After seeing photos of guys ripping on SUPs, my eyes were open... wide.
I have made a couple of big longboards that are actually much bigger than some of the SUPs that are in vogue today. One in particular is still getting put through it's paces up on Vancouver Island.. it is a 12'6" X 26" X 5" thick (or thereabouts.) There is also one that is 11' X 27" X 5" that was ridden by a couple fo guys as a SUP one day. Both boards had seriously beefy rails and in the hands of the right rider, worked good.
I think you're familiar with the Walden Mega-Magic model? That board has near SUP volume in the rails as do some of the Infinity longboards.
Another shaper, Dave Parmenter, does a model he calls the "PSV" - Paddle Surf Vehicle. It's a paddle/surf hybrid. That's actually how the big yellow 12'6" I made is being used now although it was designed as a big wave longboard for a big guy.
Until you get on a bigger faster wave where rail engagement might be a problem, I see little to no downside to the high volum rails of which we speak. There have been a couple of instances where I could see the value in a bit less volume to help me sink that forward but for most day in day out surfing? No question about it.
If a person doesn't believe now, give it 30 or 40 more years. If they're still at it, they'll understand!
PS - I ain't saying how I got that board to levitate... "secret sauce." HAHA
Huck, in regard to your "oversized and too thick boards with too thick rails" I think you might be "preaching to the choir" a bit here; generally speaking, I think your average Sways regular (and probably even more so with the average E&B regular) would be more than happy to take one of your creations for a spin.
Even if it's someone who had different requirements and aims with their surfing compared to your own. Just because it's always interesting to see how a board goes. Especially if it's something that's a long way different to your own personal boards.
I know I sure would.
Heck, I reckon you'd even have a bit of a queue forming if every Sways user lived within driving distance of you.
Mind you, I'm also not saying we'd all stick with it beyond a few decent-length sessions; like I said, we're all of different ages and abilities, surf in different locations and conditions, have different aims in our surfing, and we're all in search of a board (actually it's more like a quiver :) ), that's perfect just for us. And because of that, we're all after a different board.
And while I agree that the average punter out in the lineup can be bafflingly reticent to trying a board that's a bit out of the ordinary (e.g. your +3" thickness midlength/shortboards), I think you've also got to admit that the boards being ridden by the average punter (especially those who are out of their 20's) is these days a fair bit thicker than it used to be 10 to 15 years ago - I see quite a lot of people out in the lineup on "shorter, wider, thicker". Especially the more gutless the waves get. Lots of Sweet Potato's and Baked Potatoes being ridden. Lots of funboards too - the McCoy Nugget and it's devotees have been around for over 2 decades now, they're still selling well, and they're commonly up around 3" in thickness.
Like I said, have yet to find one person willing to give em a try
So the "stubby" you swapped with mattwho and is now being test-ridden by "Boy" doesn't count?
That particular situation could well be considered (in an indirect way), you getting your first ever "team rider" and "test-pilot".
And what's more, unlike what the big-name surfboard shapers having to put up with, by having to hand their team-riders/test-pilots their best creations for free,... you actually got paid to do it!
Okay, okay, so an 8'8" HLPB is not a typical form of currency. But you've gotta admit, it's one heck of a lot better than nuthin at all!
Haha I'm plenty cheered up, as much as I need to be, anyway. Yesterday I almost got beat up at Malibu by Danno, but today I had a good session, got several set waves by sitting outside and waiting, and it paid off. Inside the youngsters were fighting over the waves, but my drama was yesterday, I was all about the stoke today.
If you already got a ride report on the stubby you're ahead of me, but no, it doesn't count. The boards I was referring to are the ones pictured in my post, the wing squad, the banana boat, and the gordita.
I'm not looking for team riders, just saying it's a bit puzxling that guys won't even take one for a spin, but they'll stand there and gripe they're not getting any waves cuz tide too high, crowd too thick, sun got in their eyes, whatever. Not that I care if they don't but you know how it is. Just reflecting on the irony of it is all.
Thanx for reminding me, I gotta get the 8-8 waxed and finned and leashed up for action!
I was going to ask the same thing. .... Who's Danno?
I hate agro in the water, I do everything I can to avoid it which mostly involves avoiding crowds, waking up early on cold mornings and feeling cold tired and uncomfortable. But as soon as I'm in the water its almost always worthwhile.
Hi Huck -
After seeing photos of guys ripping on SUPs, my eyes were open... wide.
