A longer look at surfing a 14'er... so much fun in the right waves!

[supthecreek]

Bob...
I am ready and stoked to road trip with you.
"Big boys on big boards"... sounds like a plan!

Badger....
It is completely ok that you don't like the Search... there are other boards to buy.
the beauty of different models is that everyone is not the same.
The Search is the Search... and I like it exactly the way it is.

There are plenty of Race and Downwind boards out there.
I do not like any of them... I prefer the Search "surf style" 14'er, just the way it is.
If they change it, it would become just another DW board.
Different stokes for different folks.

[Badger]

Badger....
It is completely ok that you don't like the Search... there are other boards to buy.
the beauty of different models is that everyone is not the same.
The Search is the Search... and I like it exactly the way it is.

There are plenty of Race and Downwind boards out there.
I do not like any of them... I prefer the Search "surf style" 14'er, just the way it is.
If they change it, it would become just another DW board.
Different stokes for different folks.

Hey Rick, I never said I didn't like the Search. I merely said what I believe this board will and will not do.

It was suggested that the Search might be good downwind and I felt I should respond. Anyone who buys this board with the intention of downwinding will be very disappointed.

It's also important that people know how the board surfs, both negative and positive. There are very few 14 footers out there that surf well. IMO, the Search 14' is not in that category.

[TallDude]

I was trying to think of another 14' board that was more surf designed. The Ron House 'Coastal Cruiser' was about the only one that came to mind, but it's only 12'-6". There is an older 14'0" Surftech Laird Coast Runner. My friend has one and I've paddled it. I've never surfed it though. It's just a huge all arounder. It is super annoying paddling it into the wind. The nose just smacks every little piece of chop. That 14' Search is definitely in a category of it's own.   

[Badger]

I was trying to think of another 14' board that was more surf designed. The Ron House 'Coastal Cruiser' was about the only one that came to mind, but it's only 12'-6". There is an older 14'0" Surftech Laird Coast Runner. My friend has one and I've paddled it. I've never surfed it though. It's just a huge all arounder. It is super annoying paddling it into the wind. The nose just smacks every little piece of chop. That 14' Search is definitely in a category of it's own.   

I always liked the looks of the PSH 14' Hull Paddler but I don't think it's available anymore.

[Badger]

There are plenty of Race and Downwind boards out there.
I do not like any of them... I prefer the Search "surf style" 14'er, just the way it is.
If they change it, it would become just another DW board.
Different stokes for different folks.

The problem with all downwind boards is that they have way too much volume and thickness to perform well in the surf. Turning the Search into a downwind board would ruin it for surfing.

The board I'm thinking of would be a full on high performance surf shape. It's sole purpose would be to surf.

To me, the whole point of surfing a 14 footer is easy and early entry into waves. For that you need a board with plenty of glide. The outline and rocker should be designed to provide speed and responsiveness on the wave.

I think a board like that probably could perform downwind to some extent in certain conditions. If so, that would be just icing on the cake.

I guess what we need is a new model that addresses these issues and just let the Search be the Search.

[Area 10]

Not *all* downwind boards, Badger, although I agree with your statement as regards production boards. I have a custom downwind board that is both superb in my downwind conditions, and also surfs really well. But it is much lower volume than production boards, and the rocker is different.

Boards created with Hawaiian DWing in mind are not at all optimised for surfing. But boards optimised for downwind in short period steep stuff can surf much better. The Search doesn't really look like either to me, but I'd like to try one before passing judgement.

[starman]

For me the fun is taking a DW board not necessarily designed for "surfing" and learn to make it work in the surf. I've gotten to the point with my Bark Downwinder that I'd rather surf it in the small stuff over any other board. Granted it is not something I would use at a crowded break but who's out surfing when it's small or when its a weak wind swell anyway besides myself.

It seems to me those "surfy" 14's would be nowhere near as good catching bumps as a downwind design, not nearly the glide in flat water and marginal advantage surfing.

