Bear Waikiki Special 10’0 Surftech

[Z mann R2]

So before I ask about this board I’m only buying this in addition to my redline 11 by Stewart and a few other more traditional boards I own.

This Bear Waikiki classic has really caught my eye but I wanted advice on it as compared to their “all around” model.
Waikiki 10’0:

https://www.realwatersports.com/product ... 0-blue-red

And here’s the all around 9’6:

https://www.realwatersports.com/product ... -96-coffee

I’m 170 lbs at 6ft and my Redline Poly/PU doesn’t wanna nose ride well. This Waikiki is 10’0 and nice and wide with soft rails

The all around is 9’6 with concave bottom and chine rails

Would y’all think the 10’0 Waikiki model would be best for noseriding? Both are Surftech tuflite boards.

[waikikikichan]

I’m 170 lbs at 6ft and my Redline Poly/PU doesn’t wanna nose ride well.

Before I give my opinion on the two Bear boards, what specific points make the Redline 11 not wanna nose ride well ? Stability side to side, back to front ? Tail pops out , nose digs under ? Too light , too heavy ?

[Z mann R2]

I think being poly and only 9ft, the nose would start burying in the water. It feels more like a performance board than a good classic nose rider

[waikikikichan]

I think being poly and only 9ft, the nose would start burying in the water.

But usually the best noseriders use Poly/PU heavy glassed boards. Do you think adding 6 inches or 12 inches will help to keep the nose up more or make it dig more ?

Back in 2014 you wrote:

I rode a NSP coco mat 9'6 the other day and I caught everything that came my way. However, I could never bring myself to buy an NSP made from overseas.

quote="Z mann R2"]So I'm 6", 162 lbs and have a Robert August what I ride model in 10' poly. [/quote]

Ya I can hang five pretty regularly now and yet I still can't cross step.

So some things have changed in 4 years.
1) You brought yourself to buy "overseas" boards like the firewire submoon and are considering buying a Surftech which is made down the road from the Firewire factory in Thailand.
2) You've gained a few pounds.

But the main question is " have you learn to CROSS-STEP ? If you can't cross step, it does not matter what board you get. If you bury the nose on a 9'0", you will bury even more on a 9'6" or 10'0". Well take that back, You won't even get to the very tip to noseride because it takes a very long long time to get there. Shuffling on a 10'0 will take an eternity. If you learn the proper technique to noseride, you can even cheater five that 8'2" Submoon.

I have ridden both those Bear boards. Technically they are quite similar. Even though the 9'6" is named " All-Around", it is no where near the all around designs of other brands. It is still more to the side of Classic.

[Z mann R2]

Yep I gained about 10 lbs. not much. The FireWire has been great but it’s an 8’6 and hanging 5 wasn’t an issue on it but it’s a quad/thruster and doesn’t have a true center longboard fin so it’s not one to stay up front on much.

I since then bought this Stewart Redline 11 and sold it. Fun board but later on I found the dimensions were small for me. It was too thin n narrow for what Stewart recommended for me.

Really???? So I guess my understanding of a board is just not what it should be. The 10’0 would be good for what then? Just catching smaller surf??

[Z mann R2]

As for the overseas thing. Lol, ya I couldn’t hold back any more

[waikikikichan]

but it’s a quad/thruster and doesn’t have a true center longboard fin so it’s not one to stay up front on much.

It's not the fin(s) that locks the tail down so you can be on the nose.

Really???? So I guess my understanding of a board is just not what it should be. The 10’0 would be good for what then? Just catching smaller surf??

It's for a mellow cruise and glide. Yes, you need to move up and back to stay in the groove and also throw in a drop knee to turn it. It's a different type of big board style. But I would agree most people who buy a 10 footer is to catch small ripples and not as a noserider.

Ryan Burch styling on a 14 footer. He does get to the nose once, but mainly he's back of it.

[Z mann R2]

Ok then. I guess I’ll cancel my 10’0 and get the 9’6 All Around. It’s a prettier board anyways in that coffee color added bonus!

But the reason I’m looking at these two models is they’re on sale for a pretty awesome price, otherwise I wouldn’t be considering them.

[jaffa1949]

Your surfing is at a stage where you need to stop looking for the widget that will enable you to nose ride.
There ain't none, if you can't smoothly cross step to the nose , then whatever won't work.

The art of nose riding involves engaging the tail in the wave smooth stepping ensures the tail stays engaged.
Shuffle if you want to consider it breaks the bubble ( for want of a better description ) of suction that holds the tail in!
Fins don't do it , even Turbo Tunnel fins don't do it. Fins are for turning
Watch some of the excellent drone footage of nose riding at Noosa or well known longboard spots.
Especially look at the flow of the bubble of water across the deck at the engaged tail, look at what the surfer does to engage the tail and the quality of their movement forward.

Work that as a model for your riding.
It ain't your tools, it's the craftsman?? Using them!! Brutal but true!

[waikikikichan]

But the reason I’m looking at these two models is they’re on sale for a pretty awesome price,

Yeah, I was surprised how deeply discounted they were. The other benefit of the 9’6” is it’s a 2+1 where’s as the 10’ is only a single.

[Z mann R2]

I think my biggest problem is I'm on my grovelers and shortboards too much.....I really need to hone in my longboarding. I guess I always thought I could just pull my board out and get noseriding like nothing! Shortboarder mentality i guess.....but it's damn difficult.

It's my freaking life's mission now to learn to properly nose ride. I'll focus on my cross stepping more but I really think it's my board postioning in the pocket of the wave that I'm not truly getting right.

[jaffa1949]

Can you get someone to video you?
Not a go pro board shot . But a genuine video while you are doing it shot!

It is a scary revelation to see our own surfing! A real face the truth moment but a great coaching tool!

[Z mann R2]

Well I think I’m gonna have to get my wife to then. I’ll try tomorrow. As long as the surf isn’t still chest to head high from that hurricane