Does the bottom of the board even matter?

 In my last post, I shared my quiver but also said that I am always tweaking it. Well, it didn't take long to realize that I wanted to tweak my quiver.  I am making two changes.  1. I traded my 6'8" Bandito for a 7'2" Brighton.  2. I traded my 6' Bull Fish for a 6'4" Bull Fish.  Some reasons for changing these boards are similar, but since I already got the 7'2" Brighton and am waiting for the 6'4" Bull Fish, let's focus on the former change. 

The Bandito is 6'8 x 22" x 3" five fin, with chunky rails, and a winged thumb tail.  I ride it as a quad. The Brighton is 7'2 x 21.5" x 3" with more turned-down rails and a diamond tail. I also ride it as a quad. Now lots of factors affect how this board rides and why I like the Brighton better, but a big reason for swapping these boards is the bottom contours.  The Bandito is a vee bottom, while the Brighton is a single to double concave to a spiral vee. Now if you are anything like me, I never paid a lot of attention to the bottom of the board and what it did for my surfing.  In the past year or so I decided to take the time to learn about surfboard bottoms and how they would affect my surfing. What pushed me to look into this was a different board we call the Voodoo.  The Voodoo has a very deep single to double concave and when I rode that board, I realized that the board felt very different under my feet. At that point, I started to look into how all my board bottoms were shaped. 

Let's start with the vee bottom Bandito.  Great board! But I realized that a vee bottom is not always the right shape for me.  A vee bottom allows the rider to go rail to rail very easily because the bottom is literally like a "V".   The center point (the stringer) is higher than the rails and if you put a level on the board the level will lay flat from the center point to the rail with a slight decline from stringer to rail.  No light will show beneath the level. 

For me, what I didn't like about the vee bottom in this board (and I want to emphasize, this board) is that in bigger waves I felt a little less control and more importantly, in smaller waves, it bogged down and felt slow to me.  But again, I had this board for years and had a ton of great sessions on it.  However, once I discovered the feel of a single to double concave, I knew that I wanted a board that fit this spot in my quiver to have those contours. 

What is magical to me about the single to double concave is the lift it gives the board, along with the ability for the board to generate an almost natural speed.  If you use a level on the bottom of the board, a single concave would show space in the center of the board because the rails are higher than the center (the first picture below).  But a double concave would show two spaces with the center point and the rails being the same but two concaves dug out of each side (the second pic). 

The single concave is what provides all that lift and drive.  It paddles fast and as soon as I get to my feet I feel an instant, effortless speed.  The effortless part is key because I am not always the best at generating my own speed.  The double concave, because it splits the water, gives the board exceptional control when going faster in bigger, more powerful waves.  But in smaller waves, the single to double concave gives me lift and less drag, so it is easier to gain speed even on those small days.  For me, it is the absolute perfect combination because I can ride the Brighton in almost any conditions.  In fact, I have two Brightons--an 8'2 and a 7'2 (which I was going to make at a 6'10 but rode the 7'2 and it was so much fun I figured why mess with it).  The single to double concave just gave me that lift and drive to make sections that I couldn't on the Bandito, but have exceptional control when riding at higher speeds. If I ever wanted to get rid of all my other boards, I could surf all conditions on just my two Brightons. 

But remember, just because I like a single to double concave, doesn't mean you will.  You might even like that bottom on some boards but not others.  My Hip Cat is a vee bottom and I absolutely LOVE that board.  But I ride it in a very different style than the Brighton and for me, the vee bottom goes great with the single-fin design of the Hip Cat. So consider all the other aspects of the board when thinking about the bottom contours.  I have some earlier posts about rails and outlines.  In the end, the important thing is to be aware of what shape you are riding, including the bottom contours.  If you are aware of those contours, then you can understand which you like and why.  It might even help you improve your quiver too!    

What makes a good quiver?

 What makes a good quiver? Ask 10 surfers that question and you will get 10 different answers.  There are so many variables that go into answering that question, including how many boards can you have? What level of surfer are you? Where do you surf? What conditions do you typically surf? Along with so many other questions.  Despite the difficulty in answering this question, I am going to share my feelings on my quiver and why at this point in time, it is pretty close to the best quiver for my surfing.  

