I have a 9,5 JL Striker which is my go to board on small lined up days.....it's superb! Pretty low rocker, good tail kick and stable up front.

However, I'm finding that when on a wave the board naturally sits high up and it feels like I am just not getting far down the wave to the sweet spot. I had both feet pretty far up the board pushing it down but it seemed to be always a fight to stop it backing off the wave. There was no wind either.

I'm riding it with a 7 Centre ( not 8 inch supplied) and it's stock sides. I think a 9 inch single would slow it down further...bit like an anchor......but maybe a small volume single might help.

Any advice on whether this is fin related....

If you are describing what happens when you are on the nose, sliding across the wave:
I don't think it's fin related.
You are probably digging in your waveside rail, climbing up the face and over the back.
The fix is something I learned watching Mikie Dora noseride.

Use your knees and ankles to tilt the beachside rail down the face, to release the inside rail.
the board will slide lower on the wall.... then simply re-apply subtle pressure to the inside rail to stop the slide, and begin tracking across the face.

All done without moving your feet on the board..... just simple manipulation of the rails.

This video shows me climbing and dropping on the nose, with just subtle moves ankles and knees.

Sorry for the pimping, since this is an introductory look at the 10' Style,
but it's the only vid I have, where the rail control is easy to see.
Skip to :55 secs to avoid the intro
Watch my knees do all the work, while my feet stay planted

Odd thing for me is... I find this much easier to do backside.
I have much better heel-side rail control when noseriding on my backhand

Cheers Rick....will give that a go. I keep thinking there's too much drag on the board but really shouldn't be. I can move the board about plenty up and down the face in normal stance....with a few trimming shifts....only really notice when I am up front a bit. Thing is I imagined with my weight nearing the front I would be accelerating down the face, rather than fighting to stay on it.

Fun though.....

I prefer a big single fin like a 9" when nose riding, seems to give much more of a solid feel.
great vid by Jonesy here.

Nice vid and tips on spending time up the front Jonesy.

Select to expand quote

riverider said..
I prefer a big single fin like a 9" when nose riding, seems to give much more of a solid feel.
great vid by Jonesy here.

That is a good vid, and some great points about width and volume. Less is more.
I was struggling a bit, and my old longboarder mate Paul told me,
"it's all in your mind, unlock your stance, take 2 cross steps, and get back, keep doing that until you're comfortable, then take 4, and so on and so forth". Good advice. Talk yourself through it.
And a big single doesn't always have to be the way.
2 big sides with a small trailer is working for me at the moment, working really well.
Plenty of fin area holding the tail down, whilst I'm up there playing around on the nose....

Yeah, whilst a big single does feel more stable in general for tip time I think you lose out in other ways if you don't have those sides. Guess it depends on the board and whether it suits a single better....or on how you want to ride it.

The 9,5 Striker is deffo a two plus one set up sort of board imho.

ive use two XL sides and small centre on a diff board and that held in fine.

A big single is the norm for noseriding, the drag it creates is a good thing. But, I tried a coupe of different ones on my 9'5 striker and it plain didn't work. Better as a 2+1, I use standard sides and a 7" cutaway.

Relax n hang your arse out the outside edge , to steer down. We tend to lean into the wave as our safety bail zone , r e l a x .
Different waves of speed n shape let me fin accessorize shorter nosers
Fast steep shoulder height shorie with Quad Keel .
Slow long clean waist height inner bay runners on 8" fat retro cutaway D fin .
With Thrusters swapping too fat fins in same size can add drag for cruizie ride.
Enjoy

Re , height..... I'm 6'1 / 190cm. ENJOY