I just received my new Nozza-plain, aka Search, and took it for a paddle.

I wanted it for paddling fun when there are no waves, and when I want to explore/cruise. But there were some little knee-high waves that were barely breaking and I am still smiling. 25 waves in 2 hours after being out of the water for over 3 weeks was real fun. Occasionally a towering waist-high wave came through and then it got serious

It is such a sleek board. You can paddle onto almost anything (even though I was paddling into 15+ knots and occasional squalls) and with a bit of foot work you can turn it, race along the "face", turn back, cruise along - and get up the front to milk the last bit of the wave.

Nice one CSE... I recently acquired a 12' Atlantis Venom for exactly the same reason.... And just recently with the small swell and persistent westerlies we have been having, it has been an awesome ton of fun!!
Recorded a couple of knee snappers from the weekend with my new Kook Hat Cam as well... cheers for the idea STC!! Now to figure out how to post the vid

What a perfect looking wave!!

Great vid! Thanks for sharing!

Not jealous at all

I need to work on my foot work - I am still shuffling and hopping, not walking like STC.

A video...yes, maybe next time.

Last night there were some serious waves - some OH - the Search was shelved and the Acid got a run.

Yeeeeew. Such a sick board ... for all types of stuff.

Casso said..
Yeeeeew. Such a sick board ... for all types of stuff.

I was thinking about you when I was trying to ride my Search, wondering how you managed to turn it that much. It is a fun board though.

cantSUPenough said..

Casso said..
Yeeeeew. Such a sick board ... for all types of stuff.

I was thinking about you when I was trying to ride my Search, wondering how you managed to turn it that much. It is a fun board though.

I have never surfed the 12'r, but when I saw one, I noticed how much smaller it looked than my 14'r
More nose out there to throw around.

It took me a few years to actually surf the 14 because the few times I tried it.... I failed miserably. I simply couldn't turn it.

Last summer we had a looooog point-like sand bank and it was small, so I tried again.
The vid below is from that 1st successful session.

Three things I learned, that help a LOT

1- paddling out, I am much more comfortable if I stand a foot behind the handle.... it takes the nose out of the water and gives me some weight on the tail, which makes me more stable going over waves.

2 - It is very difficult to turn well, if you are going slow... I'd just fall over the side, so wait for some speed before turning.

3 - when on the wave, I stand way behind the handle (see pic)
My back foot is basically on the stomper when turning... and pretty far back in general.

This vid was on a tiny wave... literally one foot or less
It was the 1st session when I learned how to surf it.
Once you get back far enough, it is a whole different ballgame.

Pay attention to my foot placement... I added a pic of my 14, so you can clearly see where I stand when riding.

cantSUPenough said..
Boy, you are a long way back! I was able to turn it, but I must confess I wasn't watching where I put my feet. I do know I had to get my back foot a long way back and close to the rail. I was able to criss-cross the wave, but it sure did not look like a cut back or anything like that. I may try again tomorrow.

By the way, there was a bit of mix up and the fin arrived yesterday so I used one of my original fins for my maiden voyage. The one they supplied is HUGE! Do you use it? Do you put it at the front or back of the fin box?

The stock fin is HUGE.... I don't use it.
I just threw in another Sunova fin, the 8" ORCA (pic 1) .... but I'd probably like a fin with less sweep.
The fin is back in the box.... but I will try it forward at some point.

Surfing this board is what I like to call an "acquired skill"
It doesn't surf like a normal length board, so you have to relearn basic moves.

Take the time to adjust to it, because the reward is worth it
The feeling that you get from carving turns down the line or simply the glide, is precious.

You can be super casual and slow about a turn... or you can lay into it, if you have some speeed.

I am getting better at a "crossed step" turn.... where I cross my "non dominant" foot to the back rail as a poor mans drop knee. (pic 2)

To cutback on a frontside wave, I build speed, turn up the face....
then jam my back foot on the rail near the stomper.....
That throws the nose way up in the air trough the turn and snaps the board around.
If the nose isn't in the air... I think I'd just fall over.

Does the 12' Search surf significantly better than the 14' ?
I have the 14 Allwater, 9'6 Style and 8'5 Speeed and an Unlimited is on order but for some easy days and simple waves the Search seems to be the fun, all around board. Maybe the 12 would complement my quiver well.

supthecreek said..

viatormundi said..
Does the 12' Search surf significantly better than the 14' ?
I have the 14 Allwater, 9'6 Style and 8'5 Speeed and an Unlimited is on order but for some easy days and simple waves the Search seems to be the fun, all around board. Maybe the 12 would complement my quiver well.

I have never been on a 12'er but I can imagine it surfs easier than the 14'.
They are both 30" wide, so the rail line on the 12' will have more curve, which may make it snappier... and it is a lot smaller.

The 14' is a big beast that takes a lot to tame....
which is part of why I like it, there is a nice satisfaction when you get in sync with the board.... and have the right type of break to use it.

Hopefully Casso will see this, I believe he has ridden both sizes.

Thanks Supthecreek,

I might look into a modified/custom version of 12 and little narrower maybe.