Ultimate Noserider

[Felice]

Hi guys,

first post here, hope it gets tons of reply.

I'm searching for a proper 10' noserider. I'm in the range between 220 and 250lbs, depending on the time of year and I'm intermediate level (haven't reached the nose so far, but catch most waves I put my mind to).

I'm searching for a good noserider. I have a 9'2x19 1/8x23 1/2x16 1/8x3 1/16 with quite full rails and a squaretail. That one as a single fin suits me best. I bought a 9'8x23x3 noserider but with relatively blady rails it is even more unstable. I'll surf european mushy waves from ankle to lets say head high, for bigger waves I have different boards. I like squaretails and single fins in volan glass.

Now I'm searching for something bigger but still maneuverable and first of all easy noserideable:

1.) I found a Bing silverspoon at 10'0x19x23 1/2x16 1/4x3 1/2 and
2.) a custom Pearson Arrows CJ Noserider 10'0x20x25x17x3 1/2.

to get an impression of both boards, check these links:
Bing Silverspoon: http://www.bingsurf.com/surfboards.html
Arrow CJ Nelson: http://www.arrowsurfshop.com/surfboards/long/pro.html

- Which one would you recommend? The only obvious difference for me is the price. While the bing costs 1200,- the Arrow will be around 800,-
What's the difference between these boards?

- While Bing told me they wouldn't recommend to alter the outline and just go thicker, Arrows offered a wider and thicker board. Who's right there?

- Do you think I could kneepaddle any of the two?

Thanx in advance for all the opinions!

Felice

[justloafing]

I would think because of you size you need to at least go 10'0". Just by the dimensions the Bing sounds a little bit more of a performance board which is not a bad thing for you. You will get better and grow into it. Bing does make a great board but pricey.

The Arrow IMHO is a good board too. Because of your weight and height I think that is the board I would go with. A good board with still a good learning curve for you and a board you will always want to keep.

The Arrow will do you fine now and just think about it.............When your getting to the nose well (no easy feat) you can then look forward to a high performance board. In other words. When your nose riding well you will know the dimensions, rails, width and length you really want to have. Then go out and get that custom expensive board if that is what you want to do.

[Felice]

hi justloafing thanx so far,

maybe your right with buying the cheaper board to test these dimensions before buying the ultimate board.
On the other hand there must be another difference between the two boards than just the name, which makes up for the difference in price. If it is quality it might even be better to go with the Bing and you get better value in the long run.
My first longi is a simple glassed low price one and is covered all over with knee dents with tail and nose split open from rocks. And I've got a McTavish that went ove some rocks but doesn't even have a scratch because of better glassing.
As the dimensions go, do you consider 23 1/2 wide and 3 1/2 thick really "high performance". I rather have the fear that this is already big and the Arrow with 25 wide and 3 1/2 thick is simply unmaneuverable???

Regards,

Felice

[tomcat360]

I say (as always) if you are going to spend the money then go to a shaper and get them to make one for you. They know what is best and can sit down and talk with you and get the perfect board for what you want. Depending on who does it, probably cheaper than the Bing.

[Felice]

Hi Tomcat360,

thank you for the advise. In fact, the one board that suits me best so far is a custom (the 9'2 semente).
But on the other hand, I am not experienced enough to really know what I want. I am searching for the biggest still maneuverable board for me, maybe kneepadleable. I am worried about this 3 1/2 thickness, but I saw a 3 1/4 Silverspoon (10') in real live and it really had thin rails so the difference to my 9'8x23x3 wont be that significant...
What do I want? I want a squaretail singlefin low rocker wide and thick. I think I like blended concaves better than teardrops and I've just learned that nose width has certain limitations in teardrop concaves. That all sounds like the silver spoon. About details such as the step tail I never heard of before, so I think it is still impossible for me to decide about that.
The aspect of a certain collection appeals to me as well. The only things that should not happend is that the new log resembles my old 9'8x23x3 noserider too much and/or that it gets too big to handle.

Greetz,

Felice

[tomcat360]

Yes it's custom, but it has been customized for someone else.

You might not know exactly what you need/want but a shaper does. You tell him what you want it to do and he draws up a perfect board.

