Best "off the rack" groveler boards for summer

I wish there were shops that would let you demo a board... it's not that easy around here.

 

That's what your mom should have done when she was pregnant with you nut sucker.

Awesome post!

This is the right answer for sure but I'm guessing that OP's hands never worked anything but his own d!ck.

 

In my mind, there's ZERO reason to longboard unless you want to noseride. I have little to no interest in nose riding, so 9.9 times out of ten I'll ride my fish when it's tiny rather than my log. Personally I just see no reason for 5 feet of extra board sticking out in front (for me).

Also, with short period, peaky waves where rides are only a few seconds, I like something that fits in the pocket and that I can get a turn or two in before it closes out or mushes out.

 

Have tried them and they offer little.
I suppose for those with little surf skills or talent, it is a substitute.
I am NOT a longboard surfer; I have been surfing "shortboards since 1968 +/- (although that definition certainly has evolved.)
Again, grovelers et al are nothing more than a small variation off of the same theme (1 of 4 ). If those who lack surfing skills need them....good for them!! Enjoy it!

 

Don't try to spin the issue into a lack of talent. Your 4 boards bare no resemblance to a groveler. I suspect you would ride your mid-length board as a substitute (or crutch). Point is ride the proper vessel and have the most fun. I would encourage you to pull up some videos of the late Buttons. You can't ride a 7'6" (guessing that is the size of your mid-length) on weak waves like you can a groveler. Again, it is a product of your generation. You just stated it in a nutshell..."definition certainly has evolved" but you have not. Why be stubborn....if you have actually tried them and they offer little then I would guess it is a skill issue.

 

I'm with you on that. For me, personally, it's all about noseriding... although a barrel on a longboard is an interesting trip, too.

Barry... I've been riding shortboards my whole life, too, from the mid '70s on, including the first generation of fish, singlefin shortboards, then on to first generation thrusters and quads, through the "glass slipper" era, and now into modern shortboards and alt shapes. I started riding longboards in the late 90's, once I started looking for something different... and doubling the length of board I was riding certainly did that! It opened up a whole other kind of surfing experience and set of challenges, and I'm happy to have done that when I did.

For me, my no-go zone is midlengths. I've tried many, many times... but I always get those moments of, "man... I wish I had my __(fish/shortboard/log)______ right now."

 

By try do you mean demo a few boards? If you can do that definitely go for it, but if you're talking about buying then I wouldn't waste your time or money. I would just skip that step and go right to the shaper. Do as you have done in the past, tell em where you're at and what you're trying to do and your size and all that and they'll dial up what you're looking for. I went on blind faith with both shapers and they nailed it every time. It's what they do, if you find a legit guy, he won't steer you wrong.

 

my favorite time to bust out the LB on the east coast is when we get those long period Bermuda Highs or whatever system produces those 2.1 feet at 15 seconds. Super clean lines that run forever.

 

I like this idea. Also, I have purchased a few boards off of Craigslist to sample different shapes....saves you some coin and allows you to experiment.

 

I like the 4 board quiver theory. However, I don't need a gun until I'm older maybe so for now i just enjoy my log, my fish, and my rocket shaped shortboard. To give my top three grovelers would be tough since I've only had two. One was a Lost weekend warrior and the shape was fun but the board wasn't for me. Now I just have a classic twin fin fish, 5'8" I believe. So to give my 2¢ I would say find a big fish off the rack of your choosing and enjoy the ride

 

Oh yeah I've demo'd firewires and they were really fun. I don't remember the shape, but i think it said TOMO evo on the bottom so maybe that was it. I would look at a big one of those cause they're definitely off the rack and definitely fun to grovel on.

 

Something else i'd like to add those those who have trouble turning or maneuvering a board and think a different board will change that. I can relate when I think back to when I was still trying to get the hang of this surfing thing.

I had trouble turning no matter what board it was, short, mid-length or LB, because I didn't know exactly what I was trying to do at the time. Fast forward a few years and hundreds of waves ridden and I can turn all of my boards pretty well, even the LB I can turn on a dime if I need to.

I found it's not necessarily the board (although a slight possibility) it's really the skill level #1, the fin setup #2, and the wave conditions #3. If you don't have the skill, nothing else will matter. If you don't have the right fin setup, skill can prevail to some degree but will still frustrate you at times. If the waves are so weak that you are barely catching them, chances are turning and not bogging out is going to be a challenge, no matter how skilled or how good the fin setup. The really small (100lb - 150lb) and talented guys can make a nothing wave look fun though, and by nothing wave, i'm talking knee high, no bigger. If you have a waist high wave to work with, no excuses.

 

agree 100% these are the long sweeping lines where getting in early and trimming out makes longboarding a blast.

If its a little short period swell, peaky with short shoulders, pockets and sections made for turns, I'm gonna be on a groveler. We get a lot of those days! Oh and my skills are lacking...

 

Hey Mitchell, how much would you say you weigh more or less?

 

yes and no. A lot of "no-name" boards are being sold because they suck. I've taken many chances having obscure shapers make me boards and they either wouldn't turn, or were too heavy to paddle easily, etc.

If you see "no name" board being sold and the seller isn't a beginner (especially if the board is still "like new"), it's most likely a dog...I've sure sold my share. Based on that, my first criteria for considering buying a used board would be if it was a well known brand/model.

 

True. I have had one that was a pop out I guess....overseas, practically brand new for $175 (never heard of the brand...Watercool? I think it was Ken Thompson design)...anyway, it was cheap and looked liked a great shape. I took as an extra board to Costa Rica a few years back and hated it.

 

JS Magic Carpet 3, good from knee high to head+

 

Ah what another great thread or tread displaying Barry Mouth Breather Fumunda Cudda's prowess as this here surf predictin' websites #1 MORON

Yeah take that achievement Swine Boy Barry....Oh and truck the police