Anyone ever surf wide surfboards?
I think it’s a good discussion and here is my personal journey into wide boards.
First saw a kneeboard on craigslist that was 24.5 wide. It was a good price and I liked the shape. Bought it and had the fin moved back to normal and surfed it a bunch. The 24.5 was great. It was fast, responsive, and could catch anything.
From there I got a custom shaped fish that was 24 wide and again it was epic.
Both these boards were close to 60 liters at 6’4
Then it happened. I saw a 80 liter SUP for sale. It was 7’6 x 26.5 x 3 and I was looking for something to surf when I got to the north east where it was freezing and I would need extra float. Figured if I was going to be wearing rubber that was he’s h the extra float would be nice.
I decided to take this board out and surf it like a regular board in longboard waves. It’s extremely light since it’s carbon but I was a little concerned 26.5 would be difficult to paddle with my arms. Turned out fine.
That board opened a world of possibilities. It was fast, responsive, and caught EVERYTHING. I started surfing it at my local and got a few weird looks til I could catch the wave from way out and pump down the line and cutback before anyone on a shortboard could even catch it. It can’t go completely vertical but it can do full hacks. It’s shaped like a HPS it’s wider and longer. I ride it as a quad plus trailer.
Anyone else ride super wide boards? I think there’s a whole world of possibilities for high volume shapes if don’t correctly with the right shaper.
Pros
Lots of paddle power
Can surf longboard waves
Can surf good waves early
Cons
Not as high performance
Needs to be shaped right
I think it’s a good discussion and here is my personal journey into wide boards.
First saw a kneeboard on craigslist that was 24.5 wide. It was a good price and I liked the shape. Bought it and had the fin moved back to normal and surfed it a bunch. The 24.5 was great. It was fast, responsive, and could catch anything.
From there I got a custom shaped fish that was 24 wide and again it was epic.
Both these boards were close to 60 liters at 6’4
Then it happened. I saw a 80 liter SUP for sale. It was 7’6 x 26.5 x 3 and I was looking for something to surf when I got to the north east where it was freezing and I would need extra float. Figured if I was going to be wearing rubber that was he’s h the extra float would be nice.
I decided to take this board out and surf it like a regular board in longboard waves. It’s extremely light since it’s carbon but I was a little concerned 26.5 would be difficult to paddle with my arms. Turned out fine.
That board opened a world of possibilities. It was fast, responsive, and caught EVERYTHING. I started surfing it at my local and got a few weird looks til I could catch the wave from way out and pump down the line and cutback before anyone on a shortboard could even catch it. It can’t go completely vertical but it can do full hacks. It’s shaped like a HPS it’s wider and longer. I ride it as a quad plus trailer.
Anyone else ride super wide boards? I think there’s a whole world of possibilities for high volume shapes if don’t correctly with the right shaper.
Pros
Lots of paddle power
Can surf longboard waves
Can surf good waves early
Cons
Not as high performance
Needs to be shaped right