I have made a couple of big longboards that are actually much bigger than some of the SUPs that are in vogue today. One in particular is still getting put through it's paces up on Vancouver Island.. it is a 12'6" X 26" X 5" thick (or thereabouts.) There is also one that is 11' X 27" X 5" that was ridden by a couple fo guys as a SUP one day. Both boards had seriously beefy rails and in the hands of the right rider, worked good.
I think you're familiar with the Walden Mega-Magic model? That board has near SUP volume in the rails as do some of the Infinity longboards.
Another shaper, Dave Parmenter, does a model he calls the "PSV" - Paddle Surf Vehicle. It's a paddle/surf hybrid. That's actually how the big yellow 12'6" I made is being used now although it was designed as a big wave longboard for a big guy.
Until you get on a bigger faster wave where rail engagement might be a problem, I see little to no downside to the high volum rails of which we speak. There have been a couple of instances where I could see the value in a bit less volume to help me sink that forward but for most day in day out surfing? No question about it.
If a person doesn't believe now, give it 30 or 40 more years. If they're still at it, they'll understand!
PS - I ain't saying how I got that board to levitate... "secret sauce." HAHA
12_6_lbg.jpg
12_6_lbg_gloss.jpg
:) :) Potential hypotheses for JohnMellors "secret sauce":
1) photoshopping skills
2) some fishing line strung from the roof and under the board
3) for my money though, I'm guessing you slid out a drawer from that cabinet under the workbench and balanced the board on top of that.
Nice looking little workshop. Particularly like the photo album pasted up on the walls.
Cheers :)
Hey john awesome board! I wrote a nice long response and it musta fell into a black hole in cyber space. Oh well.
Huck, in regard to your "oversized and too thick boards with too thick rails" I think you might be "preaching to the choir" a bit here; generally speaking, I think your average Sways regular (and probably even more so with the average E&B regular) would be more than happy to take one of your creations for a spin.
Even if it's someone who had different requirements and aims with their surfing compared to your own. Just because it's always interesting to see how a board goes. Especially if it's something that's a long way different to your own personal boards.
I know I sure would.
Heck, I reckon you'd even have a bit of a queue forming if every Sways user lived within driving distance of you.
Mind you, I'm also not saying we'd all stick with it beyond a few decent-length sessions; like I said, we're all of different ages and abilities, surf in different locations and conditions, have different aims in our surfing, and we're all in search of a board (actually it's more like a quiver :) ), that's perfect just for us. And because of that, we're all after a different board.
And while I agree that the average punter out in the lineup can be bafflingly reticent to trying a board that's a bit out of the ordinary (e.g. your +3" thickness midlength/shortboards), I think you've also got to admit that the boards being ridden by the average punter (especially those who are out of their 20's) is these days a fair bit thicker than it used to be 10 to 15 years ago - I see quite a lot of people out in the lineup on "shorter, wider, thicker". Especially the more gutless the waves get. Lots of Sweet Potato's and Baked Potatoes being ridden. Lots of funboards too - the McCoy Nugget and it's devotees have been around for over 2 decades now, they're still selling well, and they're commonly up around 3" in thickness.
Cheers all!
So the "stubby" you swapped with mattwho and is now being test-ridden by "Boy" doesn't count?
That particular situation could well be considered (in an indirect way), you getting your first ever "team rider" and "test-pilot".
And what's more, unlike what the big-name surfboard shapers having to put up with, by having to hand their team-riders/test-pilots their best creations for free,... you actually got paid to do it!
Okay, okay, so an 8'8" HLPB is not a typical form of currency. But you've gotta admit, it's one heck of a lot better than nuthin at all!
So cheer up Huck :)
Haha I'm plenty cheered up, as much as I need to be, anyway. Yesterday I almost got beat up at Malibu by Danno, but today I had a good session, got several set waves by sitting outside and waiting, and it paid off. Inside the youngsters were fighting over the waves, but my drama was yesterday, I was all about the stoke today.
If you already got a ride report on the stubby you're ahead of me, but no, it doesn't count. The boards I was referring to are the ones pictured in my post, the wing squad, the banana boat, and the gordita.
I'm not looking for team riders, just saying it's a bit puzxling that guys won't even take one for a spin, but they'll stand there and gripe they're not getting any waves cuz tide too high, crowd too thick, sun got in their eyes, whatever. Not that I care if they don't but you know how it is. Just reflecting on the irony of it is all.
Thanx for reminding me, I gotta get the 8-8 waxed and finned and leashed up for action!
Danno ? as in Hawaii 5 o ?
Yeah, that Danno
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