Another instructional coach vid for ya. A good demonstration of a ride everything philosophy. Starts off with a 5’7” Channel Islands “Fishbeard” (twin fin shortboard) in knee high mush. Then on that same day I’m riding a 9’ x 23” x 3” CSC x Barahona longboard, which was much more effective. That part of the video is super instructive for the fading take off maneuver and the high chest required for a smooth stand up in either direction. There are a few waves on the 9’ x 22.5” x 3” CSC x Barahona — and one is particularly important for a goofyfoot backside approach going right. A lot of NY surfers struggle going right, and it’s a shame! We have so many good “against the grain” right handers on offer here. Learn to take advantage of them! Next I’m riding a 4’10” Kookbox Surfboards fish shaped by Jeff McCallum out of San Diego. I love the bejeesus out of this little fast pocket rocket that is so small it works equally well as a boogie board. Only issue is that I am able to swivel it so hard my right hip hurts for days after riding it. No wonder I kept it in storage for a year! This is followed by a few vignettes of beach scenes and ends with a little POV riding my 7’ Mick Fanning Super Softie. The Fanning Soft Top is the best soft top on the market. I took it out later that day at peak crowd with no camera for one of the most fun surfs I’ve had in this early summer season. I always recommend progress goes from longer —> midlength —> shorter boards. As fun as riding small boards is for an expert, it is certainly not the telos of good surfing. The aim should always be grace and fun, which go hand in hand. It’s hard to be graceful or have fun if you’re not catching waves, making drops, and gliding down the line. Make sure you can do that on a larger board before you even think about downsizing. I have never seen a graceful, complete surfer who cannot surf a longboard or midlength well.
Speed check on the 4’10” while Gaston looks on.