SUP Board Shapes - Fitting into the pocket

[StarboardSUPMan]

I'm progressing in my surfing ability and it's brought about some new questions I have about board shapes.  I bought a L41 SimSup and things took off from there.  I've been trying all different type of board shapes and sizes since.  The one thing I've found my L41 is lacking is that ability to get in the barrel or get tight up in the pocket.  When I get to a critical section I seem to either dig a rail, or my board wants to flip itself over.  I know the general concept of more rocker, narrower board will fit the wave and hold better in steeper waves.  I've just have a hard time understanding exactly why that works.  I've tried doing some research but I'm still a little lost.  I was hoping someone with more experience than me could walk me through characteristics that make a board perform better on bigger barrelling days vs my normal Florida mush and why.

[seadart]

Not sure this will be helpful as I am a non-expert at riding barrels on a SUP. I don't think I've seen many videos posted here of posters riding barrels on SUS boards.    I have ridden barrels on high performance waveskis  which is hard and usually not successful so I expect some of the same factors apply.   It probably has more to do with the wave and the rider than the board.  All of my decent barrel rides have been at the same break on the same wave direction,  on a 7'6" board, with very little tail rocker,  where I know exactly where to paddle into the wave, stall to just get in the right spot and angle and then trim so the board planes as fast as possible.  For a wide board speed and fins that fit close to the edge of the rails and a really good cutting rail shape work.   Boards with rounded tails seem to work better than squared off tails.  Drag is what kills your ability to get barreled.  So long boards usually suck, and wide boards suck, and since positioning is so critical wide boards suck. I don't have experience riding he a Simmons shape  SUP, so can't really comment.  I see young guys getting barreled on mini-simmons boards but they are very fast, low drag boards.

[PonoBill]

A classic Simmonds shape is flat--virtually no rocker--and it's intended to plane early and go as fast as possible in a wave. The L41 SIMsup is a variation on that theme with a bit of non-continuous rocker in the nose and tail, but still pretty flat. I love my L41 for going fast, but it absolutely won't conform to the curve of a wave--it's too flat. You're either digging the nose, the tail, or if you center your weight--both. If you dig the nose on a pitching wave it's going to get pulled up the face. Same for the tail. Dig the nose and tail together and the board wants to flip out from under you. Unless Kirk does something special for you the L41's are designed to go fast and rip, not slow down and snuggle into the most curved part of a wave.

The Bruce Wayne model from L41 is probably more what you want, or just talk to Kirk and tell him what you want to do. He's fun to talk to. Knows his shit.

[StarboardSUPMan]

Thanks for the replies.  Seadart this is exactly what I was looking for, appreciate the explanation!  I know there is a huge benefit to knowing the wave and how it will break, but also a little different shape can help too!

PonoBill - I'm definatley not trying to knock L41.  The boards are amazing and got me to progress more than I thought possible.  I'm not ready for another board yet, I was more interested in different shapes and what to look for to get into more critical parts of the wave.

I guess to get the full idea of what board would be best for hollow waves I should look at a pro line of boards like starboard-pro?