Caution --- Long Story
After an 18 month quest for shorter and shorter…. I began itchin’ for a little longboard feel. Time to add some
size back in my quiver.
I am a bit odd…. I was looking for a board that would require work and finesse to surf….. none of that light, high performance woosy stuff for me… I wanted a challenge that would require certain skills to ride correctly.
Then I met BABs… actually… I met her brother first, but we had issues..
I liked her shape…full hips, nice curves and kind of a big nose and really bad skin… a bit heavy, but not bad for her size...she had a little sister… who would have been easy… but I was looking for more.
BABs was a handful… 11 feet tall with a 30 inch waist
She had potential… but sadly… she would need a sex change to seal the deal.
I did her right there, on the living room floor…
I got to work…. A nip here , a tuck there. Lots of sharp tools, french curves, a tape measure, sharpies… hell… even a paper cutter.
When I was done, all of BABs’ girly ways were gone…all but unrecognizable
BOB emerged from the carnage… a manly man.
Someone a guy could hang out with… hopefully… Hang 10 on.
Time for clarification….
BABs = Big Ass Board
BOB = Big Ol’ Board
BABs … errr…BOB’s specs:
Watersedge Sport Crossover
(Fancy name for cross dresser)
11’x 30” x 4.5
Volume = 189 ltrs
Weight = 26.5 lbs
light single concave under a nicely foiled nose
double concave through the tail
Decent tail rocker… and good nose scoop
Rails are a bit boxy… but aid stability and hold well.
Paddling Tie Downs on the deck (now covered by deck pad)
Go Pro mount in the nose
FCS shallow ledge handle with integral vent
BOB is Born in America of all American parts… in Edgewater Florida
A new company worth a look… well priced... to get attention.
Purchased at Nauset Sports, Orleans Cape Cod.
Phil, the owner is huge into SUP’s… he is one of the best SUP surfers on the Cape.
Phil has 100’s of quality SUPs from the right brands in stock…. Nice to have options.
Lots of Zoners riding his gear
And… the price was right… I was there during a SUP sale
Things went fine on the first day… it was small and juicy.
I worked on the big size adjustment. After a few sessions I was really having fun.
Glide in super early… fade…. Step to the tail and swoosh BOB around…. Cross step to the nose… walk back to the tail and smooth a cutback…S turn and back to the nose for the inside section…. Yeah… now we're talking!
After a few days, the swell got a bit bigger. Solid 3-4’
I was a mess. I could not go frontside at all… kept falling on my face trying to turn. It was sticky.
Backside was doable, but not near as much fun as the small days.
I began to have doubts
I stuck with it… I was running a stiff 9” wide base center, moved all the way forward in the box…. and a pair of canted FCS side bites.
Next day… solid 4’.
I
removed the side bites… ran just the large single fin….
Bingo!
The board started to come around… making swoopy “S” turns down the face, nice cutbacks… getting tome solid nose rides. The aggressive pad I put on the nose is GREAT!
It gives me total board control. I am able to wrap my feet into the grip and push/pull the board where I want it to go while on the nose…. Well worth the added few ounce’s …. Plus a great doggy pad or gear stowage while on flat-water.
Speaking of flat-water…. Even when I had doubts surfwise… I was really liking how it paddled. Stable…. WAY more stable than any 30” board I’ve ever been on. Fast... with great glide…. I think it will be a very satisfactory New England DW board as well. It tracks very well and it is stable enough to
easily step back and tail spin… I don’t even do that on my Allwave.
I will endlessly search for the ultimate “Longboard” SUP… but this one is keeping a smile on my face…. There is a certain satisfaction to schmoozing a really big board.
I’m still checking out smaller versions… but I am digging the glide right now.
While I was not big on the graphics… the board is proving to be a really nice addition. It put the “Long” back in longboard for me.
For the less adventurous:
This board comes in sizes 10’0 and 10’6 as well.
Well worth a look
Pics on the car racks were of the Demo board
Others are BABs/BOB before and after "Gender re-assignment"