Surfing Waves

Hey.
Would anyone know what board model would allow me to be able to hang ten easily (as in it’s stable and the nose doesn’t sink as easily as other boards). I know that a heavier tail means that when your weight’s on the front while hanging ten, it’s balanced, so a weighted tail is good for that. I also know that a fairly wide nose obviously good if you want to hang ten, but this kind of design doesn’t allow for nice turns like a performance board. I am 85% focussed on the noseriding aspect of longboarding, and 15% on the manoeuvres. I thought that a 9’8 takyama ‘in the pink’ would be perfect for me, but wouldn’t know enough to make a final judgement, especially without trying it. I don’ know what the feel would be like either. But I do have a good idea of what’s best for me, it’s just that I can’t find the right board, because there’s so many on the internet and there’s always a ‘better’ one.
Has anyone tried a takayama in the pink... and if so, would you recommend it? Or would anyone know if there was a better board that I could get??

You didn't say how heavy you weigh.

I only weigh 130 pounds (60kg), but I’m only 16 and I’m going to the gym to build muscle, eating more and trying to gain weight, so I am hoping to be 150 pounds (70kg) within the next 2 years, so I will have to consider this. I do however chose surfing over working out, and If the surf’s good, I’ll go surfing instead of going to the gym.
I also have seen other little fellas on 9’6 surfboards, take Johnnie the ripper for example, same age as me, same sort of style to me, but I wouldn’t have a clue what kind of board he uses... that type of info just isn’t on the internet, it does look like a log, but I wouldn’t know for sure, and even if it was, there are different types of logs. I do enjoy the more classic style and I do prefer longer boards. I don’t mind taking the extra few steps to get to the nose either. I am just looking for the right kind of board, which I can hopefully keep for a few years.. my Dad has lots of surfboard repair stuff, because he’s surfed on dozens of boards over his 25 years of surfing, so he’s learnt how to repair it properly, to save some money... anyway back to the point, I do have a rough idea of what I want, and a 9’6-9’8 board is perfect for my style, but I do want to make sure that I can get a few turns and manoeuvres in ther as well. I also think that a takayama in the pink is the right kind of board, but couldn’t seem to find many for sale, even second hand. I was wondering if there were any similar boards or substitutes that I can get instead that will fit my style?

finntstratford wrote:I know that a heavier tail means that when your weight’s on the front while hanging ten, it’s balanced, so a weighted tail is good for that.

finntstratford wrote:I only weigh 130 pounds (60kg), but I’m only 16 and I’m going to the gym to build muscle, eating more and trying to gain weight, so I am hoping to be 150 pounds (70kg) within the next 2 years, so I will have to consider this.

So to get that optimum weight distribution front to back, using your theory of what you know, wouldn't you need a tail that weighs about 130 lbs. ? ( by the way, I weigh a 125 lbs. )

When you hold the 9'8" Donald Takayama In-the-Pink, does the tail feel much heavier than the front ?

The tail just needs to be weighted to the extent that it stays in the water easier than if the tail was light or floaty. The board I currently have is to floaty on the tail, which isn’t ideal for noseriding, hence why I want it to be weighted (obviously not too much).
However, this isn’t a major factor that influences my choice.

I also haven’t got my hands on one of these boards, so I wouldn’t know what it feels like, I couldn’t find how heavy the tail is, because that sort of info just up isn’t on the internet (well at least as far as I know), but as I said, this isn’t a major factor, which is why I am wanting to get the takayama in the pink 9’8, because it has everything that I want in a board, except I wouldn’t have a clue how much the tail weighs.

I was just wondering if there was a similar board to this, that is known to have a weighted tail, so that I can not only noseride more stably and comfortably, but perform better when I’m standing towards the front part of the board. (This is more my style).

Would you now have enough information about me to be able to recommend another board, similar dimensions to the takayama in the pink, that comes in 9’6 or preferably 9’8, that has a weighted (not too much) tail?

If not, then that’s alright, it just means that I’ll be getting the takayama 9’8 in the pink. If so, then awesome! I’ll be getting something better! Your help will be much appreciated.

