tail shape

Have a chat about any general surfing related topics.

tail shape

Postby debz0773 » Sun Jul 17, 2016 4:01 pm

Hello.. I'm looking at getting a 7.6 second hand board that will probably have 21-22 width. I've been learning on a 8.0 soft top. There's a couple of things I'm wondering about as I look at second hand boards around. The main thing at the moment is the tail shape. My board now has a squash tail. Some of the boards I'm looking at have all the right dimensions but have a swallow tail and look more like a big short board rather than a small long board. I want this board to be right because it's something I'd like to hang onto even if at some point I want to get something else. Because I'm at a beginner level and trying to get some basic skill happening I'm not going out in bigger surf ( 5-6ft + ) but sticking with the 3-5 fters learning to paddle out, catch waves front and back side. I'm guessing I'll be doing this for sometime and then try to add some turns in.
The nose shape is another thing... :unuts: I'm not sure if I've made any sense but what do you guys think about nose and tail shape for someone like me?
debz0773
Grom
 
Posts: 31
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2016 9:20 pm

Re: tail shape

Postby BoMan » Sun Jul 17, 2016 5:28 pm

Surf Science has great information about board design including nose, tail, rocker, rails, fins, foil and bottom contour. This is a great place to start.

http://www.surfscience.com/topics/surfboard-design/

Tell us more about your height, weight, and goals. :)
"A person's sense of balance is measured by how he handles the unexpected." - Brian Herbert
User avatar
BoMan
SW Pro
 
Posts: 1464
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Sat Nov 21, 2015 12:19 am
Location: Napa Valley, USA

Re: tail shape

Postby debz0773 » Sun Jul 17, 2016 5:32 pm

BoMan wrote:Surf Science has great information about board design including nose, tail, rocker, rails, fins, foil and bottom contour. This is a great place to start.

http://www.surfscience.com/topics/surfboard-design/

Tell us more about your height, weight, and goals. :)


Thanks.. I did see that before writing but I'm still a bit confused what would suit me as a beginner. I'm female 155cm 62kg and at the moment my goal is to paddle better, catch waves frontside and backside across the wave and feel comfortable with this then maybe add turns.
debz0773
Grom
 
Posts: 31
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2016 9:20 pm

Re: tail shape

Postby oldmansurfer » Sun Jul 17, 2016 6:50 pm

I my opinion, a squash tail or a round tail or a even rounded pin tail would be fine for a beginner. The nose design isn't so important unless you want to nose ride the board. Board design is a complex issue with so many things going into it that it's difficult to get as good understanding of it all however as a beginner you won't be able to tell that a board design isn't the best for getting tubed or doing radical turns but you will be able to turn it and get tubed. Beginners are a blank slate with no prejudices for design except for in their imagination. Some beginners blame their boards when they lack skill. Surfing is a complex learning process just make sure you have fun which is the most important part of surfing.
So what is worse.... dying or regretting it for the rest of my life? Obviously I chose not regretting it.
User avatar
oldmansurfer
Surf God
 
Posts: 8195
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Mon Aug 12, 2013 9:10 pm
Location: Kauai

Re: tail shape

Postby drowningbitbybit » Sun Jul 17, 2016 9:10 pm

debz0773 wrote: Some of the boards I'm looking at have all the right dimensions but have a swallow tail

The tail shape won't make a huge difference to you at this stage, as long as it's not very narrow (which makes it harder to catch waves). A swallow tail, however, is more fragile than a rounded tail, so you'd probably be better off without a swallow tail while you're still at the battering-your-board stage :wink:

However...
debz0773 wrote: like a big short board rather than a small long board....The nose shape is another thing...

...this will make a big difference. A board is more than its length x width x thickness. If it's shortboard-shaped, then it won't have nearly as much volume as a longboard shape, plus it'll be a whole lot less stable. So, for example, you want a rounded nose, not a pointy nose.

At your size and experience, a mini-mal in the 7'6 range sounds about right, but yes, make sure it mal shaped and not shortboard shaped 8)
You'll probably find me surfing, but if not, I'll probably be in the photography studio
User avatar
drowningbitbybit
Surfing Legend
 
Posts: 6459
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Tue Feb 15, 2005 11:16 am
Location: Gold Coast, QLD, Australia.

Re: tail shape

Postby RinkyDink » Sun Jul 17, 2016 10:47 pm

debz0773 wrote: I want this board to be right because it's something I'd like to hang onto even if at some point I want to get something else.

If you're going to be buying second hand boards, then I would drop the notion of permanency from your board buying mindset. Second hand shopping, in my opinion, is about test driving lots of different boards and reselling lots of those boards. You may find a second hand board that's the ONE, but eventually you'll move onto the next ONE. If you as a beginning surfer want a board for keeps, then I'd recommend finding a reputable shaper and putting your board design in his/her hands.
RinkyDink
SW Pro
 
Posts: 1370
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Fri Nov 20, 2015 12:58 pm

Re: tail shape

Postby debz0773 » Mon Jul 18, 2016 1:51 am

Thank you so much for the replies everyone. I am definitely in another head space now. All the info is gold and I really appreciate it. :thumbs:
debz0773
Grom
 
Posts: 31
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2016 9:20 pm

Re: tail shape

Postby Big H » Mon Jul 18, 2016 1:56 am

debz0773 wrote:
Thanks.. I did see that before writing but I'm still a bit confused what would suit me as a beginner. I'm female 155cm 62kg and at the moment my goal is to paddle better, catch waves frontside and backside across the wave and feel comfortable with this then maybe add turns.


If you still can't turn, I would not go as short as you are looking....8ft minimum and 9ft better until you can do those basic things you mentioned easily then go down in size to a 7'6". Correct me if I am wrong but if you still list a goal as being able to go down the line front and back side, I don't think you are much beyond the whitewater stage/catch the odd green wave and ride frozen straight to the beach stage.....need to walk before you run. Swallow tail boards in the midsize range like 7s boards usually have a little more rocker, nose and tail pulled in vs a standardish mini mal....better as a third board after you've gone through a longboard and a mini mal.
User avatar
Big H
Surf God
 
Posts: 3408
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Mon Feb 09, 2015 5:40 pm
Location: Bali

Re: tail shape

Postby saltydog » Mon Jul 18, 2016 5:36 am

Ditto to what Big H said.

At your skill level and body size, 8' board would let you have fun while learning. If you are comfortable handling a bigger board 9' is even better. My first hardboard was/is 9' that I still use after 1 year of learning. It's my forever keeper board. With that length you can learn all the basics and then more like nose riding which I started working on recently. The possibilities are endless :D Either way, go with a round nose and a wide-ish tail like square, squash, or rounded pin.
"For the rest of your life, you can't look at a wave without thinking about riding it."
User avatar
saltydog
SW Pro
 
Posts: 501
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Mon Jun 13, 2016 5:29 am
Location: So Cal

Re: tail shape

Postby debz0773 » Mon Jul 18, 2016 8:26 am

Thanks for your input guys it's much appreciated :thumbs:
debz0773
Grom
 
Posts: 31
Likes: 0 post
Liked in: 0 post
Joined: Sun Jan 03, 2016 9:20 pm


Similar topics

Return to Surf Chat