Alt Shape and Mid Lengths

Take a look at Barry's quiver of mid lengths, doesn't really fit his profile in comparison.

 

Matt shapes fantastic bing midlengths. I am 6'5", and I have had Scott making me In The Eye 7', 7'6", 8'0", 8'6" boards with all different modifications since the hip arthritis, cancer, surgeries made the shortboard really a struggle, but he surfs with me, is a shortboarder, has been shaping 40 years, so all that helps.

I got on a 6'8" quad this summer and just tried my new 6'10" twin before the lung surgery, so the situation was stabilized and improving until the tumor appeared.

A relationship with a good, experienced local shaper who you surf with makes all things possible, and i am so blessed.

The right midlength leaves everyone else in the water wanting, watching you get the most out of a swell that is lacking some element.

I have one for puny clean waves, one for choppy slop, one for gutless mush, and on and on.

I think a 7'6" is great, like wayne lynch 1967 evolution proved, then the 8'0" for lesser surf, but you cannot turn the 8'0" like you can a 7'6".

I have singles and bonzers, but i think properly shaped quads work better for midlength conditions.

Midlengths have saved my surfing in these past 5 1/2 years of physical limitations.

 

Look, mitch may make real nice quality boards. But this one pictured, the outline doesn't fit what I consider anything but a beginners board; please note-I said it is not far from an NSP. Mitch isn't a beginner, but if HE likes it, that is all that matters.
So, Bass, don't get wound up about an old farts opinion; it is nothing more than that. Over the years I have pretty much favored gunny boards. Where I grew surfing fast boards were "de riguer" as we had steep waves over shallow reefs. Potatoes ,grovelers, all that crappy shape boards being over sold to you guys by marketing teams, to my taste, just don't make it!! This NEW TREND now for everybody to go to "mid-size" , is nothing more than marketing redirecting "fashion" in surfing. Pretty soon, all of the nitwits will be selling their fat round boards, craving the "mid-size" , because some asshole from California says that is whats in. Like shoes from Italy, or skirts from Paris. Personally, I look under the skirts to know what I am buying.......<grin>

 

I barry. I got you. If it's not your thing that is 100% ok. Absolutely nothing wrong with that. Hell, it's not really my thing either.

My problem with your post was that you said it looked crappy. Which in my mind goes beyond personal preference and speaks to the craftsmanship.

I write/play music. If something i record isn't your thing, it's all good. But to call my music crappy when you have no musical ability is rude. Unless ofcourse you can point out something that is fundamentaly wrong with it. I took your comment in that sense, except with a board not music. If you had said "i wouldn't ride it" i wouldn't of said anything. It was your choice of words that i had a problem with.

With all that being said, i do agree. Although i have a similar board that is fun, it wouldn't be my first choice in board either. No hard feelings barry, like i said it's not your opinion i had a problem with. Just your choice of words when commenting on someones craftsmanship.

 

I used to play Classical guitar; did so for 25 years. Lost the fine motor function of my right hand (pinched nerve in cervical) , and it was all over. I miss playing Bachs Lute Suites; they were like an opiod for me. Nowadays I can only use a pick to play a few blues pieces. Fun, but certainly not Bach. Sold my Paulino Bernabe Spanish made guitar, bought a Larivee steel string cut-away. Nice, but just not the same.....

 

Barry, it is pretty much a beginners shape. Im not opposed to it (in certain conditions) and it makes it easy to sell next summer, when the new crop of warm water board buyers show up with cash. It's just a hobby for me, and some of the boards end up being really fun.

I'm honestly haven't seen this new trend for mid lengths. That really surprises me that it's out there....honestly shops that I visit in Delaware and Maryland seem to have almost complete gap in boards shorter than 9'0" and longer than 6'4". Seriously....if they have 50 boards in stock, maybe 4 of them are in that three foot gap, and they are likely to be NSPs or such.

 

It is a new trend, very new, so I agree with your stocking comments. Wait a year or so. It is similar to the rebirth of the longboards.

 

^^^...and the fish. Although some of us never really let them go to begin with.