rodndtube.com's (OLD) MyPaipoBoards Forums. Reading but no posting on the OLD forums.

Soulglider · Joined: 04 Feb 2008 Posts:

its probably true that no one here can help but, i will ask anyway.

i am currently starting the dream of having a 10' paipo (foam and glass) shaped. my current boards are all hulls and range from 3'10 to 5'8. the 5'8 is the latest. its a hull in the nose, to a flat spot in the mid and outback a deep vee, with a Frye single fin. it rides beautiful. super fast, high riding, nice long drawn out turns and a real barrel hunter.

the 10' is for 6"-2' summer slop. those days that might be passed up. those days when you just wanna trunk it without the hassle of fins. two strokes and you're gone, sort of surfing.

any ideas on bottom shapes? fin placement? rocker? rails?
_________________
soulglider
http://soulgliderpaipo.blogspot.com

Nels · Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2011 10:34 am Post subject:

Roger has the El Paipo Grande, shaped by Paul Gross. 8'8" if memory serves. Lots of info on Swaylock's. Given their interests it probably has a hull shape or influence, but I don't recall for sure. I'd certainly check into that board though.

10' is freaking huge. I'm playing with a 5'10" kneeboard as paipo, and that's awkward enough for me. The longer length you are talking about will comfortably get rid of swimfins, and that's a plus, but it sounds like a bear to get around. Not to mention turn...

Rob DiStephano once wrote me that you can (knee)ride anything...honestly I would think a "general" longboard design might work. Nothing dragging except the fin...concepts might be similar...biggest difference would be the much lower or maybe more dispersed center of gravity.

Last thought is whoever does the boards for Jesse Billbauer (sp?)...
they might be ahead in research in that department.

Nels

geoffreylevens · Joined: 18 Nov 2009 Posts:

I used to surf at Bolinas, CA (shhhhhh!!!) and there was a guy there knee rode an old tanker long board (can't remember what kind, shaper, etc) No reason you couldn't prone same. Worked pretty well for him.

bgreen · Joined: 20 Feb 2004 Posts: Location: Qld. Oz

Soulglider,

Why not a mini-simmoms? I was speaking with a longboard shaper yesterday and he'd made a simmons and swore by it. His board was about 8' Richard Safady & Robert Moynier who we have done interviews with, also ride long boards prone.

Bob

OG-AZN · Joined: 27 Jul 2009 Posts: Location: Norcal

I figure everything has to be a lot different from a regular stand up long board design to work prone. My experiences prone riding my 9' range long boards (going to shore in the mush, pulling into micro barrels from standing or kneeling position, accident/kooking it ) have been pearling & not being able to effectively control/turn the board. Even going in on the smallest mush, I usually stand up all the way in to avoid eating it prone. Seeing the old movies of Greg Noll & others successfully proning out of big North Shore closeouts always amazes me.

geoffreylevens · Joined: 18 Nov 2009 Posts:

The Candy Calhoun belly board posted elsewhere here and also here http://thecentralshaft.blogspot.com/2008/05/craft.html is basically a mini Simmons around 4 ft long (and she preferred 4''6"). Twin keels near tail in "stand-up" position. Maybe the handle can shift body dynamics to make up for difference in body position? Says it write up she rode it hanging off back, semi straight armed I would guess

Uncle Grumpy · Joined: 15 Jan 2007 Posts: Location: San Clemente

Seems like a lot of bellyboard for little waves and I'm not sure how a 10' stick is less hassle then a pair of fins but hey, to each his own...

If you are really serious, then you should for sure get in touch with Paul Gross and perhaps Richard Safady.

Most places, when the surf is that small, the waves are breaking fairly close to shore. Could you push off the bottom?

My choice for tiny gutless surf is my skinny paulownia alaia.

Look forward to see what you come up with.
_________________
Prone to ride.

bgreen · Joined: 20 Feb 2004 Posts: Location: Qld. Oz

I agree with Uncle G about an alaia for gliding across small stuff. Seeing as you asked about fibreglass boards have you see Tom Wegener's seaglass boards. His interview features a photo. I've seen a couple in shops. His theory was that it was a modern version of an alaia but more bouyant.

Soulglider · Joined: 04 Feb 2008 Posts:

thanks for all the input.
_________________
soulglider
http://soulgliderpaipo.blogspot.com

Nels · Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2011 12:48 pm Post subject:

There's a great photo sequence of the Seaglass board in action in the current Deep magazine, available free on the central coast of California...sadly not on their website. Michael kew I think did the photos. I don't hve photo posting capability these days, otherwise I'd share...