Since there are a couple of KB threads over on the dark side, I thought this was maybe appropriate.
I've noticed guys riding longer KBs than they used to. Like a 200 pound guy on a 5'11" X 23.5 X 2.75? I could easily standup surf those dimensions. I've seen some recommendations for a guy that size running up to 6'2"?
Concave deck? Flat deck? No? What kind of pad and how thick? Where do you get your pad?
Foil/thickness flow. If I look like at the pad placement, it looks like maybe the thickest part of the board is pulled back? So instead of putting rocker apex, wide point and thickest point in the same place, move the thickest point back and thicken tail block/numbers at 12" and 24" from tail? Or is that weight back thing a misconception of mine? Depend on style of riding? Some guys seem to go up vertical/full height on their knees while the older school guys are maybe more hunched over (weight forward) with one hand on a rail.
Fins. It looks like everyone moves the cluster forward? Mostly all quads? How far up do you move the cluster? Bonzer? I know Malcolm has made a few. Hell, I cut a few for a number of shapers.
Does everybody use swim fins? I've seen a few guys without. No leashes still. I don't see handles out on the rails either.
A few days ago, after beating myself up for a few hours on a 6' I ran into utterly empty 6' tp 8' thumping tubes at a certain isolated beachy. A few looky-Lous but no takers. At my age what starts going when I'm tired is precision in nailing my foot position on a late takeoff. I'm usually not blowing the takeoff, but going into that first turn with my feet slightly out of position on a critical BB wave can be a deal breaker. That's what gets everybody. I'm probably hitting a 10% plus error factor now, and talking with older guys, it ain't going to get any better. I don't want to longboard. I don't want to SUP. I would rather cripple it on my knees and be pulling into tubes when I get into my 70's. (I ran into a guy a few weeks back that was 72 and surfing really well on an SUP. Shoulders gone, can't paddle anymore). Anyway, longer boards throw off whats left of my shortboard skills. Seems like knee boarding would be such a complete departure there would be no transitional problems plus the boards are close to some of the stuff I'm currently standup surfing.
So many questions, so little time. I'll hit up a few shapers and gather some thoughts. I just may make a KB as a supplement and to learn a new skill while I still can. Its got to beat the hell out of surfing Old Mans on an SUP when your in your last few years.
I've noticed guys riding longer KBs than they used to. Like a 200 pound guy on a 5'11" X 23.5 X 2.75? I could easily standup surf those dimensions. I've seen some recommendations for a guy that size running up to 6'2"?
Concave deck? Flat deck? No? What kind of pad and how thick? Where do you get your pad?
Foil/thickness flow. If I look like at the pad placement, it looks like maybe the thickest part of the board is pulled back? So instead of putting rocker apex, wide point and thickest point in the same place, move the thickest point back and thicken tail block/numbers at 12" and 24" from tail? Or is that weight back thing a misconception of mine? Depend on style of riding? Some guys seem to go up vertical/full height on their knees while the older school guys are maybe more hunched over (weight forward) with one hand on a rail.
Fins. It looks like everyone moves the cluster forward? Mostly all quads? How far up do you move the cluster? Bonzer? I know Malcolm has made a few. Hell, I cut a few for a number of shapers.
Does everybody use swim fins? I've seen a few guys without. No leashes still. I don't see handles out on the rails either.
A few days ago, after beating myself up for a few hours on a 6' I ran into utterly empty 6' tp 8' thumping tubes at a certain isolated beachy. A few looky-Lous but no takers. At my age what starts going when I'm tired is precision in nailing my foot position on a late takeoff. I'm usually not blowing the takeoff, but going into that first turn with my feet slightly out of position on a critical BB wave can be a deal breaker. That's what gets everybody. I'm probably hitting a 10% plus error factor now, and talking with older guys, it ain't going to get any better. I don't want to longboard. I don't want to SUP. I would rather cripple it on my knees and be pulling into tubes when I get into my 70's. (I ran into a guy a few weeks back that was 72 and surfing really well on an SUP. Shoulders gone, can't paddle anymore). Anyway, longer boards throw off whats left of my shortboard skills. Seems like knee boarding would be such a complete departure there would be no transitional problems plus the boards are close to some of the stuff I'm currently standup surfing.
So many questions, so little time. I'll hit up a few shapers and gather some thoughts. I just may make a KB as a supplement and to learn a new skill while I still can. Its got to beat the hell out of surfing Old Mans on an SUP when your in your last few years.