Board recommendation for a big fast wave?

[SUPcheat]

Pono's pic of the Dakine is the one I use.  I had one, it was stolen, then went to an O'Neill pullover.  I missed the Dakine, and the O'Neill just wasn't constructed as well, wore out pretty fast.  I am now back to another Dakine: floatier, better construction, and the zipper is excellent.

[surfinJ]

I'm looking to double the float, that looks like the ticket. The way you float in the blue water isn't the same as in the white water of the impact zone.

And thanks for the leash tips, super easy fix Pono. Next time I'll be ready.

[Badger]

I wear the O'Niel Techno Comp, now called the Gooru Tech Comp. It comes in black.

http://us.oneill.com/shop/wetsuits/mens/wake-waterski-vests/

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[Dwight (DW)]

My wife has a dakine that is not in any catalog and never was. She bought it on a surf trip to Oahu. It's a real deal special big wave vest complete with handle sewn behind neck for sled driver to grab. It has lots of serious buckles. It stays put.

[wrybread]

Well, yesterday evening I definitely saw some limitations to my 10.8 Hanalei in big surf. It wasn't huge but it was super unruly. The buoys were about 15 @ 17, but I'd say the surf didn't quite feel as big as you'd think from those numbers. The big issue was the wind, which was absolutely howling side/offshore. It was more side than off, and making a *lot* of bump, and when taking off I just couldn't generate any speed. With the big long period waves I just couldn't get enough speed to catch them. I've been out in those conditions (minus the wind) a few times with my 10.8 Hanalei and could catch them passably, but the bump and 12+ knot headwind was a total dealbreaker.

I was with two friends though, both on 12' Paddle Surf Hawaii guns (good tip @lopezwill), who were paddling into them like it was clean and glassy. It was pretty unreal to watch, they'd hardly even have to paddle hard. I'd be watching and thinking no way is he going to catch that wave, and next thing I know he's flying down the line and making sections. I literally couldn't catch a single wave.

Anyway, looks like my hopes of a 2 board quiver just aren't going to happen.

And on a sidenote, anyone know of a 12' PSH board for sale?

[Beasho]

I was with two friends though, both on 12' Paddle Surf Hawaii guns (good tip @lopezwill), who were paddling into them like it was clean and glassy. It was pretty unreal to watch, they'd hardly even have to paddle hard. I'd be watching and thinking no way is he going to catch that wave, and next thing I know he's flying down the line and making sections. I literally couldn't catch a single wave.

It's interesting to read a perspective and relate 100% to the opposite view. 

There have been numerous times when I am out on my 12 foot PSH gun catching waves exactly like you describe with guys on 9 and 10 foot boards scratching and catching nothing.  The 12 foot board just glides in like a Cadillac.  It is not necessarily easy, rather the board has a higher top end.  You will feel it at the end of the day and it definitely takes more energy to get a board to ~12 mph to release than just 8 mph (with a 10 footer for example).  The other thing I learned this fall was to bend my knees.  The 12 footer has such a big footprint, and you are going so fast that it all tends to bounce around a lot and will throw you. 

Paddle hard, stay low and the world is your oyster.