Pipeline Surfboards. Plz help if you've surfed Pipe.

[shayzzee1]

Hi, I am wondering if you can help me with a project I am doing. I'm writing about a pro surfer and have some questions about surf boards.


My questions are:
1. What type of surfboards do the pros ride when surfing pipeline? (Especially during contests) I don't need all the specifics. Just a typical name to call them.

IE: Could i say he is using a "semi-gun thruster" or would no one actually say that? Originally I had him JUST riding a thruster...but that could be any board with 3 fins right?

2. Do the pros ever ride shortboards at pipe? I know Kelly does, but other than him? haha. And if so, what kind?

3. Do the pros ever do tricks out at Pipe during contests...or are the judges mostly looking for barrel rides?



Thanks
Cheryl

[garbarrage]

Pros ride whatever they want at pipe:

But normal surfers use whatever suits the conditions, which for pipe is a gun (colloquially known as a rhino-chaser), or semi-gun depending on size. Don't be too concerned with sounding like you know what you are talking about to a surfer. We'll see through you in 2 seconds flat. If you are really that concerned about it.... LEARN TO SURF. Sorry bout the all caps... but it really needed emphasis.

[jaktequila]

Hi Cheryl. Would you like to share what the project is for?

1. Just a typical name to call them - gun, semi-gun, shortboard, longboard. Yes, you can say "he is using a semi-gun thruster". I'd say "he is using a 7'6". If I say "he is using a 6'4" then people know it's a shortboard. I don't usually say the fin setup unless it's not a thruster or something that's unusual for the board. But a real surfer won't care what term he uses.
2. Yes, they do. According to your previous question - shortboards.
3. Yes, they do but the nature of Pipe is fast and hollow and tube riding is always considered the best move.

But pretty much like what garbarrage said, pros may ride anything. In 'Who is J.O.B.", Jamie even rode a foamy and got barreled. Don't worry too much about talking like a surfer if you're not because that is unacceptable in the surfing world. I don't even talk like a surfer most of the time.

[garbarrage]

http://vanstriplecrownofsurfing.com/billabongpipemasters2011/heat_analyzer

Here is the heat analyzer for last year's Pipe Masters. You can watch pretty much the whole event from the start to the final. The commentary may help you understand the competition a bit better. You may pick up some phrases as they are meant to be used. The commentators are pretty much all Pipe veterans, so they are probably the best source for accurate phraseology. If you want to submit a few drafts as you finish them for us to read over, you can.

[shayzzee1]

http://vanstriplecrownofsurfing.com/billabongpipemasters2011/heat_analyzer

Here is the heat analyzer for last year's Pipe Masters. You can watch pretty much the whole event from the start to the final. The commentary may help you understand the competition a bit better. You may pick up some phrases as they are meant to be used. The commentators are pretty much all Pipe veterans, so they are probably the best source for accurate phraseology. If you want to submit a few drafts as you finish them for us to read over, you can.

Thanks I have actually watched many of those videos, but they never say what type of boards they are on. I do understand much about surfing as it's been my main passion since I was eight, however I've never surfed the big waves in Hawaii. I'm actually writing a novel...and want it to be as authentic as possible, so if real "north shore surfers" ever read it (haha..yah right) they won't be able to pick out inadequacies.

I'd love to have someone help me more with this, so if you'd ever want to read it for me and let me know what you think I'd be more than grateful! If so, please email me at: look_bunnies@hotmail.com

In the meantime....the surfer in my story is at the very top (like Slater) so do you think it's more believable if I say he is riding a shortboard thruster...or a semi-gun in the pipe competition? That's really the only question I still have

[dtc]

http://www.thebigwaveblog.com/surf-spots/pipeline-oahu , scroll down to just after the video

and for Kelly, cos he is different http://surfbang.com/gear/boards/2011/12 ... uiver.html

[garbarrage]

E-mail sent. I wouldn't get too hung up on sounding believable to a real North Shore surfer. Those guys are in a world of their own, and there's relatively few of them. Maybe a research trip to the North Shore? Lets face it, you will never have a better excuse to go visit that place. I'm not sure if there's any on here that have genuinely surfed Pipe on a proper Pipe day, but I'd say again it depends on what the surf is like on the day in your story. I wouldn't say shortboard thruster, maybe a standard shortboard, but most good conditions at pipe would require a semi-gun. Anything less and you'd be under-gunned.

[shayzzee1]

Thanks. I actually go to Hawaii quite regularly. I know a lot about surfing, the North Shore, etc. I do know a little about boards, however, I, myself, have only surfed on a longboard and only on the south shore haha. I'm not a very good surfer but have followed surfing for 30 years. The thing is, surfing changes from year to year. Now that I see Kelly riding his 5'11 at Pipe, it made me think my character had to be on a shortboard too. But I've decided against it. I'm just going to use a pipeboard.