Egg vs minimal?

[Millsy82]

So I measured the van and all I could fit in the top is Up To 6ft 6. I thought even for a mess around that may be a bit short. I have managed to workout how to build a false floor on the bottom of my van so I can now get Up To 7ft 4.

My question is pretty much as the title says what's the difference between an egg and a minimal? I can get both Up To 7'4 So just wondering, the eggs do seem to have a slimmer tail but that's all I can spot.

[dtc]

Terminology is used pretty loosely - egg, mini mal, fun board, hybrid. They do mean different things technically, but that doesn't mean the terms are used properly

Technically

- mini mal - straight/ parallel rails around the centre of the board, usually wider nose. Wide point usually a bit front of centre. Tails can be wide or pin tail eg takayama scorpion

- fun board - bit of a catch all term, generally a mini mal without the straight rails and perhaps a narrower nose. But can mean anything mid length

- egg - well, egg shaped! The outline from centre to nose and from centre to tail are pretty symmetrical, widest point is in the middle

Traditionally eggs have a low rocker but nowadays that isn't a given

Eggs are generally less stable/easier to turn and faster. Mini mals are more stable, easier to paddle and a bit slower

Summary: a mini mal will generally be an easier board to surf, but don't rely on what the seller is calling the board because naming conventions are all over the place.

That probably doesn't help much!

[waikikikichan]

To answer your question, you need to figure out this question, "what is the difference between a Mal and a Mini-Mal ?" Well Mals which are Malibu's or Longboards are "officially" 9 feet and over. So a Mini-Mal is a longboard shape shrunk down a bit. So a 8'10", 8'6", 8'0" and maybe a 7'10" with a round nose can be considered a Mini-Mal. Once into the 7'6"-7'2" lengths with a more pulled in nose, you start to venture into the realm of Fun boards or Hybrids. ( but again, terminology differs from place to place, shop to shop, person to person )

So there really isn't a Mini-Mal that is 6'6" or 7'4". Those would most likely be Egg, Disc, Pods, Biscuit, Big Fish,etc. if they had a full nose. A good example is the Scorpion by Hawaiian Pro Designs shaped by Donald Takayama. It has the Nose, Tail and mid-width of a longboard but missing 3 feet of length in the middle.

[Big H]

This board is 7'....don't know exactly if it is an egg, mini mal or fun board....it's a Jimmy Lewis and I call it alot of fun.

Don't get too hung up on nomenclature.....find a board that fits your needs, ability and the conditions you ride in. FWIW this board surfs "smaller" than a 7' McCoy Nugget I had briefly....more twitchy, less stable, doesn't get in as early, better in faster, stronger and bigger surf. You need to figure out what characteristics are important for your needs. If you don't know, err on the bigger, thicker and wider side. You can also go to your local surfshop or shaper and ask him what would suit you the best with your limitations.


.......and you can always get roof racks. Not necessarily the best choice to let your car choose your board length.