Let's start with the quiver itself.  Here it is: 

I have six Matador boards for a variety of conditions.  These include a 6' Bull Fish that I ride with twin keel fins, a 6'8" Bandito that I ride as a quad, a 7' Gringo single fin, a 7'8" single fin Hip Cat, an 8'2" Brighton that I ride as a quad, and a 9'2" Collier Classic single fin.  This is a near-perfect quiver for my surfing ability and the waves that I surf.  Again, I am a mid-50s NJ surfer whose primary goal is to surf as often as possible.  That means big days, small days, and everything in between.  This quiver allows me to do just that but with choices depending on how I am feeling that day. 

The first priority for my quiver is that there isn't much overlap between when I would surf my boards.  If you look at the pictures, it is fair to say that this quiver fits that priority.  Honestly, if you have six boards, there is gonna be some overlap, but I want my boards to provide me a different feel depending on the day.  For instance, I like my Bandito and my Gringo for those head high+ days.  But those boards give me a very different ride given that one is a 5-fin that I ride as a quad and one is a classic 70s single-fin shape.  Same with my smaller wave boards.  If it is knee-high I can ride my Collier or my Brighton.  It just depends on how I want to surf that day.  The Hip Cat is a great single-fin that allows me to feel smooth and stylish on any wave from thigh-high to chest+, so I can ride that quite often in NJ.  And the Bull Fish is a great board on those clean waist-to-head-high days when I want a little challenge because, for me, a 6' board is still small.  Honestly, that is the one board I might change but only to add a few more inches, not the shape itself. If it was a little bigger I would surf it more often. 

So for me, I want a quiver that I can surf!  If a board sits too long, I wonder why I have it.  And although I ride the Bull Fish and the Gringo the least, I still surf those boards regularly and they fulfill a purpose in my quiver. But it is the variety of boards that makes surfing every day fun.  Variety is the spice of life!   

But I also understand that not everyone can have a six-board quiver.  One of the questions I get a lot is if I could have only three boards, which would I keep?  That is tough because I truly love all of these boards.  But if forced to sell three of these boards purely based on when and how often I surf them (not sentimentality) I would definitely sell the Gringo and the Bull Fish.  They are more niche boards for me, even though they are great boards.  I would definitely keep the Brighton and the Bandito.  I surf the Brighton more than any other board because it is so versatile and the Bandito is a great board when things get bigger, but I can also surf it on an average day.  Ok--one last board to keep. The Hip Cat or Collier Classic? That is tough.  I would probably keep the Hip Cat.  The reason is that the Brighton can surf even the smallest of waves so it can replace my longboard, even if it doesn't do it perfectly.  I just love a good single fin, so I gotta keep the Hip Cat.  And that is important--I LIKE a single-fin so I need one in my quiver.  Remember to surf what you love!  And not everyone loves the same board.    

Well, that is my take on the perfect quiver.  A variety of boards, that ride in a variety of ways, and can provide you the ability to surf as often as possible.  I would love to hear what your perfect quiver would look like.  If you could have three boards, what would they be?  

As I sit here with a heating pad on my back, I am reminded that my body may not be able to handle several double sessions in winter anymore.  But I also wouldn't change this week for a healthy back right now. Jersey got some insane waves with some clean perfect lines.  I was happy that my knees held up (thanks to some good cortisone shots) but my back eventually gave out.  But damn it was fun!    

But let me start by re-introducing myself--I am a mid-50s Jersey surfer.  I was never one of the best surfers in the water or even that guy looking to rip the newest shortboard model. Instead, I am the guy having fun, surfing whatever board looks good, and hoping my knees hold up so I can surf the next day.  I love the retro shapes and simply gliding down the line rather than tearing into a wave.  I would rather be smooth than aggressive.

Part of what made this week so fun was being able to surf most of the boards in my quiver.  A few years ago I finally went to a quiver that suited my current surfing style.  I now own all mid-length and longboards--so I guess in today's market I am cool!?!  I also surf all Matador boards because as their motto says, "The Right Board for the Right Coast".  Nothing could be more true.  So here is my current quiver. 

6'8" Bandito (although I like to call it a Hooligan since it is a Boneyard).  Round nose, 5-fin, and paddles like a dream.

7' Matador Gringo.  Classic single-fin stinger model with lots of volume. Great board for those big winter days.

7'8" Matador Hip Cat.  A mid-length model single-fin glider.  For some reason I just feel cool slipping down the wave on this board. 

