Longboard Gurus- what will I like in the Thunderbolt range?

[bajoman]

My Longboard Gurus,

It’s been awhile but it’s almost time to invest in a new board and could use some expert opinions again and some peer review of my data... I want to make sure I'm happy after I drop the big $$$!

I’ve been riding an epoxy glassed “Nature’s Shapes HP1 longboard” out of Long Island, NY (9 x 22.75 x 2.75) and have really liked the shape but not happy with the glassing and durability (and it’s my second board from them). Squash tail, concave under the nose, double concave at the fins, hard edge on the rail in the back. I ride it as a single fin. I’m 75kg. Surf US East Coast beach breaks (often small, weaker windswell, except for hurricane season!)

I like the looks of the Thunderbolt tech boards under Firewire but I am not sure if the models I’m considering will suit my preferences.

How does this category of longboards fit?
Harley Ingelby Diamond Drive (9’2 x 22.5 x 3) 69L
SkinDog Blender (9’1 x 22.25 x 2.875) 62L
Taylor Jensen Gem (9’1 x 22.25 x 3) 67L

All seem to have roughly the same outline with either a diamond tail or rounded pin (Blender). Rocker lines also look similar- flip nose, flat in the middle, kick in the tail. Except for the Diamond Drive volumes are a little on the low side. And all the reviews I’ve watched have them set-up 2+1.

I like an all-arounder (performance and some nose-riding), a fast board on the wave (that can create its own speed), fast paddler, lots of glide and definitely prefer the feel of single fin. I’ve only ridden a handful of other longboards (rentals in Costa Rica) but here’s my impressions- correct me if I’m off base on anything:

I like the float, liveliness and light weight of epoxy, even the old Surftechs. They are a little chattery but the right fin can really calm them down nicely and I don’t mind the stiff flex.

Takayama In the Pink (Surftech) is probably my favorite rental board- paddles great, catches anything, glides and noserides really well. With the really pulled in tail it seems a little slower on the wave than I like. And I don’t think I would enjoy the big wide nose as much in the messy windchop that is common at my local breaks.

I’ve spent a lot of time on vacation on the Robert August What I Ride- also paddles well, catches anything, has decent glide and nose rides. Flip in the tail makes it a little slower and it’s handling/turning as a single fin is kind of boat-y.

Rounded pins I’ve ridden (Surftech Takayama DT-2 and an epoxy-glassed McTavish Fireball) feel really smooth on turns, but paddle and ride slower (because of the pin tail?). Didn’t seem as good in small or weak or mushy waves either.
I also tried a Walden Magic poly and did not like it at all! Even with the volume and squash tail a very slow paddler, I’m assuming from its kick in the tail (?).

So, will I like a Thunderbolt Diamond Drive, Gem or Blender or am I barking up the wrong trees?
I also have my eye on a Firewire Wingnut Noserider, but not confident of the Timbertek construction…

[Jimithesaint]

Bajoman,
I’ve got a couple thunderbolt boards including a 9’2” Diamond Drive. I am sold on the construction, they are lighter, and feel good in the water. Never been big on EPS boards before except for a Proctor epoxy longboard that was great. These have good drive, feel alive and are tough
I have a 9’3 parallax, it’s a really great paddler, fast and turns really well.It is kind of like a cross between a hull and a glider - it has no concave , just a rolled bottom, hard edge in tail. Fast and glides great higher volume 78 liters if I recall.
The Diamond drive is more of a good all round longboard, paddles and catches waves really well. Set up as a tri with Harley Ingleby fins it turns great! I’ve not tried it as a quad yet, maybe tomorrow. I like the outline, not too wide a nose 17.5 I think good outline curve ( all of these are thunderbolt red construction)
I’ve not ridden the Blender - was on the fence between that and the DD. To me the blender seemed a bit more High performance, much thinner rails, with lower apex. A great looking board but not what I was after. Also they were in Thunderbolt Black construction which is more expensive and not what I wanted at this time

I think you would be happy with either a blender or DD, depending on exactly where you want it to fit in your quiver. Also the DD has a bit more volume at similar lengths
For the record I’m old (62) , and been surfing since 77, 200 lbs and surf east coast usually OBX
Good luck with your decision

