Surfing Waves

Hey guys

I've started to push my turns recently with the aim of cutting both speed, spray and release etc.
I realised the other day that all my boards are either thumb or rounded pin tails! It's been so long since I rode any other tail design that I can't remember what they're like!

What do u ride and why? I'm really keen to give squash's a try again as the dude in the shop they help a lot of both speed and release

Ooh tails, I always wonder why people bang on about fins so much but the tail hardly ever gets a mention - I suppose it's because you can change a fin and experiment, but you're stuck with your tail unless you want to go out and buy another board...

Purely subjectively, I like a narrow swallow tail or a rounded pin, but don't seem to get on so well with wider-tailed boards.
The 5'10 that I got last year for small weak waves is great for catching waves, in part because of the very wide tail, but once up and riding I don't like the width of it through turns.

My go-to board has a narrow-ish swallow tail (not a fish-type tail) and I really like that in most situations from fairly small to well overhead.

Down the line, the rounded pin seems to work well and better than the swallow, but for the waves I tend to surf that doesn't tend to be such an issue, and its the turn and release that are most important to me.

So u find the tigght swallow tail has more release than the rounded pin?
Have you tried a squash in comparison?

I guess going back to your point on fins, if i really want more release I could just get some k2.1's rather than a new board with a new tail haha
My round pins do hold nicely and go carving nicely but I do feel like they're hard to release tightly at the top and bottom

benjl wrote:So u find the tigght swallow tail has more release than the rounded pin?
Have you tried a squash in comparison?

I find the release goes swallow > pin > squash.
But the boards I'm comparing aren't all that similar, so there's likely more to it than the tail. Also, when I'm describing the feel of the tail, I think I should really be saying "the last third of the board", taking into account the width and the rails (and the fin set-up too).

But without a doubt, I can get my biggest sprayingest turns on the swallow tail and it's that tail that I instinctively like the feel of.

Rails are important - most boards have hard rails at the rear 1/3, but some don't, some are rounded, some are whatever. So as DBB says, focusing on the tail isn't the whole story.

Just buy this and then you can figure it out.

Haha never seen one of those. I know rails and width etc all play a part but I was more just wanting all your guys experience on how you found different tails and why- particularly any experience between rounds and squashes as I'm
Curious about. It seems that the fashion at the moment is for '1 board quiver' type board to have a round tail

Those asymmetrical tail shapes are wild....can really tailor to the wave you're going to ride I guess....

benjl wrote:Curious about. It seems that the fashion at the moment is for '1 board quiver' type board to have a round tail

We all know you aren't a one board quiver type of guy.....get one of each and try them out....

Get a board with a squash tail just for the sake of trying it out? Haha seems a little over indulgent.

Would be great if anyone has ridden both a thumb and squash tail in similar styles / lengths of boards for comparison on how they turn and release etc

benjl wrote:Get a board with a squash tail just for the sake of trying it out? Haha seems a little over indulgent.

Would be great if anyone has ridden both a thumb and squash tail in similar styles / lengths of boards for comparison on how they turn and release etc

....said the same guy who bought and sold 22 boards last year right?

I bought a fat groveller with a squash tail to see how that worked....found out i didn't like it since it was like getting rear ended when the wave came and never got the bite into the wave like a narrower tailed board gets underway....even small waves here pack a punch and you don't need a big wide tail to get going....

I don't think it is at all over indulgent....you have a lot of questions; internet is already packed with answers....if you are like me, you need to experience it....so get a squash; it might be a magic board. At least your curiosity will be satisfied.

Hahahaha....I just remembered...you have two versions of the same board right? C'mon....what are you talking about overindulgent!?!?

Speaking of which.. I took my 5'6 Dom
Out today after riding the 5'10 Dom a couple of days ago. It rips!! I made some near air drops around head height and it just shredded all over the wave. Loving that thing more and more! For a board with no rocker it makes all the drops due to its super short length! It's crazy how different just 4 inches makes for exactly the same board. They ride so differently!

I also just sold the 5'10 to make way to a 'possible' new 5'10 purchase tomorrow night to replace it :O not a squash but something else I've been wanting to try.. I actually sold two boards today hahaha

Go for it....I do the same thing and have slowly figured out what works for me, what volume I need, what length I like, etc. and it only costs time as I usually break even or a little better, and the time is fun to spend.