Ok, so the prevailing view is that anything 6'10" and under is a short board, with 7'0" to 8'0" being a mid-size, and longboard being anything bigger than 8'0" - with the purists saying 9'1" and above is a true LB.

Just wondered how 9'1" became the standard 'starting' LB size? Is it because the blanks start at 9'2" ??

It might have been from the 60's??? I understand that boards have always had to measure up to a 9'0 measuring stick, and a 9'1 usually covers 9'0... Especially if you add a tail block or a nose block!

History mainly, Sam was 9'2 and then pretty much boards went down from there so when guys started riding LBs again the went to where they stopped 9 footish.

And most comps and even the AsP even says 9'0 and greater then about 22" for there comps so that backed it up I guess.

But under 9 ft is not a LB IMO. And standard LB is greater than 9'0 wider than 22 and a nose bigger than 16, rounded not pointy.


Edit... I'll add
I never understood the 9'1 either... Still don't

9'0 to 9'6 was a very popular length back in the 60's too... Surfing had been going for long enough for people to realise that 10'0 was just a little bit too big for fit strong & young 22 year old males...

But 10'0 can be about right at the age of 50 to 60! Or for more solid muscly guys...

Bob McTavish was always a little bit smaller than average, and he shaped a few shorter boards for himself in those early days... and then George Greenough showed them what could be done on a 4'6 kneeboard with a refined marlin fin... and the rest is history really!!

Select to expand quote

SP said...
History mainly, Sam was 9'2 and then pretty much boards went down from there so when guys started riding LBs again the went to where they stopped 9 footish.

And most comps and even the AsP even says 9'0 and greater then about 22" for there comps so that backed it up I guess.

But under 9 ft is not a LB IMO. And standard LB is greater than 9'0 wider than 22 and a nose bigger than 16, rounded not pointy.

Rounded pointy noses are OK too though!

9'1 matches the age of the average long boarder- 91 years old.

that's why mac's boards are getting longer


couldn't be anything else

I don't think you blank boards by length or width alone...

But generally 7-9 is Midlength... Under or over is short or long...

But an 8'2 McTavish Involvement is a Longboard in my book...
But an 8'0 Bobsled is a Midlegth...
An 8'1 Ball is a midlength meeting a Longboard... *

But one this is for certain, Chrispy's Ball had heavier concaves than average!



* this is an eightball... http://www.mctavish.com.au/surfboard/eightball
McTavish call it a midlength.

Select to expand quote

Simondo said...

SP said...
History mainly, Sam was 9'2 and then pretty much boards went down from there so when guys started riding LBs again the went to where they stopped 9 footish.

And most comps and even the AsP even says 9'0 and greater then about 22" for there comps so that backed it up I guess.

But under 9 ft is not a LB IMO. And standard LB is greater than 9'0 wider than 22 and a nose bigger than 16, rounded not pointy.

Rounded pointy noses are OK too though!

If I had to find a photo of a LB that one would do the job....

SP, here's the other side... looks just as sexy!

Select to expand quote

Simondo said...
I don't think you blank boards by length or width alone...

But generally 7-9 is Midlength... Under or over is short or long...

But an 8'2 McTavish Involvement is a Longboard in my book...
But an 8'0 Bobsled is a Midlegth...
An 8'1 Ball is a midlength meeting a Longboard... *

But one this is for certain, Chrispy's Ball had heavier concaves than average!



* this is an eightball... http://www.mctavish.com.au/surfboard/eightball
McTavish call it a midlength.

^^^


I reckon at a certain point you lose the glide of a 9ft plus board.. Therefore without the glide it ain't a LB..

Because only real men can handle a 9.1.


9 foot and over for any comp,they made 9.1's way back because a guy got pulled up for surfing a comp on a 8.11 the shaper fked up,fact.

SP, here's a photo of a Fish.
Were you expecting a fish surfboard!?

about the only good thing in that photo is the Tee

Select to expand quote

Simondo said...
SP, here's a photo of a Fish.
Were you expecting a fish surfboard!?

Hahah..