[JEG]

I found some dw board's is better surfing than other look alike surf boards.

[Badger]

I found some dw board's is better surfing than other look alike surf boards.

For sure. The Jimmy Lewis M series downwind boards are a perfect example. They surf very well considering that they were designed for downwinding. I'll bet they would surf even better if they were designed with less volume for surfing.

[stoneaxe]

You guys also need to remember that this is all so personal. A board you think is the cats ass I might think sucks toads...so many variables...the biggest of which is us.

I think part of the reason my Vec surfs well is that it's low volume and built by a surfer (Vec) that had never been downwind. It was modeled (very loosely) after the Foote Maliko 14 custom that admin had built. Pono had just done the 2009 DW showcase on Maui and I had tried all the boards. The build was kept a secret from me and Shawn built it based on the dims (14 x 28) ,some pictures posted here on the zone (see below) and a conversation about what board I liked best at the showcase. It's an awesome board and I love it but it's built more like a stretched out version of his big gun. Much less volume than the Foote Maliko and from what I remember it does not glide as well as the Maliko did. It is slower than other DW boards with more refined noses and bottoms specifically designed for DW. Slapping in the chop for sure. But it surfs very sweet.

I'd be really surprised if the Search has to stay in with the 10 or 11' boards to get a wave. Other than the width it is very much like my Vec and I can get on a wave before its a wave. I actually can't wait to try it. I have loved surfing my 14 for a long time and the Search looks even surfier.

One of things I enjoy about surfing the 14 from way outside at rivermouths or flat beaches is all the movement it requires.  With multiple bars/features that cause the wave to form/die/form/die. It's not so much like creeks vid of surfing off the tail. It's more like a combination of longboard and DW. Move quickly towards the nose, paddle, paddle, paddle, to get it on early, step back, back, back, back to the tail as it peaks....surf off the tail for a bit....then run to the nose again....repeat.  I rode a chest high wave against a fast current and 10 mph offshore winds at the rivermouth in the 1st pic above that had me thinking of Hawaiian royalty on their giant logs....train ride that seemed to go on forever. It was one of those moments that you look back on years later and just smile.

BTW...for those that are interested the very cool build of the Maliko 14 is on here in pics.....you can see it doesn't look much like the Search...especially volume and rails.
https://www.standupzone.com/forum/index.php/topic,2141.msg17658.html#msg17658

[Tom]

Any board that tries to do two things well is a compromise by definition and you are going to suffer on both ends. That being said, longer SUP surf boards do paddle and glide better than shorter SUP boards. Hmmmm, where I usually surf, we have numerous breaks on a 5 to 8 mile stretch and the Search would be a good board for searching for waves there,

Also, they make a 12 footer that might be a good chose for some.  Here are the dimensions of the two they make:

Available Sizes:
12′ 0″ x 30 x 4 1/2 @ 179L  |
14′ 0″ x 30 x 4 3/4 @ 218L  |

[TallDude]

I have an 11'6 Nalu which works great for trolling. It catches just about anything, and surfs like a good performer longboard. Iggy   A 14' board catches bump that sometimes never breaks, but you still get the full ride. It's like the difference between a 650 and an 1100 bike. It's Newtonian...

[supthecreek]

Honestly I never put any thought into it.

The Search was in my van, I took it out and tried to surf it.
I had a blast and a video from the session, so I figured it would be fun to share.

I think any big board that you have available to you is worth a try.

There is no right board or wrong board.... just grab any big board and have fun. or don't.

If you have a board you like... take a video and share it with us.

[mik911]

I was trying to think of another 14' board that was more surf designed. The Ron House 'Coastal Cruiser' was about the only one that came to mind, but it's only 12'-6".   

This is my 12'6" Ron House Coastal Cruiser that I surf all the time.  Pro Box Larry installed a killer fin set that works great for surfing, distance paddling, and doesn't get hung up on kelp or low tide reefs.