I am about 6' and 180 lbs, and looking to get a longboard with a more classic shape that lends itself to trimming and nose-riding (not that I can do that now, but that is the goal....). BUT - here's the catch - I want something shorter than 8'6" so that it fits more easily in my car. Is this possible for my size? Anyone have experience with such a shape? Thanks in advance.
Not sure if the wavestorm suggestion was serious, but I want something higher performance, particularly for the winter when I have 10 extra lbs of rubber weight on and I want to up the wave count. I may end up with something in the 9' range, but I figured I would ask to see if anyone has experience with something shorter but with extra volume in the right places. Do i just need to shrink and lose weight? also, for clarification, im sure i will still end up shortboarding in anything over waist high, so this is meant as a way to get in the water more when New England is only serving up waist high cold mush but im still starving....
My first "LB" was an 8'1" McTavish (which I still have), came as a 2+1, switched it to a single fin, that led me to getting a real LB. It's a great board and has decent maneuverability but you'll wish it was a tad longer to get that glide.
An 8'6 with the right shape can start to suggest what a longboard feels like. But like DP said... you don't really get a true longboard, with all the benefits, until you get to 9'0+. If stuffing your board into your car is the limiting factor, give up on the idea. Get lockable racks.
http://jblairsurf.com/surfboards/longboards I was "board" at work so I did a little research. Joe Blair is the shaper. Seems legit and relatively inexpensive. Anybody have any real life experience with these boarts?
I am your size. I had a Robt August made for me 8'8" and is perfect for small day and large days if I decide to use a LB. Model is "What I Ride". Fits inside my Subaru Outback easily or on roof of car. Three fins 2+ 1 works well.
Wavestorm IS serious wave surf riding gear: [video=youtube;2D5ugxEVBXA]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2D5ugxEVBXA[/video]
You stated in your OP that you don't know how to trim or nose-ride. Yet, you want something "high performance." You're a marketing rep's dream, sparkye newbie. A Wavestorme will set you back all of $150.00. You'll catch more waves, learn how to angle in, learn a propere pop-upe, learn how to trim, learn how to turn, learn how to tie your leashe propere like & maybe in the process avoid having your shiiiite thrown in the water. Most of all, you'll have fun. If it's good enough for JOB... Then againe, by all means, shell out $800-1,200 for a new WIR or Takayama or Chris Ruddy & let us know how that works out for yee.
Thanks, Yankee, but I think you read too much into my post. I was just making the point that my nose-riding skills are not the best. I have spent the last 20+ years on shortboards, but, contrary to what many shortboarders will claim, I think that the best longboard surfing is a different skill set altogether. Maybe I'm in the minority on that one... For what it's worth, I am also (sort of) proud to say that I have only ever owned second-hand surfboards, so you've got me wrong on that count, too. To CBSCREWBY and Barry Cuda, thanks for the recommendations! The Blair "Super Ugly" and "Mini Longboard", and the Robert August "What I Ride" are all good food for thought. Much appreciated.
I didn't read anything into your post, campesino. I went with exactly what you posted. No biggie. Hope you do well with the transition to longboarts. Which are, by the way, at least 5-6 times more difficult to do complete turns with than on a shortboart.
