I don't know about the rest of you but i would be really interested to know what size sup most of the guys are using,and if the shortboard style has completely taken over for comps now.

You know thats funny you raise Allrounder, because he was one of the reasons for my post in regards to the comp formula,thanks AA, and when your finished surfing your t!ts off answer my bloody texthave fun wish i was there , instead of home nursing 5 stitches and 2 teeth missing

AA said...

Hey Rodrguez, I think the fact that Matt Lumley (who has a solid longboard background - Vic state champion) is now competing on an 8'4 Naish, says a lot. I didn't witness the heats but if Matt has switched to a 'ripper style' board, he knows the judges are looking for more than hang 5's and helicopters. When I see him I will have a chat.

I think nearly all the guys in the final are on 9'0 and under some custom and some production

Of the top my head

Keahi 8'0x27 Cab custom(or proto) i think
Matt L 8'4x27 Naish
Jackson close 9'0 McT
Billy 8'6 cris Garret

sorry i haven't seen who are the others in the final.

So to me it looks like the 8 to 9ft boards are working the best for comps at the moment. None of the above boards have round noses, all are short board like shapes even Matt and jackson close who are very good long boarders have choosen short board style boards!!

Jacko

rodriguez said...

Thanks for the reply Jacko,i kind of figured they all are , my main interest is really other specs like width and thickness.but hey thanks again, i have always been interested in surf craft design ,it doesn't matter ive been surfing well over 40 odd years, i just find all of it facinating. cheers. [

Hey Rodriguez, that stuff fascinates me as well, especially being new to the sport. The waves at the comp have been very untypical of Noosa 1st point, heaps of sand has been pumped and it looks like Kirra at low tide. As a result anyone on a board with more volume and not enough rocker is having have a harder time of it. Basically all the poputs (except the little Naishes) look like they are struggling with the suck and speed of water movement up the face.

Guys like Jackson Close and quite a few others on bigger volume popouts, have the skills to overcome the shortcomings but it is the guys with both skills and the lower volume (and lower width) and curvier equipment who are handling the condition the best.

Guys like Billy, Lumers, Dogman, Appsy and Keahi are able to stay in the pocket more easily and rip big top turns as the bottom is dropping out of the wave face. To me it is very apparent that the narrower and curvier (more rockered) equipment is allowing much tighter pocket surfing and the odd barrel.

This is not meant as a criticism of the bigger volume popout designs, as obviously when you make a board for the masses it has to suit a wider range of riders and therefore have the stability,etc.

That all said, the guys with the skills and the better wave selection will get through their heats on nearly anything.

Also if the comp was held in more normal 1st point conditions, the floatier flatter boards may even have the advantage.

Also we are talking about riding at the absolute top level of what is happening now in SUP and I can see it continuing in that direction with the top guys favouring narrower, curvier, lower volume equipment much like the top shortboarders do. I reckon we will also see more of these designs being made in the mass produced boards as is happening with the Naishes and new PSHs.

It was such a good thing to watch and be a part of!!!