8'2" Matador Brighton.  This is a mid-length, 5-fin version of the Matador East.  This board is just easy to ride and yet has the ability to rip into a wave even at 8'+.  

9'2" Collier Classic.  Your classic single-fin noserider.  If you want a longboard, this is the one to get.

In the coming weeks, I will take some time to discuss each of these models, how they surf, what they do for the average surfer, and who might like them and who might not.  I will discuss some of the other Matador models and all things surfing.  It should be a fun ride! 

Join the Retro Alternative Revolution!

My last post discussed the idea of embracing some of the classic shapes of surfing's history.  I mentioned that I have been riding some of the early 1970s transition shapes--in particular, a Bing Glass Slipper and a G&S Little Gypsy.  These boards were the precursor to the shortboard revolution, way before everyone thought they needed a potato chip board because that is what the pros were riding, but also a precursor to the current "alternative" board revolution.  It is the latter movement in the surf industry that I find so interesting.  For decades the idea was to go not only shorter, but smaller in overall volume--thin in the rails and narrow in outline.  This peaked in the 90s with boards becoming tiny and everyone thinking they could ride them because we saw the pros ripping up the best waves in the world on these boards.  But for most of us, we don't surf like the pros nor do we surf the waves they surf.  Something had to change so that the average surfer could enjoy surfing again.  I don't know about you, but paddling around on a sub-6 foot board that barely floats my aging body is simply not fun.  Nor is it fun to sit on the beach and watch the kids that have so much potential flounder around in the water because they too want to surf the smallest board possible when in fact, they simply aren't ready for those board. 

That change began with the rise of the "alternative" board revolution.  The ideas was to create a board for those of us that didn't want a longboard, but still needed more float than the typical ASP surfer's board.  A board that remained short but was wide and fat.  A board that had the float and paddle power for us average surfers to glide on those small, mushy days or get in a bit earlier when things got bigger. Every board company now has an alternative board list or a summer board list, but of course this has also gotten to be a bit out of control.  Instead of telling your average surfer (both in size and ability) to grab a nice alternative shape with dimensions like 6'2" x 22" x 3", the industry started pushing this guy/gal to grab a 5'8" or a 5'6"; again, taking a good thing and going too far with it. Now don't get me wrong, there are guys/gals that can rip on these boards.  But many of those tearing it up on a 5'8" aren't your average surfer.  So what are the rest of us to do? 

What we need is a revolution that truly pays homage to the early transition board era, a revolution that captures the boards of the early 1970s, with their fat, wide and relatively short outlines. Take the Bing Glass Slipper that I rode (pictured above). That board is 6'2" x 21" x 3 1/2"! Yeah, it is FAT to say the least.  But you know what, it works!  The first day I rode it one of my buddies looked at me after I just took on to the beach and said, "You gotta get one of those."  And he was right. 

So Matador set out to help in a retro alternative board revolution (a new phrase that I think best captures what these shapes should be) by creating the Right Coast Rocket (pictured here). The Rocket takes many of its cues from those classic late 60s and early 70s transition boards while infusing the design with some modern materials and other tweaks.  Let's start with the wide, thick outline and a center point pushed forward.  The dimensions on this board are 6'5" x 3 1/4" x 22".  Now many of our stock boards are not quite os thick (I had this board custom shaped to really mimic the old transition boards), but they remain big, usually around 22" and close to 3" thick.  It is a big board with loads of volume.  But I don't understand why so many people see this as a drawback.  The problem with many of those shortboard shapes is they don't provide the paddle power or speed that many of us need because we simply can't produce it on our own. The Rocket gives you the ability to paddle easily, pick up waves early and blast through those flat spots.  It is just plain fast down the line, but that great top to bottom flow that exudes style. The diamond tail gives a little more bite, and in the stock board we have added a couple of little buddies on the side to help with hold and drive.  This adds a bit more versatility to the bard so that it can run in knee high summer slop while still holding in those head high waves.  But it accomplishes this versatility without being completely over the top like many of the modern alternative boards. 