First let me say, I hate the In-the-Pink with a passion. I also can't ride the DT-2, which my friend loves but I hate. Now that's not to say I don't like Donald Takayama boards. I currently ride the Hawaiian Pro Designs Beach Break model. I also consider the Model-T a great classic longboard.

Yes, I have ridden the In-the-Pink. There was this "One Board" division of Hawaiian Noseriding championships where each competitor had to ride a HPD In-the-Pink.

I would not have ridden it unless I was forced to.

Did you ride it with your broken foot?

edit: i did not see the title of the video. It looked like you rode with a cast on lol.

BaNZ wrote:Did you ride it with your broken foot? It looked like you rode with a cast on lol.

Yes, I had to surf with a broken foot in a "moon boot". I broke my leg three weeks earlier and the doctor said I couldn't surf for 3 months. The organizers wouldn't return my entry fee, so I paddled out just to see the view and then go back in to collect my t-shirt. Then something "clicked".



I didn't make it to the finals of the "One Board" In-the-Pink divisions. But won the senior mens division.
using a all-around performance design, molded-epoxy Southpoint 9'1" Carl Schaper Bonga Perkins model.

waikikikichan wrote: I also consider the Model-T a great classic longboard.

I have actually looked at this board, and considered it as a possible option, but then found the in-the-pink, because of the wider nose, which I just assumed would make it good for noseriding, but I must have got the wrong impression. I think I might actually get the Model-T.

Thanks so much!

finntstratford wrote:I have actually looked at this board, and considered it as a possible option, but then found the in-the-pink, because of the wider nose, which I just assumed would make it good for noseriding, but I must have got the wrong impression. I think I might actually get the Model-T.

You use the words "Know" , "Assume", "Obvious", yet you still don't truly understand what makes a good noserider. Like I recommended in your introduction post, don't spend $2000 on your first board. And don't get a noserider. Just get a 9'0" all-arounder to work on your basic skills, then later get a purpose-ful noserider.

Since you are not quite getting how a rider can be on the front and the tail "weighted" down, think about a race car. How do they create more down force at the rear of the car WITHOUT adding actual weights ?

p.s. if you can't perform drop-knee classical pivot turns, you are not going to have a good time on the Model-T.

Here's some nice footage of In-the-Pink in action in Waikiki at a break called "Pops".



By the way, the surfboard racks they walk past got burnt down by an arsonist. 525 boards gone.

@waikikikichan
Fair enough.

Would you say that a 9’0 all rounder would be best for me considering that I am so determined to be able hang 10. (I am willing to move overseas in my gap year to a better spot, just so I can cruise and hang 10 (if I know how by then)).

Would a 9’4 or 9’6 be better?

When scrolling through second hand on facebook, what should I avoid and what should I look out for?

Thanks.

finntstratford wrote:Would you say that a 9’0 all rounder would be best for me considering that I am so determined to be able hang 10.

Crawl before you walk. Walk before you can run. If you can't cross-step to the nose on a 9'0" all-arounder, you won't understand or appreciate what 50/50 rails, nose concave, etc. does to help you hang-ten.

*plus you still haven't answered my question I posed to you above about how race cars create down force, so I can't determine how you think and what may work best for you.

finntstratford wrote:Would a 9’4 or 9’6 be better?

Why are you so stuck on 9'4", 9'6" (or 9'8") ? What size did you actual try and liked ( or didn't like ) ?


Question #2 - what size board do you think this is ?

the bigger and thicker the board the easier it is to noseride it, but also make sure you buy a board that is meant for that.

My 9'6" longboard has a lot of rocker, thin rails and narrow nose and tail, the opposite of what you need for noseriding. I bought it thinking I would ride it as a performance longboard, not a noserider. Buy a thick wide long one, some even have a slight scoop on the nose to noseride. 10'5 would be good until you get better.

waikikikichan wrote:

By the way, the surfboard racks they walk past got burnt down by an arsonist. 525 boards gone.

I don't usually belive in capital punishment, but that surely is a hanging offence

waikikikichan wrote:Here's some nice footage of In-the-Pink in action in Waikiki at a break called "Pops".

I need someone to carry my board!