Is heavy a bad thing?

4 years ago
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baywavebill
baywavebill
VIC
266 posts
VIC, 266 posts
28 Apr 2022 7:42pm
I have not used my Ken Dibben 9'1" x22.5 x3" for about 8 years. Been busy with other water sports. During lockdown I pulled it out and repaired it so it was all good to go. Had my first session the other day and loved it. Smiling all day long. I've had the board for 21 years since new. Always loved it but noted that it is rather heavy being 20lbs or 9 kgs. I read that is a couple of kgs heavier than the average board. Is that a big disadvantage? I only weigh 63kgs.
I am really happy with its performance but I have not tried any other longboards. Am I missing out?
beachandbush
beachandbush
NSW
420 posts
NSW, 420 posts
29 Apr 2022 6:36pm
We should all weigh our boards just for fun and reply with a description of board. It could be fun. We did it at the beach 20 years ago just for knowledge. Can't remember the results.

Being a light weight like myself I find sometimes it's harder to get momentum with the heavier log board. But they both feel different and it's about fun in the end. Fyi I can five and ten on a hp and log . Heavier boards to me are more stable in size waves as I don't get bounced off.
SP
SP
10982 posts
SP SP
10982 posts
29 Apr 2022 6:25pm
Damn I wish I did physics so I could throw Some big brain equations at you but tbh I missed most of science cause I went surfing

Weight equal momentum. Momentum equals speed and glide.

Heavy will be harder to stop, more weight will be harder to turn but straight line speed will be generated easier than a lighter board.
Daneli Returns
Daneli Returns
NSW
160 posts
NSW, 160 posts
30 Apr 2022 7:43am
Heavy will be a pain in arse if it is a long carry from the carpark down to the beach.
baywavebill
baywavebill
VIC
266 posts
VIC, 266 posts
30 Apr 2022 9:12am
Some good points raised. Hadn't thought about not being bounced off, particularly in choppy conditions. Straight line speed is a good point too.
Think I will stop being too envious of those light looking newer boards..... except when lugging it to the other end of the beach. Thanks
Macaha
Macaha
QLD
21982 posts
QLD, 21982 posts
30 Apr 2022 11:03am
Daneli Returns said..
Heavy will be a pain in arse if it is a long carry from the carpark down to the beach.


Unless you have a board carrying bitch like Lacey
decrepit
decrepit
WA
12885 posts
WA, 12885 posts
30 Apr 2022 9:39am
A while ago I asked the opposite question here. "Can a board be too Light?"
I was worried about being blown off the top in strongish off shore conditions.
Any way I went ahead and made it as light as I could. 9' long and about 90litres without fins, came in at 5Kg.

Was riding a mate's 9' standard construction board, probably around the 8/9kg mark. I found the take off a lot different to my light 8' board. the board would drop down the wave much earlier than I was used to, as I stood up the board would drop away underneath me.
My new 5kg board doesn't do this, I have to push it down the wave as I stand up. And yes I think a strong off shore would make it harder to ride than the heavier board.
But in a glass off situation, the lighter board is much easier to turn, and accelerates much faster, so a no paddle take off is easier.

I guess I'm a lightness fanatic, every since the late 60s I've been trying to get boards as light as possible. I just like being able to generate as many Gs as possible.
I suppose my feeling is that the rider is more in control, when board to rider weight is as low as possible.

I agree that more momentum will lead to a better glide, but less weight gives better acceleration, and more manoeuvrability, can help keep you in the fastest part of the wave. More Gs out of the bottom turn, can help sink the tail and give more buoyancy acceleration towards the lip.
But if you just want to cruise and nose ride, there's probably no disadvantage in a few kgs more weight. Apart from getting back to the car after you're exhausted.

I'm not sure where I'm going with my board, I'd like to be able to ride both ways depending on my mood. But this old body is much less agile than it used to be, way out of condition, and not used to walking the board.
I didn't go very well yesterday, but did manage a cut back, bottom turn head dip sequence before the soup knocked me off. Hopefully more time on the water will help bring some of the old skills back.
Cuttlefish
Cuttlefish
QLD
1333 posts
QLD, 1333 posts
30 Apr 2022 10:01pm
Heavy can be a bad thing for worn out shoulders. Getting the board up to speed when paddling for a wave can put strain on them.
smh
smh
NSW
7269 posts
smh smh
NSW, 7269 posts
8 May 2022 7:51pm
You got back on it after 8 years and loved it . Just ride it . Unless you've got plans to get something else if you love it then stick with it . A bit of weight is not a bad thing in a longboard
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