Surfdad and others..help with board selection!

[KonaKing]

Yeah...I'm not posting up any more info on that construction on WW either. Lots of folks interested in the way it rides, I think that the TWC event legitimized the tech and so now lots of people want to know the recipe.

its beyond my scope of work anyways but sure looks cool.

[Surfdad]

Oh man Kona, it just struck me! I was NOT talking about you man! Sorry for the way I phrased that. Since James won the TWC it appears that the tech we were messing with started being taken seriously. My molded rail and springer build threads had been dormant for the better part of 6 weeks and then after the TWC those threads got almost TWICE the number of hits as they had in total before the event There are a ton of lurkers looking for info.

I can't imagine that the tech itself can be introduced commercially, at least the way we are doing it - the blanks that I had built take almost 6 weeks to produce commercially and costs almost as much as some boards!

Again I am sorry for my poorly worded response, bro.

[da.bell]

Oh man Kona, it just struck me! I was NOT talking about you man! Sorry for the way I phrased that. Since James won the TWC it appears that the tech we were messing with started being taken seriously. My molded rail and springer build threads had been dormant for the better part of 6 weeks and then after the TWC those threads got almost TWICE the number of hits as they had in total before the event There are a ton of lurkers looking for info.

I can't imagine that the tech itself can be introduced commercially, at least the way we are doing it - the blanks that I had built take almost 6 weeks to produce commercially and costs almost as much as some boards!

Again I am sorry for my poorly worded response, bro.

Should have just told them James won on his skills alone. Well, he did anyways.

[dogbert]

It does bring up an interesting point. Should equipment be regulated in these sports like it is in others. I would think not because you'd be killing innovation.

[da.bell]

It does bring up an interesting point. Should equipment be regulated in these sports like it is in others. I would think not because you'd be killing innovation.

OMG!!!! You know you are not going to get a basic response from Surfdad... right???

That is a very, very good question. The sport is so young that I don't think it will and the amount of people that are in this sport isn't a lot. IMO, they will never have regulations regarding this... Too many political agendas need to be addressed and I don't think there is enough time in the day to address them.

[dogbert]

OMG!!!! You know you are not going to get a basic response from Surfdad... right???

Hey, it's just a discussion point. I know it's a little deeper than what you're used to on the PW thread, but it is definitely relevant for the sport. My personal opinion would be no, equipment should not be regulated, but at some point where does ability end and technology start?

[da.bell]

I don't think they have enough time to do something like this. It's already a small community and adding restrictions to technology will only hinder the sport from progressing. We are both agreeing. Will be interesting to see Surfdad's comments.

[dogbert]

Me too.

[Surfdad]

LOL too funny, my reputation preceeds me. The only contest where equipment issues come up are at the World's, and my guess is that is what Centurion wants, rather than one that revolves around the validity of the results of the contest, based upon a lack of objectivity.

I am all for innovation in equipment development. No doubt one day we will get to a point where there will be performance based criteria, but for now, there isn't enough differentiation to justify it. Typically, contestants are the ones that bring this sort of thing up. I would think that if one type or style of equipment somehow develops a reputation for winning, then folks will ask for that segretaion.

My 2 cents is to allow manufacturers and innovators to crank out their best.

[TeamAllen]

I don't think there are any restrictions on board types in ocean surfing.

[da.bell]

I don't think there are any restrictions on board types in ocean surfing.

That is a good point.

[Surfdad]

Actually surfing in the ocean is replete with equipment divisions. One of the most noted is longboard vs shortboard. In fact about the only sport that I am aware of that doesn't fully recognize equipment differentiation is wakesurfing.

The C Street longboard classic is representative of a long boards only event:

http://www.cstreetlongboard.com/event.htm

Equipment requirements include:

4. Surfboards must be a minimum of 9 feet in length. Women and juniors may use boards which are 3 feet longer than the height of the contestant. No paddling gloves. Cords are optional. The Contestant assumes responsibility for not using a leash.

My favorite is the "old log" divisions. The board must be 35 years old and no leashes or wersuits are allowed.

USSF sanctioned evants have so many equipment rules it makes your head spin:

http://www.surfusa.org/id3.html

III. EQUIPMENT (All boards are measured from end to end, using a straight edge)

A. In age division events, surfboards will not exceed 2 ft. longer than the competitor’s height, except LEGENDS, which has no limit as to equipment used.

B. Longboards must be a minimum of 9 ft. in length, in Junior, Men, Master, Women, and Senior divisions. Menehune division will be 3 ft. overhead.

C. Bodyboards shall not exceed 5 ft. in length.

D. Paddle boards are limited to surfboards only with a maximum length of 10 ft.

E. Additional equipment, such as leashes and helmets may be used.

F. Kneeboards are a maximum of 6 ft. in length and must be consistent with standard acceptable equipment normally used.

[da.bell]

I was thinking that with surfing, they haven't outlawed certain products that can be placed into the boards to make them better...

[Surfdad]

I think you're right, I do NOT know of any construction material restrictions anywhere, tons of OTHER restrictions

[Surfdad]

I'm not sure if you can see it, but I loved this trick - it's a frontside rotation three:

http://forums.wakeoutlaws.com/index....=details&id=85