Tail Shape Impact

[Oldie]

Hi all,

about 2 months ago I added an 8.4 CI WaterHog to my Longboard. The reason was mainly that I tested it in summer and loved it, and also that it fits into my car, which is not the case with the longboard.

The Longboard is a Quiver Easy Rider, 9 x 23 x 3 1/4, about 77l volume while the Waterhog is 8.4 x 23 x 3/14, about 72l volume (I am 6.3/90kg and need some volume).

http://www.quiversurfboards.co.uk/product/easy-rider/
http://www.cisurfboards.com/board/the-water-hog/

One big difference is volume distribution - the Waterhog tail is about one inch wider than that of the EasyRider, it also looks thicker, and it stays wider until about the middle of the board. The other difference is that the waterhog has a Squash Tail while the EasyRider has a PinTail. The EasRider has much more volume in the Nose. Without measuring it, it looks as if the Waterhog has more tail rocker (also described by CI as agressive rocker).

I could so far only ride the Waterhog in smaller 2-3ft waves, but my felling was that it was much easier to get into waves and riding than my Easyrider. I also did not feel a huge difference in paddling. I could not really compare them 1:1 on the same days, and only get on the baord max 2/month, but it felt much easier. Can the shape make such a big difference or will it just have been a difference in daily form of myself or in different wave conditions?

[Big H]

I like both shapes...the quiver board even though they call it an all arounder, from the dims and looks of it seems more tilted to performance surfing in better quality waves....I would like to have that board here but would use it on outside reefs starting at head high....it isn't too far away from the board I have now and use as such. An 8'4" waterhog for your size looks like more of an all arounder but you've sorted that out already.

Shape matters sure, but so does frequency and condition....I will have back to back days where one I feel like a firecracker and the next I'm like warm liver.....come back the next day and feel somewhere in the middle.....hard to say at twice a month but that waterhog looks to be a good choice as far as being able to show up at the spot (with the board that fits in the car) and having the right tool for the conditions most of the time.

[oldmansurfer]

Wider tail boards tend to catch waves easier because the increased surface area of the tail gets more push from the top of the wave. Thinner tailed board tend to be easier to turn because of the decreased push from the smaller surface area of the tail.