Surfing Waves

I am 46 yrs old. 6'2 and 235 lbs. athletic build, in decent shape. Been surfing for 5 years. I surf east coast only, mostly in New England, new Hampshire Coast 90% of the time. (Yes there is a surfing coast line in NH)

First board Surftech softop 10Ft, (This one snapped on some rocks) rode for 2 years caught first green waves after one year, purchased a Bic Super Magnum 9'4"x28" x3.75" big board. Riding that for 3 years, nose riding, green waves, some slight turns but its a barge. Catches a lot of waves. Looking to move up to a faster board that turns and can nose ride.

Been doing a lot of looking around and researching boards. Here are the boards I am considering. Not in any order of preference.

1. Robert August "What I ride" poly hand shaped 9'6"

2. Don Takayama "In the Pink" poly hand shaped 9'8"

3. Bing Silver Spoon. Would need to order. 9'4" - 9'8"

Any preference to either one of these boards considering my riding experience? I probably can't lose with any of them. Looking for anyones input. I think I will be set with any of them, but looking for opinions.

Thanks in advance for your input. I appreciate it.

Questions:

1) Can you do a drop knee turn ?

2) What made you settle on those three particular boards ?

3) Why are your choices only Poly/Pu ?

1. No I have never attempted a drop knee turn. I am good a catching waves and riding them to the end with a few turns. Looking to get a board that turns well, paddles well, catches a lot of waves, and allows noseriding when conditions are right.

2. I settled on those boards after researching noseriders, speaking to some guys at the surfshops in the area. They sell these boards to surf in the area as they say they are good for conditions around here.

3. Was looking at Poly/PU hand shaped because I did not like any of colors that the pop out boards came in. In these three boards at least I find the color schemes boring or ugly. Poly boards look much better than the pop out boards I have seen.

In speaking with Bing they recommended the Bing Trimilux which is a fast performance board which also allows for noseriding. Its their beginner nose riding board.

Then of the 3 choices, I would go with the Robert August "What I Ride". It is the most "All Around" shape. I don't think you should go for a true noserider yet. Noserider's focus is to be good riding from the nose, you still are learning to tail ride. I haven't tried the Bing Trimilux, so can't comment on that other than it is a 50/50 rail. That's why I asked if you can drop knee turn, as 50/50 rails need to be "pivot" turned.

"Turns well, paddles well, catches a lot of waves, and allows noseriding when conditions are right" is all up to YOU, not the board.

Thanks for the advice. I don't know that much about shapes and what would work best for someone trying to make that transition from a beginner board to a more advanced board to start working on more turns and skills. Noseriding is something I definitely want to work on as well. The Trimilux Bing says is their entry level nose rider. But I agree that I thought that the What I ride shape looked like a more all around shape. Going to try and demo some boards if I can before deciding.

Any other boards that people would suggest for my skill level trying to transition from a beginner board?

Hey oldirk, I surf at The Wall.
In fact I was there today and longboarders were getting all the waves as usual

Yah....I like the wall but usually surf at Jenness since the beach has very little space to sit for my wife.

cldirk wrote:Yah....I like the wall but usually surf at Jenness since the beach has very little space to sit for my wife.

depends on the tide. I used to surf Jenness but now The Wall is a bit closer to where I live, and I can always find parking.
Have you talked to the people at Cinnamon Rainbows about boards? I think the store's owner is well respected locally.

I did speak to the owner of Cinnamon Rainbows. They sell Robert August and he suggested the What I ride Board. Also suggested the Cinnamon Rainbows Model. Also been speaking to the summer sessions guys. Tyler the owner. They like the Bings, and Takayama In the Pink boards. Which they sell.

The Robert August Poly's are not bad. Cinn Rainbows has a few in the store one demo for $900 and others new for $1100. Summer Sessions has a 9'8" in the pink Poly in the store for $1185. Summer sessions also has several bings for $1185, Cannibal 9'8" longboard for $999, Ricky Carrol noserider white for $965, and a few Justin Quintal models all for $1200 or more.

Guess I can't go wrong with any of the choices. Was just looking for some guidance on a good beginner transitional board to practice nose riding on, turns well, paddles well, and has good speed, long term board to hold on to for years.

