Gliders

Howdy,

I was wondering if anyone has ridden a glider - Skip Frye-esq.

There are a few shapers around the traps that have a version of them, I would love some ride reports/info.

Are they an all-round board (as far as longboards go) that they are billed as - e.g. handle ankle to well overhead depending on skill.

Its funny - the older I get the more I am drawn to longer boards.... Must be trying to compensate for something

I haven't but riding my 10' CA would be similar and I find its great up to head high and even over as long as the waves aren't too steep and critical.

also, I know "Big Spaz" from here has just had a Dead Kooks similar thing shaped, looks unreal!!! he's hardly on here so maybe send him an IM.

cheers,

Seen a few things on Skip Frye and his big boards. He calls it cross country surfing. The perfect board for small waves on points and river mouths. If you have a wave like that nearby it would be a good board to have. You'd even outdo some of the 666's on one of those.

im going to buy a 50ft board for snapper look out farkers

They don't turn well in trim, and are overly long for the usual longboard forward trim/tail turning mode. Pulling the tail in from the wide point cures the problem

Wavelength - Thanks for posting that vid, that is what has gotten me interested in these boards. Amazing surfing, I have watched this about 100 or more times.

Roy - From my limited understanding (very limited) does having the rail not pulled in (straighter) allow the board to stick to the face of the wave more. Making the board not slip out? P.S - I enjoy your input, just for future reference please use small, layman's term words as 90% of what you say goes over my head most of the time.

Hi Leashless,

They are amazing !

I started following these styles in about 2003 and got my hands on a 10' Wegener Crusader Model in 2007 (after watching Tom Wegener carve in Siesta's & Ola's on a similar shape).

Josh Hall has more recently pumped out some beauties after learning his trade via Skip Frye and Dead Kooks are making some gorgeous Gliders now here on the East Coast.

This is my most recent - it's 10'9 in length and a magnet.

As for riding them, they do take a bit of tuning after riding a 9' something but the feeling is sensational after getting them dialled.

Dont limit yourself to peelers either, they fold across a wave face at overhead in a way that's surprisingly good too.

Very nice SA...

Thanks Wavelength - some interesting replies....

Here is what "Binky" had to say on page 3. Super interesting............

I have a Josh Hall double eagle version that is 10' 10". Just like that orange one, but a foot cut out of the middle. Thought that I would only ride it in tiny mush. Wrong! The more I ride it, the more I ride it in different wave types. It takes a few sessions to get it figured out, but if you give it 5 or 10 sessions you will be hooked.

Bottom is belly at nose, long single concave through middle, and super double concave V in tail. 8.5" frye fin that is really far forward, like almost a "double shaka" from the tail. It has NEVER slid out on me, even when getting hit with whitewater. I see no need for side fins on these. The limiting factor in turning an 11 foot board is that it is an 11 foot board! If you are on the tail it will do a cutback or carve, but these things have almost no rocker so you just want to trim them anyway. Board is just wicked fast. It is totally addictive. It is true that there is a sweet spot and it is back toward the tail. Unlike most longboards, you don't get any speed benefit from going up to the nose. Just stand tall and GLIDE.

They actually work great for short beachbreak waves, because you can catch the swell, set a line, then just backdoor the section that you would be just starting to catch on any other board. This was the biggest surprise for me. It also makes really boring waves become really fun. Everyone who surfs should get one, because they teach you so much about trimming, body positioning, and just get you to relax and not spazz out. The board finds the right place to be on the wave.. just kick back and let it take you there.

My friend has a Larry Mabile version with a different bottom (no concaves) and a little fuller outline. Also fun as heck

...for something closer to 11 feet:

Mark CJ Nelson commented on this video that the board "turns amazingly well from the sweet spot"