Surfing Waves

First of all...
I live in Southern California (Encinitas, CA)
I am 29 years old 5'11 195lbs and in better than average shape (thanks to surfing)
Been surfing a little over a year about 3 to 4(5) times a week for at least 2 hours a day
Primary board is a fat 8' mini mal and my secondary board is a fat 7'3 funboard/big fish

Now I ride my 8' board 90% of time because it is the board I started on and am comfortable with it. I can catch waves (1-5 feet) easily and can move up and down the face decent. I've felt pretty confident in my ability lately so I recently bought the 7'3 board to progress my maneuverability and have done relatively well picking it up. I do plan on taking the smaller board out on most days that are 3 foot or bigger but I still regularly go back to my 8 footer. With all that said, I have been watching some longboarders and have become intrigued enough to possible go and get one.

I want a longboard...
for a big increase in glide speed/power from my 8'
to be able to knee paddle well
to be able to generate and maintain good speed
to be able to walk up and down the deck, from tail to nose
to have solid flotation

The need for turning ability is marginal but I do prefer to use the rails to turn more than using the tail (at least with my current understanding/habits).

So what size, shape, fin setup could accomplish this? What classification of shape better fits my needs, classical or progressive?

Personally, my novice opinion thinks that, in general, a (9 x 23 x 3) is too small for my size/desires...but that a (10 x 23.5 x 3.5) may be too big, but I really don't know which is why I am asking here! Now I have read other posts here and there seems to be a general consensus that "noseriding" boards are slow. I simply want the ability to try to surf the nose but I would much prefer good hydrodynamics for speed instead. As far as fin and rail configurations I am in the dark. Anyways, any advice is highly appreciated, thanks!

BTW... I realize I should talk to a shaper face to face... and I will... but I know there is some great information to be obtained here and am looking forward to learning from you.

Sounds like you are a trad stylist,
But before you spend any money--beg, borrow, steal and experiment with various sizes and styles --therefore you will reach your own conclusions -----Grasshopper!

PM me if you like

Yours
PG

below says it all really--follow the series--it works!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLTvunwBmCg

Yours
PG

Thanks man, I appreciate the link. The dude lecturing is pretty funny and very informative; The way he describes things is easy to understand.

Just to be clear, I am not looking for specifically a nose riding board. I would much rather have a board that performs well overall than geared for just one trick. I primarily want to have extreme paddling/glide power and stability so that I could sit/knee paddle without problems. Speed is also weighted pretty heavily on my wants for the board, but I do want the POSSIBILITY to noseride. I would imagine that given any board of relative size, you should be able to ride the nose, but I certainly don't want to sacrifice speed for simply one manuever...if possible. Thanks again!

Get a heavyish (durable !) 9 footer - Fin boxed trifin so you can swap the fins about.
The extra weight of a heavier board will give all the features you want, and will be soooo much fun cranking out turns !

My $00.02

Esonscar, I definitely am leaning in that a direction for sure. Thank you for your input; its almost sealing the deal in my head with that comment.

Here is a update post I made on another site...

I've actually been experimenting with two boards that I bought used on craigslist; one is 9'8 and the other is 9'0. Neither I believe could be classified as modern although the 9'8 one seems lighter actually because the 9'0 has a triple stringer and seems to have more overall width throughout the board (it also has a split that has been repaired, I've heard that adds some weight). I ride both boards single fin ATM.

I am back and forth on both boards trying to give them each a fair examination out in the water. The 9'8 seems to glide fairly well but it sinks a little more than I would like it too...its measurements are interestingly 23" x 3 1/8, which I thought would float me like a rock. Don't get me wrong, it floats me and glides just fine...I just thought with a board that size I would get more than what it has. I am still getting used to turning and balancing on the 9'8 because it is definitely more board than I am use too. I find myself too far up (prone and standing) quite frequently. All this being said, I really think I just need to take it out more and get more of a feel too it. I also tried knee paddling...... I would like to do this but it hurts my knees, so I'll have to work on that...

Now the 9'0 board kicks some ass. I don't know if its the skull logo on the board or if its just a closer feel to my 8'0 but I am really enjoying this board. One of the things that really gets me about this board is its overall width. It is so stable in the water and floats so well...which is strange cause the dimensions are actually smaller than the 9'8...it is only 22 1/2" x 2 3/4" but feels way more solid in the water. I think its because the width is held up all the way throughout the board up to the nose...It is also WAY heavier than the 9'8. I let a little dinky wave push the board into my leg (like a idiot) and it totally left a nasty gash under my knee because of the force of the weight with the wave. But the weight seems like a good thing I think... It allows me to really cut through waves and seems like it adds force when the board moves. Not sure how it affects the boards buoyancy, stability, and maneuverability though.

But really, I'm trying not to sway one way or the other although its obvious I have bias towards the 9'0. I need to take out the 9'8 a little more to be fair to the comparison. I am curious how I would like a modern 9'0. Too me it seems like I got a heavy and wide 9' and am curious what a light modern 9' would feel like...or maybe even another heavy style but slightly bigger (9'3).

I am trying to figure out what the real differences are between my fat 8' board and these new longboards. I can catch waves ALMOST the same and can turn pretty decent on the 8'....BUT the 9' and even 9'8 definitely have some more glide to them. Also looking to see what new and/or old things that I can do better with these longboards... Curious if a 9'0 is too close in size to my 8'0 so that I should maybe consider using a 9'6+ for a more "true" longboard feel. But DUNNO yet, just experimenting!

BOARD PICS

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/spo/1381824036.html

http://sandiego.craigslist.org/csd/spo/1381824579.html