
Originally Posted by
GnarActually
that board just looks awful for him for the wave hes on. It may be a good groveler but here you can clearly see the lack of drive, the too pinched in back rail which led to him almost catching rail for the bottom turn into the barrel, it looks mighty slow and seems too small for him (you can almost see him sinking it), anyone that is average could pull into that awesome looking wave on some sort of thruster. and why would you show a video of a board for '1-3'ft waves where a dude is getting barreled at gas chambers on a 3ft HAWAIIAN scale wave? Woah, that seemed harsh, i mean in in the least harsh way, if thats possible.
Back to the topic at hand:
I have a 5'6 dumpster diver, I like it a lot, I don't love it. It catches waves effortlessly, It's not bad even when theres some size (biggest I rode it has probably been shoulder high then I usually move to my standard shortboard), It seems a little slow to get moving, but once I get it moving I fly (I am no dane reynolds obviously since i struggle to get speed off the takeoff). It holds its line surprisingly well, especially I've noticed on a backside bottom turn (I can do much more quicker and vertical backside bottom turns on it than on my performance board), and i have found much more success on it releasing fins and getting a air revo motion down (have yet to land one, yet). I do wish I got a 5'5 cuz theres lost of hidden volume that you don't notice when your holding it.
I wouldn't even consider to get a neck beard - seems like a marketing ploy by Channel islands to see how many people will buy what ever dane is riding. I got the DD because I really liked the shape. the neck beard from what little experiences I've had holding it is a bit thinner (less volume) throughout, straighter rails, and of course that uber-wide abrupt cut off tail. The tail will make you have less drawn out turns and seems harder to bottom turn (thats what I personally think).
For me, I have to hold a board, and I usually get a vision in my head what I think It will ride like, and thats how I know if it will be special or if ill like it.
I'd suggest for you, since I'm assuming you dig CI Surfboards, the motorboat for sure. Its kinda perfect for what you described and it has some high performance elements for sure like sharper turns and what not. It will cruise as well and fly through the dead spots of a wave us east coasters see on pretty much every wave. I'm typing so much because I'm studying for finals and trying to find anything to get my mind off of it. Aloha.