wow--it worked! The above photo is a Bertleman shape that I painted. Tiger Shark bait is the title.

The below pic is of my board, also shaped by Larry, with an 8' dragon that I painted across the stringer. It's a fast, maneuverable board that can also support a decent "cheater-5" too.

[Haoleboy]

WOW!! Cool boards..Tiger Shark Bait..pretty funny! The coldest water I have ever personally been in was Pismo...

[OBsurfgirl]

Hey Iwi Nalu! I just checked out your website...some great paintings there my friend... WHy dont you ask Michael (the Administrator here) to put some of your stuff on the Surf Art page here? Click on the "expression" link and you'll see a few other members artwork there...

[Iwi Nalu]

Hey OBsurfgirl

Thanks for the kind words and the great suggestion. I didn't even know that "expressions" section existed! I've got so many new watercolors that I have to post--maybe that area would be a perfect place.
So are you in Norcalifornian OB or Socalifornian OB? We just moved up here from OB San Diego. My god, I miss Cliffs. Don't miss the crowds, though

Iwi Nalu

[Iwi Nalu]

Pismo is the coldest water I'VE ever surfed in too. Especially in spring. I could slam 10 frozen margaritas in a row and still have had more brain freeze in 10 minutes during a springtime Pismo session.

Hoaleboy--I was a town clown for about 3 years-- Kaisers, Pops, Paradise.

[Sea Geezer]

If you haven't met Duck yet, he is a moderator on this BB and is a sort of self proclaimed pismo king pin. Hell of a lot of fun to surf with or just sit around talkin story with a beer and some tunes.

You can e-mail him thru the Glide. Tell him I sent ya!:laugh:

[Iwi Nalu]

Don't think I've met Duck before--but I usually forget people's names the second we stop shaking hands:eye:

I'll get in touch with him--what IS a king pin?

Iwi Nalu

[pina]

Thanks for the advice! Unfortunately the lovely 8 footer was gone by the time I finished pondering; maybe I'd be better off going for an 8'6" or longer anyway. My little car is going to look even littler now with that on the roof!

[Awe F'shore]

Catching up on old threads that I missed. Lotsa new faces around here, Aloha!

Been riding as of late:

10-0 Bruce Jones with a 10' sweep single fin when the glide is what I'm after. Or not. Rideable in everything from 1' bumps to overhead barrels.

8-4 Bruce Jones hybrid. My all around stick from 2 footers to well overhead. This baby shreds, carves, or cruises depending on conditions and my mood.

7-2 Country. Does best in head high plus when I feel like shredding. Just picked up used a month ago so we're still getting aquainted. Stoked so far.

Viper fins. Still love to get a good bodysurf in whenever I can. Riding the glass monopolizes most of my water time these days, but when conditions are right, I like to mix in an hour or two doin' some body whompin'!

An old 6-2 Pesce that I get out in some shorebreak on occasion.

I have an affinity for shorebreak, therefore, dings and snapped fins are a part of life.

I think a fish is next on my list, then it'll be time to expand the longboard portion of my quiver.

Peace
Ron

[JenB]

Iwi Nalu, your boards are amazing.
Where's Bertelman shaping out of? Is he only doing longboards?

here's what I ride:

9' Driftwood noserider (all aound magic)
9'4" Harbour Terry Simms Performance board
9' Donald Takayama Noserider (bad ass beater)
8'6" Stewart HydroGlide (paddles like a 10'er but I only like it on super small days)
7'6" Driftwood funboard (wish i had gone with something a little more oldschool than this board. there's not enough foam in the nose)

my husband also surfs so I live with, and occasionaly get to ride:
9' Hansen performance board
10' Pearson Arrow
9'6" G&S redfin
9'8" 60's log by Dusty Rhoads (not the wrestler!)
10'2 shaped & glassed by my husband

[Iwi Nalu]

JenB,

That is quite an amazing quiver you have. All sizes and shapes I love (except the funshape too). The Terry Simms--is it super light? What kind of tail? Noserider?

Well about Larry....he's kind of out of commission for quite a few years. He was shaping everything from shortboards to tow-in boards for Jaws (you have got to see one of those boards--so amazing!).

IwiNalu

[Rastro]

Wow nice quiver. The Simms seems long compared to the rest of the set. Is it a hand-me-down. How does it ride? When do you ride it?

[JenB]

The Simms was came off the used rack. I would have gone with an 8'10" were I picking it up new, but it was bought with the consensus that if it was too big for me, it would be perfect for my husband.
(And I even let him use it occasionally)
I've ridden it in knee high slop and I've ridden it in overhead hurricane surf. It shines in chest high or better.

The Harbour Simms has a really sharp turning radius
with the wide point pretty far back + a diamond tail. It also has A LOT of rocker, which provides a much needed handicap in making the steep drops we get over here on the east coast.

With respect to Iwi's question about it's noserider-ability, I'm not as much of a hot dog as I'd like to be. I've gotten 5 over a few times on this board, but me getting toes over is still a rarity.
The nose is only 16" wide, but there's a channel underneath it, so I suspect the more seasoned surfer would do better.

[LolitaLoo]

9 footer right now but would love to obtain a 7' 6" or 7' 8" mini tanker...

[Awe F'shore]

Well, so much for the fish being next on my list. I just picked up this little beauty, used and in great shape. 7-4 Bruce Jones thruster. Now we need some decent swell.




STOKED!!!

Ron