Looking to buy a new board any suggestions would be great. I am currently considering a 5'10" Neckbeard by Channel Islands. I'm kind of looking for a similar shape and a five fin set up.
50 views and no response...probably because you give no info on your size or where you surf. Channel Islands?...we have to guess you're a beginner with a load of cash. Why don't you save some money and help the local economy by having the most local shaper make you a custom board? There's also some great used boards around the surf shops and on ebay.
I'm about 5'10" and 190 lbs, Im not a beginner. I threw that board out there because I dig the shape but I do not know of anyone that rides one so I was trying to get some feedback on the board I surf around the Jax Beach area. I'm totally open to a different brand thats just the kind of the shape Im interested in.
i'm about your size & demo'd a 5'10" neckbeard from a local shop...i i found it to surf great once up & riding, but found that it was lacking in the paddling dept...& i'm a strong paddler. just a touch more float/volume would've made a big difference. held a 6'0" under my arm to compare & it felt HUGE. if i were to order one, i'd prob. split the difference & go 5'11". i'm not sure what shapers are in the jax beach area, but roberts has a bunch of great looking groveler-type boards... http://www.robertssurf.com/small-wavesummer-shortboards.html
I just bought a chemistry beaker comp. its very similar to the weirdo ripper, and a lot cheaper. if you are looking for a small wave groveler that can handle a little bigger stuff, i recommend it. Took it to Costa and rode it in some nice surf up to a foot overhead. i'm close to your size (5'10"/180), been surfin 20 years, and ride the 5'9". I catch everything in the ocean on it. It has 31.8 liters of volume, and my normal SB has 28.6. More foam than I need, but don't want to go shorter. Highly recommend it, as I don't think the neckbeard will do very well in any type of real surf. That wide tail doesn't work well on a vertical face...
neckbeard will do fine as long as it's not super steep or longer period swell. the wide tail is necessary to tap into any available energy in smaller, weaker surf, & it actually sports a pretty hard edge in the back 1/3 of the board...it holds quite well. dumpster diver & weirdo ripper type boards will have a better top end, due to increased rocker & narrower tails, but won't perform as well at the low end for the same reasons.
So we're in agreement? It won't do well in real surf. long period, steep faces is real surf... anything mushy, soft, summer-like, not real surf.
I've been surfing Jersey for 20 years. and to classify east coast (or i'll say Jersey since your name let's me know your from there) as mushy, short period just isn't accurate. granted, most days it is that. but i don't consider that "surf". if you want to talk about a board for someone on summer break from school that will let them surf every day, sure, say short period and mushy. but that's not real surf, and i would never give someone advice to buy a board that works when its ankle high and on-shore. but if you know where to go when the swells hit, you will find plenty of rideable walls. and while i am by no means an advanced surfer, i'm usually riding my HPSB, as i can usually find a peak with some push on most days. and no, i'm not some 120 pound grom. i'm in my thirties and pushing 200. that's why when i design my quiver, i start with a longboard for the mushy days, a groveler that can handle size for small waves with punch, a HPSB, and a step up or two. if its truly mushy, even the best groveler sucks and i'd prefer to log it.
let me clarify something. do not mean that on most days I can find a rideable, powerful peak. I mean when there is some type of system creating waves, you can find a nice, rideable wall. Basically, when we get a swell, there are good waves to be ridden. to say jersey/east coast is mushy isn't fair, cause when we get swells, it gets damn good.
same...i'm 32 & grew up here. i think we're on the same page, but starting to split hairs. i'm more of a shortboard guy; i get bored pretty easily on a log. that's why i've been checking out the neckbeard-type boards...they fill a perceived hole in my quiver. it's nice to know that i can roll up to he beach w/ a log & a shortie & be able to surf whatever i want. when the waves are good, then i'm on my trusty hpsb. but that's not likely to happen over the next few months. a stubby hpsb like the neckbeard fills that void w/out resorting to logging.
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