Have realised something about the difference between having a crack on the shorter board coming from a longboard and people having a crack on the longboard coming from the short board.
The hardest thing I find about going to shorter is the balance factor and the paddling, It takes my brain a little longer to adjust the balance on a shorter board, once thats out of the way its fine, no problems. (usually)
Have had a couple of mates who are shy about having a crack on the longboard cos they are worried they will not be able to handle it, it seems daunting having 9ft of board to worry about when taking off etc... Same thing as going to a shorter board in the end, just gotta stick with it and it comes naturally.
The main thing I like about the longboard is it stretches out the take off and slows down the whole process which I enjoy, I guess if your not used to that it would throw you off a bit?
In summer when the surf is small, I often use the 9.1 - and re-enjoy the novelty of longboarding... however, when the small waves go on for a few days / weeks, and I don't surf my 7.2 for a while, I find I tend to get 'too familiar' with the 9.1 and then can have some awkwardness first surf back on the 7.2 - and it can take me 2-3 surfs to get fully reaquainted (and that frustrates me no end).
Having said that, I have never been able to switch boards willy-nilly... not even when I was surfing real shorties... (5.10 - 6.4)
doggie if you have a mac longboard say F/ball yes it would be hard to duck dive but i just got home from a messy surf and yes i do duck dive my HP longboard due to the pulled in nose and volume of the board.When you come over next year i'm sure mac would have a surplus longboard like the UFO and guessing you would probably be able to d/dive that board.mac what do you reckon???