Ever consider second hand?

I have been looking at shops and other places. Hard to find these boards used. Probably cause people keep em. Had an eye on a JQ but it was a classic noserider. Good deal but not a good all AROUND TYPE BOARD.

cldirk wrote: Was just looking for some guidance on a good beginner transitional board to practice nose riding on, turns well, paddles well, and has good speed, long term board to hold on to for years.

turns well, paddles well, good speed, long term... sounds like the perfect board - that we are all looking for!

As you have concluded, any of those boards will suit. I had my eye on a 'what to ride' a few years ago, really nice looking boards (then I found a second hand board for about 20% of the price... but that was pure luck, I dropped into a surf store literally 5 minutes after someone had traded it in)

cldirk wrote: Was just looking for some guidance on a good beginner transitional board to practice nose riding on, turns well, paddles well, and has good speed, long term board to hold on to for years.

I understand your want and desires. Any of the 3 boards you listed will perform great under someone who knows how to noseride. Any of the 3 boards ( or any Noserider or All-Arounder ) will perform terrible under someone who Shuffles, Looks at their feet, Runs forward, Doesn't know how to Trim and control the Rail. I know you want someone to tell you " THIS is the best board for a beginner transitional board". But again it's not the arrow but the Indian.

Turns well - Noseriders have reverse rocker, nose is flat and tail is kicked up. Opposite of "normal" board. That tail kick is there to lock the tail down. But it makes it hard to turn, thus a pivot turn is essential

Paddles well - most Noseriders have a concave under the nose. That's creates a air bubble to perch. It also slows the board down a bit. Thus noseriders are harder to paddle, NOT easier to paddle than a normal board

Good Speed - Again the concave under the nose hurts speed. But also the 50/50 rail holds the water to the rail to let it wrap over the deck and lock the tail down. A board with harder edges sheer or releases the water off the rail to gain speed. You probably also like the look of a GLOSS board compared to Sanded Finish, but actually sanded finish is faster than a gloss finished board.

Long term - most modern PU/Poly boards have their "pop" for about 5 years. Longboards have a heavier glassing schedule. so that should help. But I have a molded-epoxy "pop out" thats over 10 years old, without a single ding that still rides the same as new.

I recommend just get any longboard 9'0"-9'6" x 22" - 23" x around 2 7/8" - 3" and practice walking on that. Later get a noserider. The best noserider will be a board YOU can control, that YOU can put in the right spot on the wave to noseride. It doesn't have to be a single fin, it doesn't have to have nose concave, it doesn't need to have 50/50 rails.

Thanks for the input. Took the morning off from work tomorrow. Going to surf for a few hrs. Some 2 - 3ft waves just came in today. Then going to do some looking at the local shops see whats there. One had a walden magic but that sold while I was there. Spoke to someone at Ricky Carrolls shop. He suggested the "In the Pink", JQ3 board, or Black Rose Hard Carbon for the waves up here. Said he knows the waves on the beaches up here since he has surfed them before. Guess that's the best advice I can get. He suggested Anything from 9'6 - 10'0, 23 -231/2, 3.25 thick, 18-19 in nose and 14 -15 in the rear. 60/40 rail.

I would go with a 9'6" over a 10'0". Just because of the swing weight during the "easy to turn" that you wanted. Plus, 10 feet is a long long way to walk, even if you're 6'2". It just seems like forever to get to the nose. Need an aid station set up, at the half way point.

Let us know what you pick. I make my way to the Wall when I can, but the drive is kinda long. Hoped to take a "mental health" day from work tomorrow because the surf report looks good but I have to pay for a transmission repair on the wife's car.

Had them hold a Takayama in the pink for me this AM at summer sessions. They have a 9'8" Poly in the shop. 23.25 thick 3.25 wide.

Went to the wall this AM. Early was ok caught a few waves. Then waves got hard to catch. Water pushing up under them. When not doing that they were breaking too sharp no ride but whitewater. Now its getting messy. Wind picked up very choppy.

Will pickup new board on Sunday to catch some knee highs.....