Nose Cones

you should worry more about the fins. I've been stabbed in both feet. Once by my board and ten years later by some doofus with kelp cutting fins. I filed them dull on my last boards but the fish I ride now has 2 fat rounded long board fins.

 

I've been hit in the back of the head with my own board. Punctured my winter suit and chipped my skull. Got 5 stitches on that one. Got my front teeth knocked out by my board when lifting it over a wall of white water a day before my senior prom ( my date was surprised when I picked her up). Fell over the falls and landed on my upside down board and fins. Sliced my bicep open right to the muscle drove my self to the er and got 6 stitches that time.

 

I wish this was surfermag forum so it would be more acceptable to make a troll comment but...took a hit in the nose from the rail of my board after not making a barrel. It was one of those nose smacks that makes your whole head feel numb/tingly, even my hand co-ordination was off. But no bloody nose

 

When I was a kid and briefly trying to surf, I went over the falls, fell off the back of the board, and got caught under the right upper arm by the sharp edge of the fin as the board popped back up. Hung there for a few seconds like a scarecrow before pushing the board away. No stitches, but I had a scar for years. This was the early 70s in Calif before leashes. Then, it was not uncommon to see boards flying everywhere. One had to duck, dodge, and dive (like the movie Dodge Ball) or end up getting clobbered.

 

I use bubble wrap all over my board. Protects me and the board and is hydrodyanmicaly superior to any other board (except maybe the gnome from NZ's boards) plus it looks super cool.

 

i forget what vid it is but matt Archibold told a story where his nose pierced his cheek .

 

A very sharp pointy nose doesn't serve a purpose on a board and many people have had an eye poked out. There's a good article about this in the Surfers Journal (21.4). The author claims that K. Slater cuts the noses off his boards. I have never been poked by the nose of a sharp board but have been sliced by a fin and sanded down my fins after the experience.

 

A sharp pointy nose does serve a purpose on a board. If there is less surface area at the nose you are less likely to catch the nose on steep drop ins. Surfboards basically undergo evolution.. If a design doesn't make sense it doesn't stick and you never see it. If it works, it's still around.

 

Its purely asthetic according to George Greenough, Bob Mctavish and other shapers. "The board (without pointed nose) will surf better because you have reduced the swing weight and wind resistance." According to Greenough.

 

I've seen shapers defend both, some say it's just for looks while others say it's functional.

 

Holy fins! Jesus. My fins are defiantly the most dangerous part of my board. Never had a problem with the nose, but my fins have opened me up all over: head, feet, legs and arms. -cheers.