Longboard shapes

[flo_dhbomb]

Hey longboarders,

Looking for information on what the difference is between shapes...
- Tail Shapes - what is the difference, advantages, disadvantages in how boards surf and turn with pintails, squaretails, roundtails, etc.
- Nose Shapes - if you get a noserider with a wide nose, concave bottom, what do you sacrifice as a result
- Rocker - what is the difference between low entry rocker and more rocker ?

I am 5'3"-115lbs and am looking for a board that I can get up to speed fast to catch waves. What kind of a board should I look for to be able to do this. Is there something else I will sacrifice if I have this kind of board ?

[jaffa1949]

Just curious how much surfing have you done
You have posted a huge lot of questions and they about cover design 101 of surfing.
A good place to start your questions after the first one I asked, is what sort of waves do you ride, what is your experience level again,
Do you know a good shaper, have you surfed with them. There is a wealth of experience here but these questions need to be answered so we can give you sensible advice X at least 5

[flo_dhbomb]

Sorry for too many questions. I like to research my purchases a lot !
I am a beginnerish surfer. Have surfed about 30 days a year over the past couple of years. Wish I could surf more but that's all I can do right now. I ride beach breaks and point breaks - 3-6 ft. I am catching green waves but haven't really figured out bottom turns and angled take-offs yet. I am looking for a board to progress on.

[Surfer513]

Take it one step at a time. The dimensions of the longboard really won't affect you that much at this point in the game. As a general rule of thumb, a noserider tends to be a bit of a slower board. It'll take a little more to get in front of a fast breaking wave. No longboard really cuts on the rail, and definitely no noserider will. It's all tail turning.

I ride a 10' Dewey Weber Stylist. Wouldn't trade it for the world. Had a narrow and fast 10' Rusty until a wave took her life, but I would never go back to that type of longboard (unless for bigger, faster waves). The Dewey Weber fits my style, my breaks, and my interests. At the same time, the more overhead the wave is, the harder it is to get the Stylist in front of the break. But it's all experience. It's all board positioning. You'll figure it out. Just do it.

[jaffa1949]

Sorry for too many questions. I like to research my purchases a lot !
I am a beginnerish surfer. Have surfed about 30 days a year over the past couple of years. Wish I could surf more but that's all I can do right now. I ride beach breaks and point breaks - 3-6 ft. I am catching green waves but haven't really figured out bottom turns and angled take-offs yet. I am looking for a board to progress on.

I'd say this to all the beginning surfers and I think its a good rule of thumb for long boards egt a good basic shape, surf it lots as you getmore proficient you will notice its failing and be able to ask toconsider them in each new board aS YOU PROGRESS.
i'LL PUT THIS IN BIG LETTERS, SURFING IS ABOUT GETTING THE EXPERIENCE IN YOUR BODY AND COORDINATION RESEARCHING WHAT SORT OF BOARD LIKE BUYING A CAR DOESN'T WORK UNTIL YOU UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ARE DOING

Having yelled that at you go and have fun discover you surfing level, just have fun