[bajoman]

Thanks Jimi!
I really want one of these Thunderbolt boards and your comments are reassuring. I just don't want to lose any of the things I love about longboarding- great paddling, early and easy wave catching, the ability to run over flats, cutback directions and connect sections, surf from 1ft to overhead, and of course, the glide. That's why I'm nervous about the lower volume, rockers, and tail shapes, but maybe I don't really need to be...
I also checked out the Parallax online but the dimensions seemed too big for me. I'm an apartment dweller so I need to keep the board easy to move and carry.
OBX is my favorite place to longboard (on the East coast), I'm there every August!
Where do you get your boards from?

[IB_Surfer]

Without getting into too much detail, the only way you get a durable board is if you buy it that way, meaning you have it shaped and ask for double cloth, which is what I usually ask for on my longboards. They come out a little heavier but last forever. I stopped buying factory shop longboards a while back for the ame reason. If you want durable, check some forums for durability reviews and such before buying the next one

[zalle]

Hi, interesting the boards you mention. I know a few.

I weigh slightly more than you (78kg), and my go to board is the in the pink 9.3. It's the lightest board I've had, an I use it single fin.
I get a lot of choppy surf as well, and the good thing about it is that you can move it a lot, and change your route easily.

A friend of mine has the 9.4 timbertech wingnut. I made him buy the board, because I have the older version, the Robert August surftech, and it's a wonderful board. Paddles well, glides, noserides, turns...
Unfortunately the timbertech is not on the same level as the surtech one. The shape is different and it nose dives more than the old one.
Not a bad board, but... Not the best.

I started using epoxy boards for the same reason this guy above (IB_Surfer) started using PU... I don't like PU board anymore, they're heavy, float less, and get dinged a lot. No heel marks on my 15 year old Robert August.

Only downside to my in the pink is that I snapped it in 2 (got it fixed and it's perfect). But I've snapped 6 or 7 longboards, both epoxy and PU, so the problem is probably mine, not the board's.

By the way, these 2 boards have volume (77l for the itp , and I guess the RA is around the same) and I can easily surf them from 2ft to overhead. For me the 9.3/9.4 is the sweet spot.

[bajoman]

Thanks for the comments on your experience Zalle!
I finally got my hands on a 9'2 Diamond Drive and have been surfing it a couple of years. It has been an adjustment from what I was used to. Paddles great, trims great (if I'm in the right spot) and VERY responsive! Thinner pulled-in tail, flatter rocker and smaller sweet spot really forces me to be more accurate with foot placement. My old board was much more forgiving and easy to ride but I feel like the Diamond Drive is teaching me a lot. I'm not a developed noserider so not sure if it's the best board for that- and cross-stepping/noseriding is something I want in my repertoire so I'm not confident I've gotten my ultimate board. I've been reconsidering other options...

I'm curious about your Surftech Wingnut NR and the ITP- you have both but you prefer the ITP?

[zalle]

Hi, Didn't see the post was 2 years old...

Anyways, I had over 20 longboards, and never sold the Wingnut 9.4. My favourite. No concaves on the bottom, but does everything right. Paddles really well, has thin rails, it's a wide, not so thick board. I love it.

Last year bought a 9.3 in the pink. Super light, turns really fast, and I think it's slightly better on the nose. More of a lollipop shape. There's a reason why it's such a famous board.

Not that much difference between the 2, but the ITP is lighter, and I'm lazy, so I take it most of the time. Can't go wrong with either, really.

I also use them both with a fin that most people consider a gimmick, but I really like, the turbo tunnel 9.5". It does everything well, from 2ft to double overhead, it's just ugly and weird

[bajoman]

Both of those (In the Pink and Wingnut Noserider) are still on my wish list- if it wasn't for space limitations and the expense I would have bought an ITP already to try out at my local spots. Also interested in the Taylor Jensen Singleton- it looks to have the same design elements in mind...

But number one on my wishlist has always been the Wingnut II (also in Surftech). I have never gotten a chance to ride one... have you?

[zalle]

Nope... Just the nose rider...