ROCKER in Longboards: Understand THIS to Have the Right Board for EVERY Surf - The Sunday Glide #88

[@BenConsidine]

For anyone who may be looking for any longboard coaching video analysis, we're getting things up and running and I'd be stoked to assess and set up a plan for what you're looking to improve on! If you are at all interested please feel free to email at [e-mail] Cheers everyone! Ben 🤙

[@tonyarcos4666]

You gotta think of it as nose rocker and tail rocker, because they’re two different variables. Even your “flat” board has a distinct tail kick. This is essential for nose riding because the extra rocker in the tail makes the water flow up and out the back, creating that downforce that keeps your tail locked in when you’re on the nose. More nose flip won’t go as fast as a flat nose but like you said it’ll noseride on different parts of the wave. A flat nose will propel you through the section, while the more rockered nose will stall you back into the pocket. There’s also an interconnectivity between the bottom contours and the rocker of the board.

[@Layman_man]

*Takes one shaping class at costa*

[@leacamara6367]

Thank you for sharing all this information, as I am currently looking to get myself my first longboard for French unpredictable beachbreaks as you said, this is definitely giving me some point to start off when choosing a board ! Conditions are quite a bit challenging but with the right board definitely a lot more fun. Cheers from Brittany !

[@marktourtellotte1336]

Here's a comment from an old gasser who has been riding every kind of board for 58 years. I started riding Skip Frye's boards, all very fast. But turning was not their forte. When I finally got some tail rocker they came alive, fast and loose as well as handling bigger faces. Those flat-iron boards held me back and the fun kicked in when the lift in the tail increased. Stewart's hydro-hulls and Takayama's Noah ka oi have it dialed in. Thanks for your efforts. Tricky and safe are not the best technical terms for understanding what is going on under your feet.

[@kareemjesusdevlin6490]

Fun fact: As a New York/New Jersey surfer I thought to go back on the WSL app and watch some of your surfing at the 2019 Longboard Classic in Long Beach NY. It was rad going back watching you surf a break I know well, then at around the 9:30 mark of round 2 heat 2 the commentators are talking about how low the rocker of your board is pretty much talking about precisely what you are discussing in this video: “I like the look of his board, It’s almost like a planing hull, it’s just this board with a real blunt nose it’s look real low rocker, and he’s able to control that low rocketed board but also gain a lot of speed through his ride” Very cool and helpful seeing that after watching this video while I’m trying to figure out the perfect shape and dimensions for my next NY/NJ noserider!

[@BenConsidine]

Hey Kareem haha that's epic! Yeah exactly right that board I was riding was super low rockered and super fast, great for the point breaks back home, malibu, noosa but struggled a bit more in the 'mushy' type conditions!! Super cool you're from there I enjoyed my time there for sure, fun beachies! Would love to do that coast again. Cheers!!!

[@jayelfive198]

Been watching lots of your vids man and they’ve helped me lots. You’ve got good tips and ride so smooth and casually 🤙

[@BenConsidine]

Yeww thats epic so stoked you're finding them helpful!!! Really appreciate the kind words as well, yewww!!! 🙏🙏🤙

[@hrburrell7587]

Great video. Rocker definitely helps on shallow beach breaks.

[@BenConsidine]

Thanks so much!! I agree - I had a little example of that in this weeks video, super tricky riding flat boards on hollow/shallow conditions haha

[@cbradleyrichardson]

Great insight. Thank you 🤙🏻

[@BenConsidine]

No worries at all Brad, appreciate it!!!

[@Lukemaritz]

Good insights and perspective thanks matey

[@BenConsidine]

My pleasure no worries at all! Super stoked you liked it

[@barbasalada]

Another great vid! Keep it up bruh!

[@BenConsidine]

Thanks heaps, really appreciate that!!!

[@BigDaddy-hn7oh]

9'10" planker board flat is fast, however .your doing the right thing,keep going,charging full speed ahead. Nice vid howdy. From So Cal

[@neilguy1222]

you should do a vid on different rails because they also influence the rocker

[@BenConsidine]

Absolutely that's a great point, will have to be something I cover in the future for sure!!! Thanks for the tip!

[@stevem3814]

Super interesting Ben. I'm constantly experimenting with this. I surf beach breaks that are typically short and a bit messy and based on this video that would push me towards a board with more rocker. However, the waves are weak and flat faced and so too much rocker will slow it down to much. It would be interesting to know the rocker numbers on your yellow board to know what exactly is 'a lot of rocker' for you. I used to have this magic board which was a classic single fin but it had a HPLB rocker. Went awesome.

[@TromboneAl]

Good info! 1. To confirm what I've understood, "trickier conditions" means conditions in which you might need to turn quickly, and "safer" means less likely to nosedive. So: More rocker=easier to turn, less nosediving. Less rocker=paddles faster, more stable. 2. I have a Harbour Banana (shaped in 1996) and an epoxy Paragon Retro Noserider. Would you say their rockers are significantly different? 3. Idea for future video: Talk about the influence the weight of the board makes. My Harbour weighs around 22 pounds (10 kg) and the epoxy, only 12 pounds (5.5 kg). Right now, I'm liking the light board for cross-stepping and noseriding. Many thanks!