[Felice]

Hi tomcat360,

I see your point, but I don't know how much difference there would be if they made it for me customized, you know?
They told me they wouldn't alter the outline, meaning that at a certain length they would leave nose and overall width identical, the only thing that they would change is thickness. I want sth bigger than my 9'8x23x3 so going for 10' is set. And the model is chosen as well, since they said at Bing that all the other "Noseriders" in their range will prefer certain conditions while the Silverspoon works in any type of wave up to a certain height. So the only thing to discuss would be the thickness. So 10x23 1/2x3 1/2 vs 3 1/4... This is dependent from my weight first of all and since that is changing a lot at times, it is difficult to decide on that. I'm 250 lbs now and aiming for 220 lbs first of all, which I had reached last year but lost again after injuries.
I had a McTavish fireball shaped for me without any limitations and they made me a 9'6x23 1/8x3 1/8 with fuller rails and in the end it didn't work out perfectly due to the pintail.

Quite a difficult one...
But most people told me I would be able to kneepaddle only the 3 1/2 at 220 lbs so taking into account that it will be more difficult to turn, I guess that's the correct thickness... Not so much room for individual changes I think.

What boards do you ride and can you kneepaddle any of them? At what weigth?

Regards anyway,

Felice

[surferdude_scarborough]

what tomcat meant was to go to a shaper to get a board made from scratch. not just a thicker version of one of their shapes. this way you will get exactly what you want on your board with nothing thats made for someone else. will often be cheaper than a "branded" board too.

i for one wont be going back to "off the rack" boards which should be music to the ears of a certain big nosed shaper.

[Felice]

Hi surferdude,

I know what you guys mean, since my 9'2 Semente is a custom made for me. My problem is that I just can't go to a shaper for a custom longboard since there are no shaper around here. In fact, I don't know any european shapers who know enough about high quality longboards and I think gimmicks like the triple stringer or the volan glassing might make sense in the region of 10' longies. From all the good&known companies I contacted, none offered me a 100% custom, everyone suggested to modify one of their models slightly.
From my experience, it's only the small companies offering 100% customs, but that often comes with poorer glassing and stuff quality.

Thanx,

Felice

[isaluteyou]

it's only the small companies offering 100% customs, but that often comes with poorer glassing and stuff quality.

Either someones feeding you a load of BS or you have been really unlucky with shapers cause that comment is waaay waaay waaaaay waaaay x 10 off

As for not being able to find a shaper in europe where do you live romania or something seriously though look and you will find and secondly a lot of the smaller companies will spend more time with you and more time on the board

[Surfing-Innovation]

Agree with all of the above! There are a TON of shapers out there who will make you YOUR ideal board.

And it'll work out a damn sight cheaper than a shop bought one too!!

[tomcat360]

I know probably 2000 shapers in Europe because of swaylocks. What country.

[Captainpigpen]

Felice, Just glanced this forum and saw your problem and had to join and reply, I own a Bing and the reason they don't change the template is that it's proven and without doubt a Silver Spoon will do you fine as of course will a Arrow CJ model, a stunning board that I have been after for about a year and will I hope get one soon.
The CJ will not be easy to ride though, It will be bladey and will take some patience to get dialed in, The silver spoon will be easier but not as sharp as the CJ and although neither will feel sluggish the CJ will be shall we say more 2008 to ride. NONE of these make noseriding easy, yoou just gotta practice practice practice and have confidence in your equipment, If it don't work, you done it wrong, simple.
One thing to remeber is a board with bladey rails has had more foam mown off, so will sit a little lower in the water, But 10' by 23+ and 31/2 thick, Jeez, could float a cow.
A 9'6" or 9'8" with eggy rails 23"+ x 31/2 would do you I'm sure, 10' in upto waist high waves is about it realy, Yeh we've all done it I know, 10 footers in 4-5+ but it's silly, Fun, but silly. Over the years I've tried loads of shapes and sizes and reckon 9'6" is the size for a noserider., I'm 190-200lb and old (46 ).
Sorry if this has confused you, but I have had two 10 footers and theyre great, but for true manouverability and use in most conditions 9'6" is the size.
I know CJ rides his 10' and man how he rides it, But and it's a big but, He's CJ, the man could noseride a toilet door!!!!

Go for a 9'8" CJ

[greypump]

Hi - not sure where you are but if you want to talk to a good UK shaper then try these guys:

http://www.blackandwhitesurfcoltd.co.uk/

Many folk reckon they are the best shapers/glassers in UK and they sort many folk out with logs.