I've only been surfing for about 5-6 years. I know there are plenty of older surfers on this forum who have a lot more experience then me. So.. I figured I'd ask on here about my own quiver.. which I seem to be having trouble understanding. It seems like whenever there are waves only about 50% of the time do I feel like I have the correct board out (out of my 3 choices).. I want to know more about the boards I have, like for example if they are to thick or to thin for me - if I should ONLY be using this board in this kind of surf, or certain ways I should be using the board, etc.. the 3 boards I have are as follows.. 5'5 custom, 19 1/4 x 2 3/8 (quad) - (This was ment to be a competition kind of groverler board but still have performance aspects. I really love this board, but I feel like its thickness takes away from its performance especially since im only 125 pounds. I also have yet to even get it airborne, which is probably just my skill level and nothing to do with the board but i'm having trouble understanding it. Low entry rocker.) 5'6 custom Stealth Pro (Lost) , x 17.88 x 2.13 (tri) - (Lightly glassed from Matt Biolos, this board was really ment to be a good comp board but I feel like its to thin and getting into waves seems pretty difficult. Should I only be using this on big days? Should I have gone thicker?) 5'4 CI pod, x 19 1/2 x 2 1/4 - (Just a fun board, the pod is the pod.) My height and weight is as follows, Height: 5'6 1/2 Weight: 125 pounds My question is pretty much.. what should a board for me look like? Should it be that thick? Or should it be that thin? I just want to know more about my quiver, and know when to use what boards. Like for example if we get waves on sunday, I really don't know what board I should be using at that time. Thanks for your time.
the pod and the quad are for the same waves....use the stealth as your big wave board. add others for complimenting your quiver. like a log for ankle high days, or a gun for hurricane bill days lol. stuff like that
jesus those are all tiny. So are you. Sounds like it should all work out. More rocker = bigger waves with steeper drops. Thick = easier to paddle. Thin = more responsive. 'Bout sums it up. Pura vida bro
I have a Lost RNF same dimensions as your 5'5" custom. It's perfect for my size - 5'8" 140lbs so I can see why it may be hard for you to get the performance out of it you're looking for. Although, it should be a better groveler for small days since it probably has good float for you. Plus, you wont outgrow it as you get bigger. The Stealth pro is a good wave board. I have a regular Stealth that I use a lot when the waves get some size or more power. The dimensions on that thing seem tiny, but it should work for you on bigger days since you're so light. I would say 5'5" to grovel on small days, Pod for medium days and the Stealth for big days. I always bring two boards with me and make the call when I get there. That way I can always swap them out if conditions change or I have a spare if I break one.
Good question, good thread. It raises another question I've long wondered about. How do you measure rocker? I mean, you can pick a board up and look at it and see what kind of rocker it has, but it there a quantifiable mathematic way to measure how much rocker a board has?
lay the board upside down, put a dot on the stringer at the midpoint of the board, hold someting straight (an 8 foot piece of trim, or wood..whatever) tangent to the board just touching the surfboard at the dot you drew. Measure from the tail of the surfboard up to the straight board (thats tail rocker) and from the nose of the surfboard up to the straight board (that nose rocker) This video explains it a bit loosely: http://www.ehow.com/video_4411373_measure-rocker-surfboard.html
Hey no disrespect, but Sunday will hopefully bring swell and the sun will be shining. Pick a board, paddle out and have fun. To many details spoil the stoke.
Thanks a lot guys.. Really have not had good luck with getting boards right for me honestly. Hoping that the pod and the stealth will come in handy for this weekend then if the swell remains okay. If anyone has anything else to add please throw it in, i'm always up for new information especially on my own quiver. So please don't hesitate.
Honestly I couldn't tell you, I wish i had the knowledge too. All I know is that if i push on the board with literally my finger i can hear the foam crushing.
Just looking at the numbers, the Lost is very thin, very narrow, and likely has way more rocker... and all that makes catching waves harder. The comp boards I do have performance rocker, but maintain some thickness through the middle. None are under 18 wide. Check out the deck of the Lost. Is it fairly flat? A little dome to the deck, tapering into the same thickness and shape rail, will give you more volume for wave catching and maintain rail to rail sensitivity. A light glass job will keep the flex, and the extra foam will not add significant weight. The other thing to try is lower the entry rocker. Keep the flip in the first few inches, but lower the overall curve in the nose. The last thing to consider is the tail... added thickness, added width, and less kick will help you catch waves easier. But the tail on the Lost looks good.
I'm not a shaper so LBCrew or others will probably have a more accurate answer than me. A lot of pros prefer light glass jobs for an all around lighter board - quicker response, easy to whip around and boost airs on. The downfall is a much less durable board. The pros don't care since they get a new board about every one or two weeks, but for the average surfer a light glass wont make much of a difference other than easier to ding or break. The actual glass schedule varies for different kinds of boards. LBCrew can be more specific, but longboards and retro type boards have a heavier glass job (maybe two layers of 6oz on the deck and one on the bottom or two layers of 4oz on the bottom) while shortboards have a lighter glass job (two 4oz layers on the deck and one layer of 6oz or one layer of 4oz on the bottom). The combinations vary for different shapers and boards. The ultra light glass jobs are usually two layers of 4oz on the deck (making it 8oz total) and one 4oz layer on the bottom. The board will be super light weight and have a lot of flex but will ding very easily. Again, I'm not a shaper so others can probably answer better. I've had some retro boards and longboards that are glassed super heavy and also some of those "ultralight" glass jobs. I don't mind the heavy ones but the light glass jobs are just way too weak for me. I like my boards to last and don't want to have to fix dings every week just for a lighter board.
What's the volume on the lost? Should be written with the dims. Does the pod paddle the best? Also when u say u chose te wrong board, why are you saying that? Paddling? Wave catching, bogging turns, tail washing out? Whats your skill level?
Standard glass job over standard density PU is 2x4oz deck and single 4oz bottom, all E glass. Comp boards can be single 6 deck or single 4 with foot patches, and only ever have sanded hotcoats, and no fill coat. Flex can be tweaked with the type of glass... different weaves have different flex characteristics and strength advantages. The type of core material matters, too, with different density foams making considerable differences in finished weight, and the glass job might be adjusted to add strength in some areas and not others.
Matt does a single S or 1 4oz + 3/4 4oz deck and single 4 E bottom either way You would see the 1 + 3/4oz if that was your glassing schedule. I doubt he used the team blank for u as it would be clearly specified and would be written on your board. If it was just a standard weight blank it prolly just says arc.
