Finding the right longboard size

[Guest]

I have family and friends that are looking for longboards. Only I don't know what size they should be using (we live in Florida). At http://www.brucejones.com/longboar.htm I found the information below and I was wondering if there was a body weight to cubic feet formula or comparison chart used to find the right size board for a given persons size. If the info below is crap could someone just reccomend a longboard size for someone who weighs 145lbs, 170lbs, 225lbs, and 250lbs. Thanks, here is the info from the brucejones.com site...

9'0" x 22 1/2"x 3"...............app 3.0 cubic feet
8'6" x 22"x 2 3/4"...............app 2.7 cubic feet
8'0" x 21 1/2"x 2 5/8"...........app 2.5 cubic feet
7'6' X 21"X 2 1/2"...............app 2.0 cubic feet

Using the volume of a board, instead of just general dimensions, gives some amazing results in deciding on the correct size of a board for a particular person. It's quite common to see 110lb kids ripping on 9-0s. So how does an adult who weighs 220lbs equal himself out? We hear it all the time - "Well, I'll just get a 9-6 or a 10-0 and I'll be fine!". Using simple algebra for the example of the 110lb kid,
x/220lbs = 3.0 cuft/110lbs.
x = 6.0 cubic feet!
Off the scale! You can see that the result is a very large board indeed! A more moderated example would be to use a 150lb surfer on a 9-0, and you are 200lbs and trying to decide what size board to order. The equation would then read,
x/220lbs = 3.0 cuft/150lbs.
x = 4.4 cubic feet,
almost a 10-6! This is something to consider for anyone in the market for a new board!

[babyboarder89]

does cubic feet consider thickness aswell as length and width? because that can make a difference too, your 110lb surfer may be riding a very thin board...
just an idea good luck with your theory!

[jonny]

Crikey - I have never seen it worked out quite so mathematically before!

Certainly interesting but I wouldnot choose a board purely based on that.

There are so many other factors that need ot be included:
Age
Fitness
Surfing ability
Preferred surf style (traditional vs performance - or all all-rounder)
Type of wave generally surfed
Size of wave

A good example is you could compare two boards with identical measurements - one shaped traditionally with 60's style curves, rocker, rails etc, a really heavyweight glassing and big old single fin stuck in the back. The other with harder rails, lots of volume hacked out of the nose and tail, loads of rocker, very light glassing and a tri-fin set up at the back.

You have two completely and utterly different boards there.

I would always recommned you go to the shop and either talk to someone knowledgeable or even better go and see the guy who will be actually shaping the board and talk to him - he's the real expert on how his boards work and what dimensions woudl work for you.

I have a shop specialising in selling longboards and I know all the boards we sell curve by curve yet I still refer back to the shapers fairly often to get their advice on dimensions for customers.

FINALLY If your shop/shaper does not ask you all the questions I listed above then walk away as they are not paying enough interest in YOU and YOUR board - they just want to sell you what they have.

If you want to mail me with the answers to the questions above for yur family & friends I would be glad to give you rough ideas to be thinking about but I really receommend you talk to the shaper.

Jonny

[gulfsurfer]

Do you live on the gulf coast of florida or the east coast?
If i was you, id probably get a board around 9ft.

[Guest]

I'm inland so I just visit which ever coast has the better swell (usually east). By the way thanks for the info.