what exactly IS a shortboard?

[pmcaero]

I have a 7'4" pointy nose swallow tail board. I have been calling it a "big boy shortboard". I'm all but a big boy though, I'm 5'8" and 160 lbs.
I've also heard the term "semigun".
Pic here: download/file.php?id=1370
So I am confused. Riding this...am I a shortboarder?

[drowningbitbybit]

That's a funboard - a board the size of a mini-mal but with the shape and characteristics of a shortboard.

It's not a gun - that's a long but narrow board for surfing big waves.

[pmcaero]

i thought a mini-mal WAS a funboard ?!?!

[tony g]

It really depends on who you ask. I have friends who have been surfing for years, but have put on a little weight, and do not want to become longboarders. They may ride a 7'6" pointed nose board with some volume in it and they still call their boards shortboards, and you better not call it anything else! I do not argue with them because it definitely is not a longboard or a funboard. I think the best term for those boards is to call them what they are. They are big guy shortboards. Channel Islands used to make an MBB which was a big guy tri fin shortboard for the bigger older guy who needed more length, thickness and volume. I think these were available from 6'6" to 8'0" lengths and were still categorized as short boards. I think the Big Willy has now taken the place of the MBB. Anyway you are a shortboarder in my opinion.

[jaffa1949]

It really depends on who you ask. I think the Big Willy has now taken the place of the MBB. Anyway you are a shortboarder in my opinion.

The names of the various incarnations worries me a bit , and names like funboards etc sort of seem derogatory but some guys who ride whatever make them fly!

I am also trying to imagine the look on my wife and friends faces when I say I am going out to get a "Big Willy"

[tony g]

Jaffa, I think you would probably rip on the Big Willy! Here is a link to some info if you are interested. Maybe this should be your next new surfboard??
http://www.cisurfboards.com/surfboards/big-willy/

[jaffa1949]

Jaffa, I think you would probably rip on the Big Willy! Here is a link to some info if you are interested. Maybe this should be your next new surfboard??
http://www.cisurfboards.com/surfboards/big-willy/

I've got my pet shaper on the next short incarnation something similar with a lot of volume under the chest and a a wider shape at about 7ft and a diamond tail, special single to double concave with tighter edges but not quite channels and FCS fins to take the Bonzer fins that flow off the edge of the concave planning it for a June trip to Lombok so delivery early May to get the tuning right

[tony g]

Jaffa 1949 wrote:
I've got my pet shaper on the next short incarnation something similar with a lot of volume under the chest and a a wider shape at about 7ft and a diamond tail, special single to double concave with tighter edges but not quite channels and FCS fins to take the Bonzer fins that flow off the edge of the concave planning it for a June trip to Lombok so delivery early May to get the tuning right

Wow... sounds like you have your dimensions and concaves all dialed in. Glad you have a local shaper to work with! You should post of few pics of yourself laying down some big turns on your new shortboard when you get it. What is your shapers name?

[jaffa1949]

Hi Tony, I've got the luxury of having 3 shapers, one for my long boards to fit Indonesian waves, Mitchell Rae of Outer Island Surfboards, my mid range boards Jed Done of Bushrat Surfboards , he can also shape a good Indo longboard.
Short board shaper also shaped the slugs for the 7S series by Global Surf Industry, Gary Loveridge of Wizstix Surfboards, he know how to weight the board for my 100kgs.
Wizstix will be my short shape shifter.