[@greenskynz]

great video and certainly did not see the front rocker as a safety thing. as a beginner looking for my longboard ive been looking at boards which usually highlight low entry rocker as one of the selling points for beginners. is there a compromise between the two, ie middle entry rocker and if yes in what section of the board (how close or far away from the nose) you would recommend the nose to lift. thanks

[@Peggles83]

Please help, I am beginner more at the advanced end.....surfing a soft beach break in NZ, I went to several board store near where I surf and tried to research before buying a long board, everywhere reccomended a donald takayama in the pink. Now I peel most of the time!! And get blown off the back of the wave when the wind is up. I want to noseride eventually, but need alot more work before then. Is there technique that will help me to get in earlier while the wave is softer?? Or do I need to angle my take offs to stop me peeling?? I assume I can learn to ride this board anywhere but need to learn how?? Thanks in advance for the advice

[@richardtofield5210]

it can be hard to stay next to the breaking wave.rocker can let the fins rise out and let the board sideslip

[@charlton456]

hi, Ben! how about the concave in the racker one? does it need a deep and long concave to increase speed and lift ?

[@brettreed994]

Thanks I need to buy another log with more rocker

[@BenConsidine]

No worries at all! I think they're definitely good to have in the quiver!

[@ManOfSauce]

Really helpful vid. I like how you make the distinction between what feels good and what will work best. When It comes to rocker is there any preference for nose riding? I've seen boards with a progressive rocker from nose to tail and a few with progressive nose rocker into a reasonably flat centre line back to a more aggressive tail flip I guess you would call it. One of the board with the heavy tail flip had a concave from nose to the last ¼ of the board then it faded into a quite visible V out the tail. The guy could really move that one around but I never got to see him nose ride it.

[@TheMcbain71]

Love the videos Ben. Extremely informative. Question for you. Been surfing for just on a year now after around 30 years off lol. Been on a 9,6 for most of the year as I do find it easy to paddle into waves. But recently surfed a few times At point Leo in Melbourne and I just can’t find my groove as I feel the waves really picks up quickly and I nosedive 8/10 times. Would you suggest a board with more rocker? The 9,6 is relatively flat but is really good at a break I surf most of the time, but it does get crowded. Appreciate the input 🤙

[@freshsaltyfries5078]

New bee would 9’6 surfboard be ok for a beginner for my son and i to learn and eventually learn nose ride?

[@BenConsidine]

I would say absolutely!! Depends a little bit on some other dimensions in terms of the volume and width of the board as well - when just starting out I think the more foam (a bigger board) is better to assist with balance/stability - and height/weight also comes into play - but I think 9’6 should be a fairly safe size to have you both covered 🤙🤙 Hope that’s somewhat helpful!

[@freshsaltyfries5078]

@@BenConsidine thank you, they sold the 9’6 long board yesterday. I found a used one this one is 10ft long board is that ok to learn on? This one is pretty used but $150

[@BenConsidine]

@@freshsaltyfries5078 yeah definitely, again I think you’re looking good with the longer boards, would become more of a problem if you were going sub 9ft - should go well for you!!! Yewww 🤙🤙🤙

[@craigcunneen145]

Hey Ben, what model is the more rocketed board. Is that the Nova Pro? Great info, thanks

[@BenConsidine]

Hey!! Yeah the more rockered pink board is the prototype to the Nova Pro! So the first trial before we released the model officially more recently- no worries I hope it was helpful! Yewww 🤙

[@miklo4269]

Thank you!!!!!!

[@tebby6607]

What kind of bird is that on 5:25 hahaha

[@thatsurferchick9496]

hey ben how do i go about getting coaching from you? love ur style and vids!!!

[@BenConsidine]

Hey! please feel free to message me on instagram (ben_considine) or even here and we can organise this for sure :) - the coaching business email is also - [e-mail] , so any of those are fine! Thanks so much for getting in touch can't wait to work together!

[@jamesdiola4773]

Hey ben. Thanks for the information. Have you surfed the takayama in the pink noserider? Im having the same issues surfing the board here in NJ as we have steep and fast waves on beach breaks. Would a little bit more rocker be appropriate for conditions here. Thanks for your input. Was also looking at the stewart redline which has a litte bit more rocker i think.

[@Carlos-fh8wk]

For the life of me I kept burying the rails on the Pink model when I turned. It strictly only turns from the rear. The Stewart turns smoothly. I’ve surfed both in Cali beach and points.

[@jamesdiola4773]

@@Carlos-fh8wk Thanks man, Thats what I felt also when I was riding in the in The Pink. Switched over to bing Beacon and just getting to know the board now. Pretty much surf here in Local NJ Beach breaks where it is very unpredictable and fast. Looking to get a board with more rocker and more forgiving for my local conditions and ability.

[@steviesidewayz]

🙏

[@BenConsidine]

Cheers!

[@TheProdProd]

what's a flat and a rocker board ? You don"t give quote.. just for example.

[@BenConsidine]

Oh sorry!! A flat rockered board is just where there is minimal curvature of the board, so from the tail to middle to nose is a relative straight line, compared to a more rockered board which is more banana shaped, where there is a dip from the tail to the middle and from the middle to the nose :) I hope that makes sense!!

[@TheProdProd]

I understand but.. How much on nose and tail. Less 2inch on nose for a nose rider ?

[@Taylor314ce]

You're fine is way too big dude