Upgrading my wavestorm

[Zealex]

Hey,

I've been riding the wavestorm and I feel I might be up for an upgrade. The costco wavestorm has measurements of 8' x 22.5" x 3.25 "

I've found some Australia surfboards 8' and one 7'6" , and a 8' Torq and a Blue surfboard (waiting for the email for measurements looks like a 7'6") on CL.

Here's some pics:

Torq 8ft
https://images.craigslist.org/00d0d_lrG ... 00x450.jpg

Australia 7'6":
http://images.craigslist.org/00T0T_8peX ... 00x450.jpg

Australia 8ft:
https://newyork.craigslist.org/que/spo/5705225928.html
another..
http://images.craigslist.org/00l0l_hFwA ... 00x450.jpg
another..
https://longisland.craigslist.org/spo/5645928924.html

The Blue SB:
http://images.craigslist.org/01414_3x4b ... 00x450.jpg

Also found this random idk if it's worth the repair:
https://longisland.craigslist.org/spo/5713882038.html

I was thinking of the 7'6"" because i'd like something shorter and thinner so I could learn to carve more and adjust to a shorter board cause I'm hoping to progress to a shortboard eventually. Not sure what a good price for these boards tho, but I have seen some really cheap surfboard sales and I feel the asking of 300 is a little high. Maybe 220ish for any of "em?

Thanks

[BaNZ]

Hey Zealex, I would go for smaller 7'6 would be good. BTW I surfed at Rockaway. It wasn't as bad as I thought. Plus you will need board with good rocker as the waves over there seems to jack up very fast.

I'm a fan of Torq, so I would always go with them.

[Zealex]

I haven't surfed there but I'm sure the waves are similar, perhaps I will check it out sometime.

The 7'6 sold -_______-

I'd be willing to try a 7'2 as there's plentiful on CL but I feel that's rather steep of a size drop and may screw my performance & learning....

The torq is 8 but idk if 8 is a good size...If I wanted to get into nose riding and dancing perhaps something 8'6" + would be better? 8 feet seems like an awkward border between funboard and malibu where you have a combo of both but cant really carve or dance on it but what do I know??? Rather new to the sport...

There's a place out east selling a used Torq 7'6" but for $400 and im not sure if that's worth the peanuts.

[Zealex]

Is anyone familar with Gordon and Smith?

https://imgsec.letgo.com/images/fb/b6/b ... size=900:*

Selling for 300 but price is negotiable so idk if I could finesse 200?

[oldmansurfer]

Gordon and Smith is one of the most influential board makers from a while back . The board should be good, looks like it is meant to do some carving but how long is it?

[BaNZ]

$400 for a used Torq 7'6? That is a rip off. It is 400 for a brand new one.

8" is indeed a weird one. I would definitely not get that. I rented one when I was at Rockaway because the waves were 2 feet. It doesn't have a long fin like a normal board. It is too big as a funboard.

I would definitely say 7'2 or 7'6. Which is what I'll be getting when I move over there end of the month. BTW zealex, we should meet up and catch some surf together!

[Namu]

You should consider an 8' fun shape / mini-mal. I recently had the chance to tryout a 8' wavestorm and it actually paddled faster and floated much higher in the water than my epoxy 8'6" x 22-1/4 x 3" high performance longboard. The wavestorm doesn't have much rocker, and loads of volume with its thick rails and lack of foil, Which makes it a good paddler, easy to catch waves with, and a stable platform for working your pop-up. If you switch to a hardboard "funshape" with the same length and width, but more rocker and foil, with thinner rails, you will have a board that is more maneuverable / responsive, but less stable than your wavestorm.

You don't necessarily need to go shorter when upgrading from the wavestorm. Even my 8'6" longboard would feel like a sports car compared to your wavestorm due to the difference in shape.

