5.10 New Flyer Channel Island swallow or squash tail?

[rickdean]

Hi surfbudds!

I am about to buy a new surfboard and i am doubting about a swallow or squash tail for the new fyler.

I am intermediate and my biggest preferences is riding 2 ft to 6 ft waves. I do most love maneuvers, airs and rails even though i also pretty much like surfing barrels. So all in all it should be kind of an all-round shape. ( what the board new flyer on itselves has)

So what would be the most suitable for me in your view? I am surfing right now in bali and are heading in April to Hawaii just to surf so i will be quite in it.

Thx heaps for your recommendations.

[jaffa1949]

Wait till you get to Hawaii, get a board there, seriously. Great shapers and you will really know just how intermediate you are and if your talk to the shapers a board for your current level will be just right.

[rickdean]

Thx for your reply Jaffa1949. It's just that i sold my old and only board in Australia and now need a new one for bali for the next 2 months.

I though about buying another in Hawaii as well caused by awesome shapers. What do you think, shall i do now in bali? I rackon its the best thing for now to buy one, renting 2 months would be xxxxx and for an second hand i feel xxxxx. Kind of remember surfboard from bali would be cool. Or could you recommend me another brand of surfboard? I just figured out that the new flyer would be the best now, either swallow or squash tail. Doubting

[jaffa1949]

Secondhand boards in Bali can be pretty cheap if you know your stuff,,they are only expensive for people who don't want to barter, you could offer th buy and then sell,back if you bargain well. Sure it will cost , but no airfreight to Hawaii.

I really think if you haven't seen Hawaiian power even in April I would reserve my thoughts on your small,quality wave needs until you see it.
Good paddle ability is needed as the waves come out of deep water and so lose little speed to the bottom. Talk it over with someone there.
Indo barrels are so much easier than Hawaiian barrels or at least how they smack you.

[waikikikichan]

what is the tail of your current board you do airs on ? If you feel you'll be riding bigger waves go with the squash. Smaller hot-dogging waves, go with the swallow.

You said you're in Bali. But where do you intend to get the Merrick from ? Bali ? Australia ?

April is shoulder season for Hawaii. Northshore is flat, Southshore really isn't showing. Where do you plan on surfing there ? If Diamond Head, go with the swallow.

There's a lot of good shapers in Hawaii. But watch out for some of the mall shops that sell the "Overseas made" versions of the local shapers models. They're really sneaky about it, and won't tell you unless you ask them seriously.

I know a shop that sells the WCT pros' boards that they return back to the shapers after the winter season is over. ( of course they keep their "magic" boards ). I've sold Micks Fannings and Bruce Irons boards. Sorry , Kelly's boards aren't available.

[asilomarsurfer]

Rickdean,

With regards to the tail, it isn't cut and dry. Medina (I know, not everybody's favorite surfer) rides a swallow tail, even in the bigger stuff. Depends how you like your boards to feel. This is just my opinion, but CI boards are designed for SoCal surf, they are all ghost-shaped, and the quality isn't that great. It's basically 100 extra for 3 hexagons. Don't succumb to their allure! There are better brands out there. Are you from Australia, you say? JS and DHD build great boards for waves with juice. What is your price point?

Jaffa, talking to a local shaper is always the best course of action. But, it can take forever. Maybe they have a better work ethic in HI but at least round here (and their are a lot of shapers in the Santa Cruz area) it's about 4-5 weeks, minimum. It depends on how long you want to stay there, Rickdean.

I would say, get a good stock board from a serious brand, and then fly Air Hawaii because there are no board fees! If you fly non stop there is.

Have fun in HI, and be careful! I wouldn't be so worried about the waves as much as the punch in the face you will get if you snake someone accidentally. Zero aloha spirit on Oahu.

[waikikikichan]

"fly Air Hawaii because there are no board fees!" - never heard of Air Hawaii. Hawaiian Air Lines charges for surfboards

"I wouldn't be so worried about the waves as much as the punch in the face you will get if you snake someone accidentally. Zero aloha spirit on Oahu" -

Asilo- I think that is a very disrespectful comment. If someone brings that "mainland attitude" to Hawaii, they WILL get slapped. Aloha doesn't mean it's okay to drop in. If you give Aloha, you get Aloha. If you give respect, you get respect. I am from Oahu, are you saying I have 0% Aloha spirit ? John John, Carissa Moore, Kelia Moniz who grew up on Oahu, all have no Aloha spirit ?

Have you surfed all the shores on Oahu ? Have you hung out with the locals ? What is your definition of Aloha Spirit ?