I have always wondered why anyone would need a five-fin setup in a short, wide, fat board.  This seems to fly in the face of history and what works in this style board.  Why not stick with what has always worked and keep the option of a single fin.  In fact, I prefer mine as a straight single fin to give it more of a classic feel.  So even if you want the versatility of side bites, don't be afraid to go classic and run it with just that big fin down the middle. Besides, there is something stylish about running a single fin (or at least that is how I feel when riding one).  To me it seems like a thruster should be ridden in anger, but a single fin should be ridden with a smooth, fluid style.  This is not to say that a single fin can't tear into a wave, pull that big floater or the fin out the back.  In fact, it can do all this and do it with style! One only need to watch the classic videos of Buttons, Bertlemann, and the other greats of the 70s to realize that.  But I have always felt that a single fin had a more fluid feel to it than a thruster or even a quad, which is where it gets all its style. 

In the end, if you are looking for a great board for smaller waves think retro--retro alternative like the Right Coast Rocket.  But don't be afraid to take it out on that head high day either.  It will get you in early, make that steep drop, and hold your line better than most boards.  In short, think single fin for that smooth classic ride.  This shape just goes--top to bottom, rail to rail, it is one of the best boards I have ridden.  With its speed and drive, it will allow you to take your surfing to the next level and pull all the big sweeping cutbacks, fantastic floater and vertical off the lips that you want.  So if you love those classic shapes, join the retro alternative revolution.  And remember, surf for fun! 

Embrace Those Classic Shapes

Seems like this winter will never end.  Snow storms, water temps hovering around 35 degrees and some great waves.  I can do without the first two characteristics of winter but the last is what Jersey surfers wait for.  The tough part about winter waves is the beating that you often take seeking that hollow tube or trying to make that overhead air drop.  So I thought this is a good time to talk about a classic board shape that most of today's surfers have a tendency to overlook.  It is inspired by the Ben Aipa "stinger" shape, with a swallowtail and wings cut-in about 1/3 of the way up the board.  It is also a single fin with lots of volume up front--this board is simply a classic.

I have recently become enamored with early to mid-1970s surfboard design that created what is often referred to as transition boards.  I recently rode a 1970 Bing Glass Slipper that was a blast and from there I was hooked.  (More on this board in a future post, since Matador is creating a similar shape that will be ready to order for this summer.) The Aipa Stinger comes about a little later (mid-1970s) but it was a transformative board because of both its design and its riders.  Think Larry Bertlemann, Buttons Kaluhiokalani, and Michael Ho--surfers that redefined style for the entire surf industry.  I still love watching the old videos of these guys, dragging their hand along the wave, feet tucked close together, and absolutely ripping.  Now I can't take the Matador Gringo (pictured above) to the level of these guys, or anything even closely resembling it, but it does make my winter surf sessions that much more enjoyable.

Let's look at some of the key design features. First, the forward volume gives you the ease of paddling. If you haven't noticed yet, this is a must in almost all my boards.  If you can't catch the wave, you can't surf the wave and when things get steep and nasty on a Jersey winter day this feature is absolutely key. And I know that I have said this before but don't be afraid of going bigger!  The picture below is a little pre-winter session on a smaller Gringo.  It was a great board but then the owner of Matador put me on the one pictured above (6'10"x22"x2 7/8") and it was fabulous.  I got into every wave early, quick down the line and the board just kept gliding.  Doesn't matter if it is thigh high or overhead, the board just goes.  Second, you have the winged tail that makes for those quick maneuverable turns that you see Bertelmann and others performing.  Loose but smooth seems to be what this tail gives its rider.  Add to that a single fin with the swallowtail and the board just oozes style.  I am sure I don't look as cool as I feel, but damn if I don't just feel more stylish when on this board.

This board doesn't ride like your modern thruster and it is not supposed to be ridden as such.  But if you are looking for a fast, maneuverable, classic board then look at the Gringo.  You might just find that the 70s was a golden era for surfboard design.

And remember, surf for fun! I guarantee this board will help with that last bit of advice.

Share the Love

Summer is here and that means the masses are descending on the Jersey shore.  This is great news for those that make their living over the next couple of months, for businesses recovering from Sandy, and for anyone that has the pleasure to enjoy the beautiful Jersey shore.  Who is not good for?  Often times surfers--especially those year-round guys and gals.  This is partly due to the smaller, weaker waves (although the warmer water can offset that issue).  No, the main complaint of Jersey surfers during the summer months is crowds.  And not just crowds, but the crowds that contain so many newbies to the sport.  I know that my favorite breaks often look like the picture above, making a surf session feel more like an obstacle course than a relaxing morning spent in the water with your buddies.  So is this post an angry surfer's rant?  A way to vent my own personal frustration?  Or a call for all those new to surfing to stay away from my favorite breaks? Actually it is none of the above.  This post is a plea to all surfers to remember when they started and maintain the spirit of surfing.

