Surfing Waves

I am looking for a board for head high steep and fast waves. I surf the north of Chile and the waves are heavy so I also need something extra durable (repairs are slow and expensive here). I need to get into waves faster and I'm always trying to beat sections. Also, now learning to pull into tubes. I'm an intermediate surfer 5'8", 155 lbs. (I need a board that flies!)

I currently ride a 6'2" x 18.50 2 2.38, Klimax Gabriel Villaran model. It's a little skinny for me. I'll be back in NY in December so I want to buy a board to bring back. I am considering going Epoxy (firewire, santa cruz).

Any suggestions for a board?

Would the Pumpkin be a good fit or is it more for smaller waves? I'm considering this board because of durability, 5 fin option, width and volume for getting into waves faster. However, not sure how it would hold in bigger waves up to double over head sometimes. I don't have money for a step up board.

what do you mean by skinny? the width or thickness of the board? because 18 1/2 is pretty normal.

judging by your weight and height i think your board is too big. A standard shortboard say 5'9 X 18 1/4 X 2 1/4. With a rounded pin tail would be something common place in fast, powerful and hollow waves upwards of 6ft +. In bigger surf you need to start thinking of a bigger board but you are best off chatting to a shaper and dialing in your requirements. In DOH solid waves you would probably want something different to your every day board. In other words your standard shortie might be a little tricky / sketchy to take out.

It really is a matter of how versatile you want the board to be. One board wont hack all conditions so get the one that will handle most of the conditions you surf.

Big thumbs up on 5 fin configs though. So much variety.

As far as construction i cant comment all my PU hold up fine and well epoxy gives you a different feel one im not fond of personally. Besides a DOH wave would snap any board regardless of construction like a twig if it gets caught wrong.

Final thoughts are - try go see a shaper and ask what other locals are riding there. That generally helps. Also without having surfed NY somehow i dont think the waves are gonna stack up to chile so that might be something to factor in when buying a board.

also check out kellys "Semi Pro 12" model. I think he surfed that at La Graviere in pounding shorebreak? Something similar to that could work out for the waves you have described.

Seyrnahd Wrote

also check out kellys "Semi Pro 12" model. I think he surfed that at La Graviere in pounding shorebreak? Something similar to that could work out for the waves you have described.

I agree with Seyrnahd and would look at the Channel Islands SP-12 with the 5 fin option. One of my good friends just bought one and they are great in med sized waves to solid overhead surf.

sorry if im late on this, but if you're still looking...

firstly, i don't agree with the other posters who are telling you to get a HPSB (high performance short board) such as the semi pro. those are designed for/by kelly slater for a reason - because he's an insanely talented pro surfer. as an intermediate surfer, i think the seed would be a great choice for you. i have been surfing a 6'0" seed for about 4 years now, also an intermediate surfer. it was my first "shortboard". i would recommend the 5'8" or maybe 5'10" for you. although this shape might not be the best for steep waves due to the low nose rocker. however it does handle well in the tube. check out the performance hybrids on the firewire page. plug in your specs to the volume calculator, and you'll get a ton of recommendations: http://www.firewiresurfboards.com/surfb ... e_calc.php

good luck.