Surfing

Choosing a Board

One of the first questions novice surfers ask me is what kind of board to use? Considering there are literally thousands of sizes and shapes from which to choose, it's a reasonable question. The answer depends a lot on what type of surfing you do, and the conditions you're likely to face.

To find the right board lets review the three basic board shapes: the short board, the egg and long board. Within each of these categories there are hundreds of options, but for now let's just talk about the basic advantages and disadvantages each category offers.

The short board is the more recent take on surfing design. Ranging from 5' 10" to 7", these are the pocket rocket, high performance babies. If you have the technique to handle one, and they do require a higher level of skill to optimize than any other shape, they offer maneuverability and speed far in excess of their larger cousins. The reasons are simple. They carry less foam, as a result are lighter and easier to turn. The downside of this is that they are much harder to paddle, are far less stable in the water. If your style tends to cut backs and cross-overs than cruising, these are for you.

The next step-up in size brings an answer to some of the disadvantages of the short board. These egg shapes come in two basic configurations, the pointy nosed and round nosed variety. Running 8 - 9" they carry more foam, more volume and more floatation, that translates into greater stability and paddling profile.

The overall configuration of the board is a product of the nose choice. Narrowing the nose for greater speed and performance knocks out some of the mid-board girth, as well as a percentage of surface area. That keeps those eggs closer to short board performance levels. The rounder nose maintains a broader overall board, which emphasizes the float and glide aspects, making them easier to paddle and ride in all conditions.

At the top of the size chart you'll find the classic long boards. By far the most versatile of all these big guns range in size from 8' 6" to a massive 10' 6". Because of the overall amount of foam they carry and the greater surface area they present they are perfect for everything from coaxing a good ride from less than perfect conditions, to taming the biggest waves Neptune can throw at you.

Perhaps the most famous boards ever ridden are the pointy nosed maxis that legends like Greg Noll and Laird Hamilton use to tackle the 4 story high waves of Weimea Bay and Jaws. When a wall of water is on the verge of burying you, the stability and speed of a pointy nosed long board is quite literally a life-saver.

As I said in the beginning, there are an infinite number of choices within these basic categories. When it actually comes time to pick-out your next board, the staff and I will be more than happy to find the perfect combination for you. We stock over 250 boards covering every category, style and most manufactures, so we'll be sure to find the right board for you.

And speaking of learning to surf, we begin our sixth season of the East End's best surf camp next month. Beginning on July 3 we offer six, three day sessions perfect for beginners to learn the ways of the water. Open to boys and girls we meet Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8 - 11AM at Ditch Plains. Over the course of the session they'll learn how to read the surf, paddle out and catch and ride a wave unassisted. Students will also be schooled in safe water practices, and procedures in the surf.

Over the past five years we've turned hundreds of little grommets into watermen first class! But more than that, they've gained confidence about themselves that simply can't be measured. Best of all, surf camp is fun, fun, fun in the Montauk surf, for all! So if you'd like your child to get in on the action, be sure to come by the shop and sign up or give us a call. We limit our classes to 20, and based on past experience slots fill quickly.

When not running surf camp, teaching private lessons or hauling squid on the Highlander, you'll find Stu Foley behind the counter of the Air and Speed (668-0356) on Main Street.