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Hello Benny,
I love your surfboard reviews I live in NorCal and surf OB, Linda Mar and Santa Cruz a lot. Basically I surf all along California. I have traveled to various countries to surf. I want a shorter wider’ish board. I am looking at Channel Islands weirdo ripper, new flyer swallow tail and neckbeard/ dumpster diver. I am wondering what your imput is one these boards. I am 5,9 and 140 and I am riding a 5,11 by 18 3/8 by 2 3/16 at the moment in everything from 3 foot mush to triple overhead thick beach breaks. I took it into a 22 foot session in monterey this winter and it held up well. I am looking for an everyday fun shortboard, fast turns, some air and being able to be pushed really hard.
Thank You
Tyler Sjostrom -
Hi Tyler,
Thanks for your question and for the cool feedback, much appreciated!
I don’t do airs so I can’t help you with that but I have bought, ridden and reviewed all three of these boards you mention and here is my quick take:
Channel Islands Weirdo Ripper: great board for small, lined up surf. Super fast, turns on a dime. It was my ‘go to’ Maldives board but I find it prefers better quality surf
Channel Islands Neck Beard: fun, fast and squirty in smaller waves. Almost the opposite of the Weirdo Ripper, this is the only board I can honestly say I thought performed better when the waves were average quality!
Channel Islands New Flyer: I didn’t find the New Flyer as versatile as the original but had some great surfs in bigger (head high to a few feet overhead) stuff. Also felt this had a fun, lively feel in sub-head high waves as a quad/swallow tail combo
However, for what you described, have you considered the #4 by Dane Reynolds? I’ve surfed Santa Cruz a bit and that would be my pick. Really versatile – had great sessions in chest high mush and overhead barrels – it is fast, turns hard and will handle most things you can throw at it!
I hope this helps you!
All the best,
Benny -
If I get a #4 should I get the 5,6 groveler or the 5,8 utility dims?
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Part of me says go the 5’6 Groveler for those long Pleasure Point walls but part of me says go for the 5’8 Utility for punchy 26th St. Plus, the Utility is slightly more tuned (very slightly) and may hold up better in the W-NW long period groundswells.
Eeek, now I can’t decide!
Settle it the old fashioned way – pick up both and go with the one that feels best under your arm!
Cheers,
Benny -
Hello again,
Sorry for bothering you again… I have still not made up my mind, because now that I think about it I don’t surf unless its knee high and up. I wanted a short wide board originally but I think i was another high performance board. I am going to Mexico this summer to surf for two weeks and want a shorter board then my 5,11 I can’t decide between the CI DFR, or TLow both say knee to overhead but two very different boards. DFR has a ton of rocker with a single concave, The Tlow has much less rocker but says its more versatile. If you could try and do a review on one or both of these at some point it would be really helpful.
Thanks,
Tyler -
Thanks Tyler!
You’re not bothering me – very happy to help if I can.
Neither of these boards is in the review queue at this point (I am keen to try a DFR though…).
Cheers,
Benny
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Hello again… No I am thinking of getting a neckbeard because I have a shortboard. I want a board for everyday surf and the neckbeard looks like it can live up to the standards, fro m 1 foot to head high. I cant decide 5,6 or 5,4 volume wise?
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Hello again Tyler,
I personally always go for a bit more volume but it is personal preference.
Same as before, settle it the old fashioned way – pick up both and go with the one that feels best under your arm!
All the best,
Benny
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