[jaffa1949]

Stick around 8ft with a good all round shape......... really a capable surfer can make an 8ft board carve and all the things you say you want to do.
Too big a shortening will set your learning progress back after the wavestorm flotation.
A standard board will still feel so much better the the wave storm.
Get 8ft really get your surfing wire for a couple of years then see if you want to go down!

[dtc]

Namu makes some excellent points. Length is only one variable out of 25 (or whatever); and a hard 8ft board will be different from the wavestorm in 24 of those 25 variables. So it will feel very different.

That said, I agree that 8ft is sort in no mans land - you may as well get a 9ft (pretty much as easy to turn etc but better glide more stable) or a 7ft6 (easier to turn although harder to paddle). But there is nothing wrong with an 8ft board

That G&S board looks very nice...although its probably the longboard you have once you are more experienced (narrower nose etc). Torq, as mentioned, is a pretty good brand and the 'blue' boards I've seen in shops and they look ok, although are cheaper boards so arent necessarily top of the range quality wise (still will be fine for what you want, but may not be a board you hand over to your children in 15 years). Never heard of the Australia brand, and I live in Australia (probably why - people would laugh at that brand name)

[waikikikichan]

Never heard of the Australia brand, and I live in Australia (probably why - people would laugh at that brand name)

And what's up with the ALOHA brand in Australia ? How can they have rights to that name so that a shaper/company in Hawaii can't use it ?

Think I should make a surf brand in Japan called "G'day". ( ahhh, they wouldn't be able to pronounce it properly )

[RinkyDink]

Is anyone familar with Gordon and Smith?

https://imgsec.letgo.com/images/fb/b6/b ... size=900:*

Selling for 300 but price is negotiable so idk if I could finesse 200?

Nice looking board. Yum Yum Yellow, though. Offer 200 and see what happens. What do you got to lose.

[saltydog]

Going from a barge of a Wavestorm to a hardboard in 8-9' range is a huge improvement in how much the board responds to the rider input. When I took out my 9'longboard for the first time after riding wavestorm for 4months I had an epiphany of sort! Right then and there I felt like if I could only ride that board(or similar) for the rest of my like I'd be ok with it. Well, you might not feel that strongly about moving on to your first hard board whichever one you pick especially you want shortboard down the road, but at least you'll feel the board movement a lot better than on a wavestorm. Like others said, I think 8' if not 9' would be a easier transition. You would probably be able to move down to 7' at some point in near future when your skill is better matched to it than now.

I wouldn't go for the last one even for $150. Glassed on boards are pretty vintage (experts here can confirm this) meaning OLD and a lot more work than a fin box repair if you have to deal with fins. At least around where I am in socal anything below $200-250 has a few dings the seller "forgets" to mention in addition to the ones that the ad claims.

[Zealex]

Woah, came back from the beach and so many replies ... awesome thanks guys!

Gordon and Smith is one of the most influential board makers from a while back . The board should be good, looks like it is meant to do some carving but how long is it?

Is anyone familar with Gordon and Smith?https://imgsec.letgo.com/images/fb/b6/b8/01/fbb6b801736b49f950b583d3efbcade4.jpeg?resize=900:*Selling for 300 but price is negotiable so idk if I could finesse 200?

Nice looking board. Yum Yum Yellow, though. Offer 200 and see what happens. What do you got to lose.

That's good to hear! I'm going to offer 200 and see what happens from there.. I feel between 200-300 is fair for the board, what do you (guys) think? It's a 7'6, ATM IDK the width and thickness as it wasn't listed but I asked and the poster said he would get back to me about it once he's home. Would the age of the board allow me to negotiate the price down?