I didn't start surfing until I was 18 years old.  I was going to college in Florida and the guys I started hanging around with all surfed.  I always wanted to learn how to surf so I thought, how hard could this be? Well, it was a whole lot harder than I anticipated.  My buddies eventually helped me out but initially they gave me an old beat up longboard and said paddle hard. I survived the paddle out (barely) to only get worked trying to take off on wave after wave.  This went on for quite a few sessions before my friends got tired of laughing at my epic wipe outs and offered me some real advice and tips.  Slowly but surely I started to get it and eventually I was capable of not totally embarrassing myself.

That brings us to today where my talents have not progressed much further, but I still love every session.  The point is that we all may not be tremendously talented surfers but we all share two things: 1. A love of surfing and being in the water.  2. A similar starting point where we all floundered to get to our feet.  So as the breaks get crowded and the newbies start dropping in on you, remember your starting point and how difficult surfing can be.  Then offer some advice, teach them the etiquette of the lifestyle, and make sure they respect others and the rules of surfing.  By helping them become better surfers it will make everyone's summer surf sessions that much better.  Surfing is a great lifestyle and I firmly believe the world is a better place when more people surf; so share a wave, share the love and remember, surf for fun!

Ignorance May Be Bliss, But Not When Buying a Board: Part II

After a little hiatus, I am back.  Summer is coming quick and what does every surfer want when the weather turns sunny and the water breaks the 50-degree mark? A new board.  Honestly, surfers always want a new board.  It is a bit like a disease.  We walk into a surf shop, and see all those gleaming new boards, with the latest, hot shape and our mouths start to salivate and our spouses start to get nervous because they know that they can either relent and allow a new board purchase or suffer hearing about that shape endlessly until they do relent.  But make sure you don't just buy a board because it looks good.  You want a board that fits you--your style, your experience, and maybe most importantly, your level of surfing.  The wrong board can make an enjoyable session miserable, while the right board can make you dream of more waves and water time.  So with that in mind, let's revisit what you should be looking for in your new board.  This time, let's focus on the outline of the board.

Now this discussion can get quite technical--too technical for my liking.  The purpose of these posts is to give the average surfer a little more information to make a solid purchase for their surf style.  So when looking at the outline of the board, what should you be looking for? The outline covers the lines of the board from nose to tail, so it is the point where you need to consider how all of these curves and lines are going to work together, and it IS important to consider how they all work together.  In essence, you are considering how the surface area is configured and distributed throughout the board. Take the board pictured on the left--this is my newest board, the Matador Bandito.  This is one of the more popular models in the Matador/BoneYard family and for good reason. 

The outline of the board is set up so that it is both user-friendly (for the average surfer) and yet able to turn on a dime and go vertical for those that want a bit more performance.  The outline has several key features: first, the round nose and increased volume up front. The beauty of this outline feature is paddle power.  This board will literally catch anything and catch it early.  If there is one underrated aspect of a surfboard, it is how early it gets you into a wave.  Ever have one of those sessions where you seem to be standing up on the edge of a cliff every time you catch a wave.  This results in a few airdrops that you make, but generally, it ends up being a frustrating day of pearling and going over the falls.  This is typical of bigger days in Jersey.  The reason is that you can't catch the wave early enough.  You could paddle harder but if your board isn't right, even that won't matter.  Make life a little easier and get yourself a board that lends itself to getting in early.

If you look at the other end of the Bandito it has another great feature--a winged tail that pulls in the outline and ends in a nice thumb tail.  Now the winged tail is going to release the water from the board, meaning less contact with the water, but it also gives you a great pivot point and less surface area so you get maneuverability.  Now think about this, you have a board with a wide front for paddle power but a tail that provides release and maneuverability.  This may be the perfect shape.  It allows you to catch the wave early, but smack that lip when needed.  And this board is versatile--from knee high to head high or bigger--this board just flat-out works.

So when going to buy that new board for those warm summer waves, pay attention to the outline.  What you need in your board depends on how you want it to perform and even more important, how you are able to surf it.  We are not all young, hot rippers--but we are all still surfers.  So remember, surf for fun!