our crew foilsurf in 20lbs of rubber, we are (advancing) middle aged, and with the body conditioning to go with it. Long ago came to terms with that fact that board volume is my friend in surfing and is now more necessary than ever (even if foiling has brought me back to the best paddling condition in 20 years!)
I ride a 5'x20.75x2.75, maybe 40ishL. I made a 4.9x20x2.75, maybe 30Lish, and it's super fun once up and riding, but exhausting to push water while paddling.
Lately I have got into winging, I made a 5x24x5.5, 70L, and was pleasantly surprised by how buoyant it is, can comfortably knee start on it.
So, applying this to surf foiling ... what about shorter and fatter? EG a 4' x 20 x 4" or even 4.5" ... would that float me enough that my noodle arms can still handle 2-3 hour sessions? Would you still gain the performance benefits of a short board with that much thickness?
Doing some quick googling, the Ride Engine escape pod seems closest to this, at 4'4" x 19.5" x 3.375" Vol:38L
https://www.realwatersports.com/collections/foilboards/products/ride-engine-escape-pod-surf-foilboard
Designer's info:
Anyone have any real-world reviews of this board? Or experimented with the short/fat design for surf foiling, for good or bad?
[and yes, I know you 20-30 somethings on your 19L potato chip boards will also feel the need to brag about how you can paddle your 120lbs for 16 hours straight, etc ... please feel free to do so, I know millenials must have positive reinforcement ;-) ]
I ride a 5'x20.75x2.75, maybe 40ishL. I made a 4.9x20x2.75, maybe 30Lish, and it's super fun once up and riding, but exhausting to push water while paddling.
Lately I have got into winging, I made a 5x24x5.5, 70L, and was pleasantly surprised by how buoyant it is, can comfortably knee start on it.
So, applying this to surf foiling ... what about shorter and fatter? EG a 4' x 20 x 4" or even 4.5" ... would that float me enough that my noodle arms can still handle 2-3 hour sessions? Would you still gain the performance benefits of a short board with that much thickness?
Doing some quick googling, the Ride Engine escape pod seems closest to this, at 4'4" x 19.5" x 3.375" Vol:38L
https://www.realwatersports.com/collections/foilboards/products/ride-engine-escape-pod-surf-foilboard
Designer's info:
Anyone have any real-world reviews of this board? Or experimented with the short/fat design for surf foiling, for good or bad?
[and yes, I know you 20-30 somethings on your 19L potato chip boards will also feel the need to brag about how you can paddle your 120lbs for 16 hours straight, etc ... please feel free to do so, I know millenials must have positive reinforcement ;-) ]