bodyboarders: bat-tail vs crescent tail board

ok,i need some opinions from fellow bodyboarders out there. i am currently riding a BZ double platinum with a bat-tail.this is my 1st bat-tail board. i know they're faster than crescent tail boards,but i really didn't notice the difference till this years 1st hurricane (bill) came through. the conditions at our beach were head high to overhead right & left barrels with very steep faces.we almost never have conditions this perfect here.what i was noticing was when i would drop in the board had tremendous speed & i had a difficult time getting the board ledged up in the face to get in a more perfect position for a good barrel ride.i did get good rides all day,but i never noticed the speed of the bat-tail boards till this day & i thought i had more trouble than i should gettin it ledged up in the face.what are you guys' thoughts on this? do you keep a crescent tail board for big,fast conditions like this? do you have 1 of each design for differing conditions or do you pick 1 & master the needs of that particular design? my friend got a new board 1 week before this hurricane too.it was also his 1st bat-tail (custom x big mac) & he also said he noticed the speed of the bat-tail catching him off guard too.what do you guys think? i'm thinking of getting a new board soon & i was considering a MIke Stewart MS1 LTD.but maybe i should go for the Mike Stewart TR LTD (Tom Robinson) cause it has a crescent tail instead

 

yeah,i just didn't know if i just need to get used to the board in big surf.we don't usually get consistent head high to well overhead days.i was also thinking maybe my fins were an issue.i ride Hydro Tech2's & they feel all big & chunky on my feet,not very agile.when i used to ride Churchills,i seem to remember being able to control things more,like using the blades to get up on the ledge in the wave right were i wanted.i'm really starting to not like these Tech2's at all,i remember Churchills being so much better in the water for power & control.

 

yeah,i do like that TR,but those compression cells are gimmicks eh? yeah,i hate to pay like another 50-100 bucks for those,maybe i'll just get the standard model them.i did also like the clear deck on that LTD though.what do you guys think of the decking on those Mike Stewarts that claim to be rough & not require alot of wax? are they just bull too?

 

yes! thank you ECSPONGER,this is exactly what i experienced on my BZ double p.mine is an older model & has no channels.that's exactly it,on those huge steep faces i had lots & lots of speed,but coudn't hold an edge & ate it hard a few times cause of that.i was wondering if it was just me or others had this issue too.seems like i'll get another board for those huge wave days.

 

i'm beggining to think that my problem is with this particular BZ model.especially after i read EcSponger's post about his experience with this same model.upon thinking back,this board has not held an edge even on some waste high & smaller waves i've ridden.i can recal SEVERAL time leaning way to the side to just try to keep the board were i wanted it & still having it slide out froim under me.sometimes i was leaning so far that others noticed & wanted to know why i was riding so distorted on the board.i have lost complete confidence in this model BZ & will definately not take it out in big surf again cause i can't depend on it holding an edge & eatin it over & over in big surf gets old quick in a session

 

Pm'd ya back chuck white.

 

custom x's are great boards,but i'm unfamiliar with that particular model.i'm kinda in the same boat as you mooseknuckle,i bodyboarded all through the 80's then stopped.i wanted to start again & bought new stuff in late '04,but haven't really dove in seriously till this past summer.in '04 on i would do a day here & there,but this year,there are times when i was in the water 5 days in a row & going strong through september.the only reason i'm not going now is i have no budget for a full suit now,so i had to stop when the springer wasn't enough

 

i love Matt Johnsons youtoob video post with the guys ridin lunch trays!!! funny as hell.i'm gonna get one of those,damn things probably hold a better edge than this damn BZ i'm ridin now