Surfing Waves

Maybe a dumb question, but I only have a log and would like to build up a quiver of sorts.

How do you know what board type/shape/feature is best suited to whatever given conditions? Where do you learn all this stuff? Are there books explaining this? Trial and error? Talk to my local surf shop? I'm wary of surf shops because it's often obvious when I talk to them that they're just trying to move stock and will sell me anything that will remotely work.

I really like my log, but it definitely feels like it's not the best "arrow" to use on some days.

Unless you live right near the beach, it can be hard to choose the right board for the conditions based on the online surf report. Having a quiver sometimes just changes it from: "I wish I had a different board" to "I wish I brought my other board".

This has good pros and cons for lots of different types..
https://lushpalm.com/surfboard/

XiloRider wrote:Maybe a dumb question, but I only have a log and would like to build up a quiver of sorts.

I thought you also have a 7'6" Torq Mod Fun ?

How does a golfer ( or his caddie ) know what club to use ?

Duke Kahanamoku said " Ride the wave, Not the board. "

Another quote is " A good surfer can ride any board. "

( But I wouldn't take a single fin Log with 50/50 rails to beach break dumping waves )

waikikikichan wrote:

XiloRider wrote:Maybe a dumb question, but I only have a log and would like to build up a quiver of sorts.

I thought you also have a 7'6" Torq Mod Fun ?

Oh, I sold that a while ago for as much as a paid for it LOL Couldn't resist catering to the Pandemic demand. I bought that when I started surfing but got interested in longboarding instead.

waikikikichan wrote: But I wouldn't take a single fin Log with 50/50 rails to beach break dumping waves )

That's why I ask, not that I don't try anyway. Super sketchy....

I used to take my longboard out in shorebreak but when it was really lurching up I had to turn at the top and jam a quick bottom turn but I think my longboard was meant to be versatile because it was. I don't think it has 50/50 rails except more forward. The tail area was down turned rails and there was a huge kick ( rocker) in the tail which made it turn like a shorter board. It had more tail rocker than any board I have ever owned.