What board for thick ledgy waves

[isaluteyou]

Everynow n then my local break at certain tides and swells can get really thick. Its not so much the thickness but the wave starts off building really slowly then jacks up out of no where. This creates a horrific takeoff and a sudo barrel that no one dares to get in. Its more or less a closeout but still the drops are fun.

My 6'4 shortie is just not up to the task. The only way i can really get into them is to sit on the inside but its a 50/50 whether im gonna make the drop.

So what im after is something with a touch more paddle to it but without overally adding weight and substuting maneverability.

im 6ft and weigh 150. Im a confident surfer (not great but can surf )

I'll probably shape the board myself but i just want to get some idea's of what template i should be looking at.

Cheers for the info

[Sillysausage]

not sure about the board shape, but with a sharp pintail and big fins. (but don't quote me on it!! i havn't got a clue!!!!!!!)

[PapaW]

A Sponge mate... A sponge...

[isaluteyou]

A Sponge mate... A sponge...

funny when i was out there i thought that very thing

[Sillysausage]

lol that isn't a bad idea. i've never sponged in the winter. but in the summer on day trips with my little cousins i like showing them how to surf and somehow nearly did a 360 but got slammed onto my back strait onto sand before i completed it. i'm sure i would be a better sponger than a surfer!

[BoarderDave]

Those drops are SO fun when you are laying flat on the board.. hah. Sponging in that kind of scenario can be a lot of fun.

Wish I could help you out on the board choice though, but Im still in the "using whatever hand-me-downs I can get" stage. So I dont know much about board shapes..

[billie_morini]

I agree with BoarderDave. This sharp drops are loads of fun on a boogie board. I was doing this in January in Florida. The verical drop was so great that my head would snap back when I'd hit the water! This was too much fun and had to be repeated many times!!

PS. I wouldn't really try to surf these kinds of waves

[BoarderDave]

I took a drop while attempting to get to drop knee on my bodyboard once.. it was a rough churn after I fell to the bottom of the wave.. hah.

Probably shouldn't try to ride those types of waves when you are just learning drop knee..

[smallwavegrovellerchick]

what about something a little longer like a 6'6" to 6'8" with a round pin tail?

[PapaW]

Probably shouldn't try to ride those types of waves when you are just learning drop knee..

but it does have amusing results...

[CHarvey]

I was thinking the same as grovellerchick. If you get a 6'6" with a little more thickness to it, maybe 2 3/4" thick, you should be able to hit it. Just really need to remember to stay low when droping in.

[BoarderDave]

but it does have amusing results...

Very true.. When I surfaced, I was already laughing and wishing I could've been on the beach watching that happen.. haha.

To the OP, good luck on the search. If you come up with something, post it up and let us know how it worked out for you. It would be good to know.

[isaluteyou]

but it does have amusing results...

Very true.. When I surfaced, I was already laughing and wishing I could've been on the beach watching that happen.. haha.

To the OP, good luck on the search. If you come up with something, post it up and let us know how it worked out for you. It would be good to know.

Im leaning towards a 6'8 at the moment i might duplicate my buddies board which seems to work well in the afor mentioned conditions. It depends though im picking up some pilfered blanks (well they didnt belong to anyone ) in a few days - not sure as of yet what the sizes are kinda hoping theres something i can etch a fish out of and maybe knuckle down on the 6'8. Ive almost finished my prototype fish. No pics unfortunatly as camera is dead. But its a 5'4x3'x21 have yet to put the fins in and glass but ah well

On a side note bodyboarding is probably ideal for such conditions and i actually have a few custom made body boards trouble is i cant go left on a bodyboard me brain freezes dont have that problem if im dking or surfing

[BoarderDave]

Comin into some blanks, eh? Care to shape me a nice 6'8 while you are at it? haha. I've been looking for a nice priced 6'8ish.

[isaluteyou]

Comin into some blanks, eh? Care to shape me a nice 6'8 while you are at it? haha. I've been looking for a nice priced 6'8ish.

He he he cant argue with free Even if i stand a good chance of messing the whole thing up still really new to shaping still good fun

[BoarderDave]

hehe yeah, for sure.

..but seriously, how new are you to shaping? Would you be up for trying one out for me if the price is nice? You new to shaping, me not that experienced of a surfer.. we could work something out. hah.

[CHarvey]

Where do you shape at isaluteou?
I shaped my last board at Wind'N'Sea by my place.
Maybe we can collaborate on a board.

[BoarderDave]

..or better yet, on a board for me.

hah Just messing with you.

I do need to find someone that can shape me a nice board for a decent price. All the used for sale ones Im findin near me are 6'1-6'5 and I need a bit longer.

[CHarvey]

I am willing to shape a board for bassically cost right now. But your would only be my second board at this point.
But at least now I can say that you have seen my work.

[isaluteyou]

Where do you shape at isaluteou?
I shaped my last board at Wind'N'Sea by my place.
Maybe we can collaborate on a board.

im lucky enough that the place i work n live has a decent garage so i basically get full unrestricted use of it. Pluss it has a every tool under the sun.

Im basically getting a board done free at the moment all i have to do is get the glass n fins and using my sources i have it down pat at around $65 which aint so bad

Would defo be interested in doing a colob but at the moment i have the resources to do around 3/4 boards so i just wanna get them behind me and take it from there. The pluss side is that im on very good terms with a few pro shapers who are willing to advise and knock me some supplies at their rates but you cant beat the expertise of someone who has been shaping 40 odd years very glad i have that to fall back on

I do need to find someone that can shape me a nice board for a decent price. All the used for sale ones Im findin near me are 6'1-6'5 and I need a bit longer.

Im in the same situation as charvey im just basically making boards for the expo and building up my own quiver as i cant really afford $500 every time i fancy a new board