But your holding it wrong
rule 101 of fish photos is hold them up and way out in front of you... Makes it look bigger

Funny Mac! But they are Bobby Diamond Boardies... You like them too!
Good one SP!


More fish!

funny thing is I'm wearing the same as you in the pic but red and black boardies and white mct tee,scary

i wonder what 'bob' is wearing right now

Select to expand quote

laceys lane said...
i wonder what 'bob' is wearing right now

slippers mate

Select to expand quote

62mac said...

laceys lane said...
i wonder what 'bob' is wearing right now

slippers mate

Select to expand quote

laceys lane said...
i wonder what 'bob' is wearing right now

Mac too funny!

You fellas are terrible.....get a room

Select to expand quote

62mac said...
funny thing is I'm wearing the same as you in the pic but red and black boardies and white mct tee,scary

Next time we surf, we've gotta do matching Tee's & Boardies, but in different colours, and roughly matching boards... plus get a photo!

Select to expand quote

Simondo said...

62mac said...
funny thing is I'm wearing the same as you in the pic but red and black boardies and white mct tee,scary

Next time we surf, we've gotta do matching Tee's & Boardies, but in different colours, and roughly matching boards... plus get a photo!

here you go



and with that i take my leave before i get lynched
good night all

Select to expand quote

laceys lane said...

Simondo said...

62mac said...
funny thing is I'm wearing the same as you in the pic but red and black boardies and white mct tee,scary

Next time we surf, we've gotta do matching Tee's & Boardies, but in different colours, and roughly matching boards... plus get a photo!

here you go

splutter

Select to expand quote

SP said...


^^^


I reckon at a certain point you lose the glide of a 9ft plus board.. Therefore without the glide it ain't a LB..

+1 SP

Having started on a Mid length, then moving to a LB, "glide" is the word.

I might be right off track (because I am still such a novice) but the 8' fish would seem to climb up the wave as the wave catches up to you paddling your ar$e off, then take off as it descends down the wave. The UFO is much smoother getting on the wave, seems to transition more smoothly.

Maybe it's rocker, maybe the narrower tail, or the length, or the way the back end sits lower in the water. DGMW, I loved the fish too.

My 6'9 fish is a completely different kettle of fish. I am surprised I get any rides on that (takes me too long to jump to my feet), but sometimes it works.

Seeing I have repented and sold all of my surf sups am I allowed in the longboard room?

When you want glide there is only one board and it aint a Mc T.

Foiled rails to fool the water into thinking the boards are thin, subtle concave in the nose for nose rides, three fin options to allow broad range tuning for conditions and advanced (forward) vee so you don't have to be on the tail to turn. This surfboard is fast, fast, fast.

12'0" x 26.25" x 4.25"
2+1
Squash Tail
Tuflite



Phill

Drop your pic and the sup,just come in as OG,I'll ask LL later if your ok!

Select to expand quote

OG SUP said...
Seeing I have repented and sold all of my surf sups am I allowed in the longboard room?

When you want glide there is only one board and it aint a Mc T.

Foiled rails to fool the water into thinking the boards are thin, subtle concave in the nose for nose rides, three fin options to allow broad range tuning for conditions and advanced (forward) vee so you don't have to be on the tail to turn. This surfboard is fast, fast, fast.

12'0" x 26.25" x 4.25"
2+1
Squash Tail
Tuflite



Phill

what about a 12ft mctavish ?

Welcome OG - what about a nice thick and heavy PU board like Big Spaz rides - those things have more glide than a glider itself! Although they are not much fun to walk down to the beach with

Select to expand quote

OG SUP said...
Seeing I have repented and sold all of my surf sups am I allowed in the longboard room?

When you want glide there is only one board and it aint a Mc T.

Foiled rails to fool the water into thinking the boards are thin, subtle concave in the nose for nose rides, three fin options to allow broad range tuning for conditions and advanced (forward) vee so you don't have to be on the tail to turn. This surfboard is fast, fast, fast.

12'0" x 26.25" x 4.25"
2+1
Squash Tail
Tuflite



Phill

I've just said my four & a half Hail Mary's - geez that's a lotta lotta board .... twenty six and a quarter ...... four and a quarter