In Search of the Tube

AM_Glass · Post by **AM_Glass** » Fri Sep 03, 2004 10:48 am

I know this is a over-simplified question because every wave is different BUT... What shape is the best for riding the tube? I've read about the Lis style fish and I like the sound of the speed it has and the drawn out turns. I have never been on a kneeboard but the thought of grabbing the rail and cranking a bottom turn pulling up into the barrel and flying out sounds good to me. Should I buy a twin keel fish as my first board?
I've longboarded for many years and I've been riding a shortboard for the last 5. I aspire to be a Tom Curren surfer with long powerfull turns. That, combined with my LBing experience makes me belive that a less manuverable board (I've read this about the fishes) may be okay for me. The biggest reason I want to try kneeboarding is because I belive that I'll be able to get into and out of the barrel, something that has escaped me for the most part for the last 15 years of surfing.

stemple · Post by **stemple** » Fri Sep 03, 2004 1:28 pm

KBers get more than their fair share of barrels. I believe the key to getting barreled has more to do about timing than board design. For me it ussually means a late takeoff followed by drawing just the right line across the face of the wave. Too high and fast you get ahead of the wave. Too low, and slow and you get closed out on. The beauty and/or skill is knowing how to set that line to match the wave. Knowing when to put on the brakes and when drive fast down the line. I am by no means an expert so when I do luckily find that magic line I stayed stoked for hours and sometimes days afterward.

In my opinion, generally a slightly narrower board and a gunny profile seem to be good starting point for a barrel specific type board.

Jon Manss · Post by **Jon Manss** » Fri Sep 03, 2004 3:08 pm

Am-Glass Kneeboarding is tube riding. All boards work well because our rides are set up for a low center of gravity and an already tucked position. You'll have a blast if you give it a go. Try it you might like it.

splashy · Post by **splashy** » Fri Sep 03, 2004 6:02 pm

Jon is right - kneeboarding is tube riding. It is also likely that your first kb is going to be straighter and more stable (rather than advanced hotdog board) - which, when combined with good timing, will be you tubed. Since you have already surfed you'll be well ajead of the game.... just remember to keep your eyes open.... have fun... let us know how you go

AM_Glass · Post by **AM_Glass** » Fri Sep 03, 2004 7:14 pm

Thanks for the info, Manss' words are music. "KBing is Tube Riding", I hope so. I agree that getting inside requires picking the right line but my problem is that a LB is alot of volume to get under the lip and on a shortie I can't control the drop well enough in the hollow waves. I was hoping the shorter distance from paddling to kneeing would help me stay in control, not to mention the swimfins helping me get in earlier.

Anyone in my area have a board for sale? I'm around 175 dry weight, 6'1" and in okay shape. I surf once a week for about 2 hours of solid wave catching. I have some money if the deal is good. If not I'll have to wait until I get back to Santa Cruz this winter. Can't wait to get home!

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Fri Sep 03, 2004 10:44 pm

A.M. Glass. As of this writing, my Blast Stubb Vector, which would be an excellent kneeboard for average days on the East Coast, is still for sale. It was shaped specifically for someone my size; 6 ' 2", 180 lbs., which is awfully close to your size. It is quite quick and will do a good job getting into and out of the tube. See the Used Board section of this forum.

Scott

john - · Post by **john -** » Sat Sep 04, 2004 2:17 am

Perhaps Headwax

but my lack of overall good tube experience still leaves me with the impression that if you want a tube board your most surfed wave needs to be perrrfrect tubing type thing - Bud has a good example on his site of what sought of wave his tube boards need.

I disagree about kneeboarding being tube riding - sure easier to get them but again from my own experience not a high % of time in them.

as wax said so much time spent on other parrts of the wave - i like a board that does a bit of everything - but tthems the waves i get round these parts

dorje

Jon Manss · Post by **Jon Manss** » Sat Sep 04, 2004 7:53 am

My point dorje was kneeriding is already set up for tube riding. How many stand ups have you seen crouching almost to their Knees to get in there? Of course you have to have hollow surf and kneeboarding is a great set up for hollowness. What you need is a room with a view!

Smokin Rock · Post by **Smokin Rock** » Sat Sep 04, 2004 12:27 pm

Headwax,
the wide fish tail is not good for tube riding? both my fishes have pretty wide tails (17") and are fantastic in the tube. do you mean much wider than that? i believe the fish design was developed for riding Big Rock in San Diego which is pretty much just a gnarly tube over shallow rock. tube riding is more rider dependent than design dependent i think but still a fish can take you higher and tighter than any other design i've ridden.
not really disagreeing with you as much as asking for more input on your statement.

W.G. Facenda · Post by **W.G. Facenda** » Sat Sep 04, 2004 12:36 pm

Headwax, your a great guy and all but, the fish is nothing more than a twin-pin tail! That's what that lovely butt crack is all about!! :wink: The san diego fish is a Tube machine and has been blowing minds with it's tube riding ability here for 35 yrs. Your right a pintail is the way --just 2!

Jon Manss · Post by **Jon Manss** » Sat Sep 04, 2004 10:38 pm

Headwax, you could of just said two pins don't make a right, or a left for that matter.

john - · Post by **john -** » Sun Sep 05, 2004 2:06 am

Fair enough John Manas

eh sorry Headwax - what does "dont sheet out mean"

i was out playing cards last night and drinking Abinth 55% vol green

devil

of a drink - banned for some time due to its worm wood content - legal LSD they tell me - drink of the verbose, intellectuals and artist - the whole impressionist movement may not of got of the ground without it - but today i dont understand much that is not literal

had a surf today cant tell if a got a wee tube or whether it was the green stuff from last night

but Wax.... as we were strapping on our leg ropes a mate was telling me how in his new sales job (selling Viagra) he was in Sydney at a marketing course and met MR's sister. After gushing to her about his childhood idol all day she turned up the next with a signed bible ("keep surfing Rick - Mark", inscribed)

he was over the moon with inscription but i immediately thought of World champions, music, the water fall scene from the move "the Mission" and is there a connection?

if you have not tasted Abinth do try it - Sambuca with muscle - hard to get a hold of and expensive - but worth playing 500 to its melody - like a Vincent painting we seemed to each other at 1am

cheers dorje

unsheeted??????

oh and the best tube riding board is the one your on when the little sucker winks at ya