BTW the fins look different then most board setups I've noticed. One of my surfer friends stated they're an older design (FCS 1) and are more likely to wobble and/or break. If that's true, perhaps I could use that to negotiate the price down in addition to age?

https://imgsec.letgo.com/images/98/c9/d ... size=900:*


I am considering a longboard but they're so expensive....cheapest I've seen was 500 but most in the 800+ range. a funboard at 7'6" would be a lot cheaper and easier to transport and carry. A $800 longboard would be a bit of an investment and right now I'm experimenting, and I notice funboards sell faster than those expensive longboards that have been on CL forever.. so it's less risk to me if I spend %250 that could sell for around the same price I bought it at.

$400 for a used Torq 7'6? That is a rip off. It is 400 for a brand new one.

8" is indeed a weird one. I would definitely not get that. I rented one when I was at Rockaway because the waves were 2 feet. It doesn't have a long fin like a normal board. It is too big as a funboard.

I would definitely say 7'2 or 7'6. Which is what I'll be getting when I move over there end of the month. BTW zealex, we should meet up and catch some surf together!

If that's true, I will stay away from the 8' Torq, thanks for the heads up.

Absolutely, PM what part of NYC and whenever you're near!

[Zealex]

I can tell I have a lot to learn considering I didn't realize there was A LOT more factors into how a board functions then just the volume and shape of it....

Time to read up!

[saltydog]

IGlassed on boards are pretty vintage (experts here can confirm this) meaning OLD and a lot more work than a fin box repair if you have to deal with fins.

I meant glassed on fin boards

[dtc]

I can tell I have a lot to learn considering I didn't realize there was A LOT more factors into how a board functions then just the volume and shape of it....

Time to read up!

This is a good start

http://www.surfscience.com/topics/surfboard-design/

of course you are barely scratching the surface

The key to understanding surfboards is that everything is a trade off. Change one variable and some aspect of performance changes, for good or bad eg longer boards = easier to paddle and catch waves but harder to turn. Reduce the length and its harder to paddle and catch waves but easier to turn. More width or bigger nose = more stability but harder to turn. etc etc ad infinitum. Hence finding the board that has the 'sweet spot' for your needs is very hard.

The best way is to focus on your biggest needs. As a beginner, its paddling, catching waves and stability. All of these are found in a longer, thicker and wider board (ie 8ft+ kind of board). If you decide, for example, that you really want increased ease of turning or putting the board into your car - then do so knowing you are likely to get tired easier, catch fewer waves and fall off more often. So ... trade offs.

Btw, FCS2 fins were only released in 2013 and took a while to become widespread. So the vast majority of second hand boards will have FCS1 fins, its probably not a great bargaining point. But no harm in trying. The age of the board is not particularly relevant after a while, its all down to condition - a 15yr old board in great condition will surf just as well as a 5yr old board in great condition (I know some surfers claim older boards lose their 'spring' but I'm not sure its relevant for 95% of surfers)

[BaNZ]

Woah, came back from the beach and so many replies ... awesome thanks guys!

If that's true, I will stay away from the 8' Torq, thanks for the heads up.

Absolutely, PM what part of NYC and whenever you're near!

Jaffa is a lot more experienced than me and he suggested the 8" Torq. I would say go with his advice. Or at least you should just rent one out at Rockaway and try it first.

I'm going to be living in Manhattan and will drop you a PM once I get myself settled in and signup for a ripoff cellular network.

[jaffa1949]

The used price for the 8ft TorQ was silly if you are going to pay that much money go new!
8ft is my recommended minimal size ( pun intended) as it will be high performance compared to a wave storm.
Up to 9ft ok too.

There other boards of similar length and construction that will fill the bill.
PS don't be in a rush to hand over your cash, your idea of trying a rental or demo one is good!
Have a look at the guys who surf well on the longer boards, it is their skill that does it.

[IB_Surfer]

LOL when I read the topic "upgrading my wavestorm" I thought I would be reading about someone that upgraded fins or painted their board LOL, I need to stop having high expectations for something funny

[BaNZ]

That 8" Torq on craiglists is only $350. Used 3-4 times. New ones cost around $450, so I would say it is good deal if only used 3-4 times. You can check for damage.