Surfboard Question

[Coach]

I want to try out wakesurfing this year, but don't have a board. I don't have the coin to drop on a $400+ wakesurf specific board. From the sound of things the boards by HL and LF are junk. I live less than 30 miles from San Clemente and Newport Beach (2 top surf spots). I am able to find some short boards between $100-170. Is there a disadvantage to buying a regular surfboard? To me it doesn't seem to be one and I was thinking of picking up some gator grip to put on the top for traction. The boards I have looked at are about 5-8 to 6-0 and between 2 3/8- 3" thick some with 2 fins and others with 3 fins. What fin configuration is best? Any help would be great.

[NICKYPOO]

This is really Surfdad's territory, however, I've been on a few surfboards behind the boat. I learned to wakesurf on a 6'8" Bear and have also ridden a 6'0" G&S. I was able to "surf" both with no ballast. I don't remember the fin configuration, but I think they were both twins. I think the tri-fin boards will have a bit too much fin and won't react nearly as well as a twin. Boat wakes are relatively small and it's better to have something that will react a little faster for the small adjustments you need to make on such a small wave. One thing I dislike about surfboards is that they don't fit in a regular wakeboard rack, so they are always sitting around in the boat. Those fins are sharp and it doesn't take much to rip the vinyl in that pretty, new RZ2. You can buy a surfboard rack, but at that point, you could have spent less money on a skim style board that will fit in a regular rack.

Now then, I've been riding a 5'6" Landlock (now the 5'6" Broadcast) for 4, no 5 years now. It's a good board. It's not a pro level board or anything, but it's a great, if not the perfect, first board, IMO. It's very sable, very fast down the line, easy to get up on and fits in a rack. I've tought a lot (at least 20) of people to surf on that thing. It will always be my recommendation for a first board. That being said, I'm gonna get a new Walzer.

I'm sure Surfdad will have some good comments and ideas for you, but these are my $.02.

[Surfdad]

Nick is right, you can LEARN on just about anything behind the boat. If all you can afford, at the moment, is a used shortboard, that's better than nothing. Also as Nick points out the Walzer is a wonderful board and is suitable for proficient riders, but probably not suitable for teaching Uncle Joe.

The problem with shortboards is that they are very imprecise instruments. Out in the ocean, if you are a bit behind the sweet spot, you can walk a bit up the board and gain some speed. The size and shape of an ocean wave is such that you have enough time to compensate for small variations.

The wake on a boat makes riding very technical, even the slightest misalingment, or improper stance and you're out the back or pearling the board. Riding a wake behind the boat is much harder than riding a wave in the ocean - all things being equal.

Also, surfboards have functions that aren't required on a wakesurfer. You never have to paddle out to catch a set and you never have to paddle INTO a wake. In the ocean, boards need to be thicker and longer to allow this. So using a shortboard behind the boat gives you more thickness and length than you need. Eventually, as Nick has done, you'll get better and then step down to a smaller thinner board and THAT transition is more difficult if you've spent considerable time on an ocean board.

Lastly, surfboards are rear foot driven, wakesurfing is more of a balanced ride, more closely related to ocean kneeboards. Seldom do you walk or change positions on the board, at best, you lean forward to gain some speed. Learning to ride strictly off the rear foot, will hamper long-term progression for wakesurfing. More importantly for wakesurfing, because of the design of the shortboard, you wind up learning bad habits that will almost have to be UNLEARNED when and if you shift to a more appropriately sized wakesurfer.

The major manufacturers like LF or CWB make wakeboards. That's their expertise and their bread and butter. When they developed wakesurfboards, there was little investment in R&D. Which makes sense, they wanted in the market and they had the distribution channels, what were your options in Nebraska? LF is bringing their new Custom to the market, which I think is a HUGE step in the way of development, we'll see what the others do.

So, I'm hesitant to call those major offerings junk, but certainly there are substantially better boards available.

If you never really plan to do more than just cruise now and again behind your boat I don't think there is anything wrong with a used shortboard. If you invision one day wanting to progress beyond that, you're going to invest in a better more suitable board AND spend more money overall. It will also take a bit longer to UNLEARN some of the poor riding habits learned on a shortboard.

Buying a thruster (tri fin) is probably the better bet, if the fins aren't glassed on. Most modern shortboards come with a fin system, composed of a fin box and removable fins. FCS, Futures, O'Fish'l to name just a few. You can then change out fins, or remove the trailing fin to "loosen" up the tail. A 3.5" fin is more than adequate for allowing a board to track behind the boat, this would be very small for a board in the ocean. If you wind up with a board that has 5+ inch fins that aren't removable, you'll find it VERY difficult to make top and bottom turns. Again...it's just cruising behind the boat.

Hope that helps.

[Coach]

Thanks for the insite. I would not have guessed that a surfboard would be that much different. If you have any used boards that you need to get rid of Jeff let me know. 6-1 230lbs

[Matt Garcia]

Coach, I wouldnt disregard HL and LF products yet... I have used both and have had great sucess with them. Try them out...you may even end up liking them.

[Coach]

I think I will borrow my neighbors HL Brodcast or the other neighbors CWB Ride and give them a try.

[Greg Mallek]

I want to try out wakesurfing this year, but don't have a board. I don't have the coin to drop on a $400+ wakesurf specific board. From the sound of things the boards by HL and LF are junk. I live less than 30 miles from San Clemente and Newport Beach (2 top surf spots). I am able to find some short boards between $100-170. Is there a disadvantage to buying a regular surfboard? To me it doesn't seem to be one and I was thinking of picking up some gator grip to put on the top for traction. The boards I have looked at are about 5-8 to 6-0 and between 2 3/8- 3" thick some with 2 fins and others with 3 fins. What fin configuration is best? Any help would be great.

Coach;
See if you can find a used Shredd Stix. There shaped and very much resemble ocean boards. They're my personal favorite. If you have any questions, call Jerry direct. He'll be more than happy to guide you in the right direction. Tell him I sent you. Here's his link:
http://www.shredstixx.com/welcome.htm

[Surfdad]

Not to contradict Matt - but at your size Coach, you're going to struggle on either of those boards. Again, the major players just popped out some boards to meet the broadest market segment and folks over 200 pounds will struggle with anything less than about 5'6" to 5'8" when first learning. I would concur with Greg on the Shred Stixx offerings. Jerry will more than likely recommend his Blowfish. An Inland Surfer Red, XBC Fish Chubby would be worthwhile looking into also.

I have seen a few pretty good deals on ebay, but also you might give each of the manufacturers a call and look for demo boards for sale...the only problem with that approach is you might have to wait until the end of the season.

[jjconn123]

Look on e-bay... you will find tons there!!

[RID22]

Coach, get a used CWB Ride. I frequently have big guys on my boat and they get on my CWB ride. I have some ex pro football players, that I use for ballast (240+lbs). Occasionally, they surf and the CWB Ride works well for them. I weigh 205 and use the CWB Tsunami. My only complaint would be that the fins seem to disappear once and a while.