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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: wrybread on June 19, 2021, 04:17:32 PM

Title: Thoughts on this Gerry Lopez Surftech?
Post by: wrybread on June 19, 2021, 04:17:32 PM
I just picked up an 11 foot Gerry Lopez Surftech, it was on Craigslist for such a good deal that I couldn't resist.

My friend picked it up and I won't have it for probably another week, but I'm wondering if anyone has any info on it?

I don't know the dims beyond that it's 11 feet long.

Here's the 3 pics I have:

Title: Re: Thoughts on this Gerry Lopez Surftech?
Post by: surfcowboy on June 19, 2021, 04:59:37 PM
Super fun. It will outlive you if cared for at all. Don’t sell it.
Title: Re: Thoughts on this Gerry Lopez Surftech?
Post by: wrybread on June 19, 2021, 06:49:11 PM
Thanks. So psyched for the board, can't wait to try it.

Title: Re: Thoughts on this Gerry Lopez Surftech?
Post by: Bean on June 19, 2021, 08:16:47 PM
Big Darling (as opposed to GL, Lil Darling SUPs) 11'2"Lx29.5'Wx4.38"T 169.6 L.  It’s a classic!
Title: Re: Thoughts on this Gerry Lopez Surftech?
Post by: surfinJ on June 20, 2021, 01:38:57 AM
That will be a super fun board to have in the quiver. Super small days become super fun with you all over it.
Don’t forget to get way back on the tail to loosen it up.
Title: Re: Thoughts on this Gerry Lopez Surftech?
Post by: Night Wing on June 20, 2021, 05:35:36 AM
My "One World" is similar in specs at 11'1" x 30" x 4.5" @ 173 liters to the Big Darling. I run my One World with a 4 fin quad set up instead of a 2 + 1 or a 3 fin thruster. The 4 fin quad setup makes my board loose and also makes it faster than with a 2 + 1 or a 3 fin thruster.

I would imagine the Big Darling might act the same with a quad fin setup.
Title: Re: Thoughts on this Gerry Lopez Surftech?
Post by: wrybread on June 20, 2021, 07:28:21 PM
> 11'2"Lx29.5'Wx4.38"T 169.6 L.

Awesome, almost the same dims as an old Amundson I used to have and super loved. That's the board that made me fall in love with SUP. Before that I had a Pau Hana that was a bit like riding a sheet of plywood if the plywood had ridiculously thick rails. I almost gave up on SUP when that Amundson came into my life, and I started riding it at my local (norcal) heavy wave spot. I was blown away by how well it handled waves pushing doh. I snapped it though, and that was before I knew how to fix boards. I've been missing that board ever since.  Pics of that board attached.
Title: Re: Thoughts on this Gerry Lopez Surftech?
Post by: wrybread on June 20, 2021, 07:36:50 PM
Ha found an old post from me about that board:

https://www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php/topic,28008.msg294279.html#msg294279
Title: Re: Thoughts on this Gerry Lopez Surftech?
Post by: Dusk Patrol on June 21, 2021, 09:19:26 AM
Congrats on picking up a cool board. Your vintage post says you replaced the Amundson with a Naish Nalu. How did that work out?   
Title: Re: Thoughts on this Gerry Lopez Surftech?
Post by: wrybread on June 21, 2021, 11:35:49 AM
That was an old Nalu, a 10'6" x 28". (The later ones are 30" wide). That narrowness was a bit much for my paddling skills at the time, and it was a bit frustrating. But just when I was starting to love the board I snapped that one too. I brought it to a surfboard repair guy who took my money and promptly ghosted on me, ha. Oh well.

I recently got that same old design 10'6" x 28" Nalu and it's my main board now. I can't imagine how I considered it tippy, it feels rock solid to me now, what a difference learning to brace makes. And I'm probably 5 pounds heavier than I was then (about 215# or so now I think). But I don't ride that board on big days anymore since I think it's too fragile. I have no doubt it could handle surfing bigger waves from a shape point of view. I super super super love that board, a total longboard, and it's slowly teaching me to cross step, which I've meant to do for years.

I randomly also have a 10'6" x 30" Nalu and I keep that for beginner paddlers, which it's great for. But I really wish Naish would continue making their narrow longboard shapes.

Here's a post from me after I first got the Nalu 6 years ago, and then a followup from me last year:

https://www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php/topic,28113.msg420774.html#msg420774


Title: Re: Thoughts on this Gerry Lopez Surftech?
Post by: Dusk Patrol on June 21, 2021, 06:58:19 PM
That's a nice niche you've found... classic
Title: Re: Thoughts on this Gerry Lopez Surftech?
Post by: PonoBill on June 23, 2021, 07:05:40 AM
> 11'2"Lx29.5'Wx4.38"T 169.6 L.

Awesome, almost the same dims as an old Amundson I used to have and super loved. That's the board that made me fall in love with SUP. Before that I had a Pau Hana that was a bit like riding a sheet of plywood if the plywood had ridiculously thick rails. I almost gave up on SUP when that Amundson came into my life, and I started riding it at my local (norcal) heavy wave spot. I was blown away by how well it handled waves pushing doh. I snapped it though, and that was before I knew how to fix boards. I've been missing that board ever since.  Pics of that board attached.

Yeah, that was a really great board. Besides the dimensions, the rocker on those was a little bit of magic. They turned really well for a 11-foot board. That's a good-looking fin too. If you still have that fin I'd sure try it on the Big Darling.
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