Hs love buzz

[benjl]

So I happened to be in the right place at the right time and picked up the below. I actually didn't intend on buying it but the guy had to leave the country and I was the only one in his area who could pick it up.

The more I read about it the more it sounded interesting.
I find it an odd looking board- that really pointy nose with a flat rocker and semi-full rails.

I've also wanted to try a squash tail again to see how I find the release of turns so it all sounded well.
It's 5'9 x 19 1/8 x 2 3/8 and 27.58l.
It's the lowest volume board I've owned but the volume recommendation is still 10-15kg heavier than my weight!

It's got flattish entry, flat middle and a medium rocker in the tail. Reviews go on about both the speed and ability to turn at any angle. The dude I brought it off reckons he's had it up to 7ft! The official website says 1-5ft

[oldmansurfer]

That is a nice design. Looks like knife edge rails WOW! Nice tail rocker and the main portion of the flotation is right in the middle where it helps with paddling. So are you just going to look at it? I am waiting for the report on how it works.....

[benjl]

Haha I'm trying but my ear infection has kept me out of the water for 2 weeks. It's the third time I've seen the doctor for the same ear in a month and even the antibiotics didn't sort it!

I'm hoping it's not my body telling me to give it up

[jaffa1949]

Read my posts on ear plugs
.

[Big H]

I knew you were going to get a squash tail board after you wrote about it a month ago.....

IMO a better design for good waves than the hypto; let us know how it works out.

[benjl]

Hey Jaffa, how do I find your links on the ear plugs?

I currently wear the new model 'surf ears' ones but was still getting infections. I've been prescribed 2x different forms of antibiotic ear drops and also the amoxicillin oral antibiotics.
My left ear has finally started to clear up and get my hearing back but I'm a little scared to go back in the water incase it flares up again

[benjl]

I also Forgot to add that it's got a single to double to vee out the tail so quite a bit of concave variation to it.

There seems to be a mix of people who either say big waves are too much for it (6ft plus) or others that say it can take big waves well

[Big H]

I also Forgot to add that it's got a single to double to vee out the tail so quite a bit of concave variation to it.

There seems to be a mix of people who either say big waves are too much for it (6ft plus) or others that say it can take big waves well

Don't credit the board that much.....the variance is user determined I'm sure...

[Big H]

So? What's the verdict? How is that working out?

[benjl]

Unfortunately things ended with my parter 2 days after I brought the board so I've a bit of soul searching and hard times recently.

For some reason I haven't had the desire to surf since (been over a month now and the longest dry spell since starting surfing!).
There's some nice swell coming this weekend though so I've sent a message out to all the lads and hoping to get back in to the water and get my mojo back

[Big H]

Sorry to hear but then again, that's what dating is for BEFORE getting married....you'll get it sorted and if you do it right you'll keep looking until you find the right fit.......ironic name for the board isn't it?!


Get back out there as soon as you can and get that mojo back......reports expected back on the surfing only please.

[benjl]

yes, very ironic name for the board given the circumstances. Perhaps I should've brought the HS Merlot and that might've kept the relationship alive

I ended up seeing a psychologist for the first time in my life and he recommended getting back in to doing the things that previously gave me satisfaction and ease from the day-to-day life. IE. specifically surfing!!

Yesterday after a late arvo meeting I decided to just kick it, and grab my board. The conditions were 2-2.3m with heavy off shore winds and apparently 9/10 rating.
I turned up at nearly dead low tide with a scouring off shore breeze and probably 2-3ft+ waves.

I waxed up the love buzz and set at it. Surprisingly, after a month off and being on the lowest volume board i've owned for the first time, it felt ok.
Initial impressions were how skinny the nose was and how it felt like a stick after riding the hypto and 5'6 dominator.
In terms of catching waves, it was a lot more work and harder to catch than either of the above. That thin nose just didn't provide that instant planing and pop up that i'm used to. Saying that though, it was heavy off shore winds and that never helps with getting on waves early as the wind just blows the faces up for ages.
I did catch a few late ones though, one that ended up being around head or just overhead and the board didn't feel any signs of sketchyness.
I also got the deepest i've gone in to a barrel around shoulder height before it fully closed out and took my head with it

Overall it was ok, neither here nor there for me although very hard to say with the conditions being so off shore and with a low tide dumpfest.
It wouldve been great to get some longer waves and actually see how it turned etc.

I find it difficult to see how the board would work at 1ft given the thin nose and low volume, but thats what the website states.
We're likely to have some swell for the next week so might take it out again for another spin.

[Big H]

Websites never mention the weight or skill of the rider when talking about what size waves the board will work in.....

...a little food for thought as far as the going shorter thing....I was talking with this guy I know who rides for Volcom....he's 62kg, 175cm and had a 38L hybrid shortboard (6'2") board that he used for small and fatter waves. Another story is that I was out at Balangan recently, a bukit barrelling wave, and one of the surf school instructors took a big set wave with the school mini mal he was using like the rest of his students....he killed it and was ripping down the line pumping top to bottom as fast as anyone I've ever seen there until he got dropped in on and had to turn out....he was about the same size, skinny and 175cm max on a big epoxy pop out 7'6" school mini mal. I've been paying closer attention to those who really rip here (Indonesians) and am becoming more aware of the size boards that they use......most use boards larger than what you would think, usually the board is taller than they are and sometimes quite a bit so......and they kill it.

[benjl]

The other interesting thing is that website seems to think that my board should be for people 75kg whereas i'm 64 on a good day and it's still the lowest volume board i've owned at 27.5l.

Will definitely be interested to give it another test on waves that aren't heavily off shore and when there's a bit more of tide to do some turns.
First reviews on a board are usually a bit hit and miss as you find the sweet spot for paddling and turning but I was surprised at how 'at home' it felt given a month off surfing and a new board.

Also interesting that it rates the shred sled at 2-6ft and mine at 1-5ft despite the pointy nose of my board compared to the fishy shred sled (which also has more rocker and a round tail).

Fingers crossed for some more reviews over the weekend

[one0one]

How did the love buzz go for ya?