mid-lengths

[billy_wizz]

I was reading the label web site about mid lengths and was wondering what makes them so much more versatile than a mini mal? and if there so good why would anyone buy a mini mal?

[skimmer2]

mini mals are mid-lengths...usually. Mid lengths in my book tend to be 7ft to 8ft and a bit more. You get loads of different designs in this length category....mini mals are just one of them.

[mister-griffster]

why would anyone buy a mini mal

why oh why oh why indeed... these kinda conundrums keep me awake at night. To me a 'mini-mal' is usually a shortboard extrapolated to a longer length to fool people who want to ride a shortboard into thinking that it's going to be an easy step - the 'mal' bit is just added because it's not a shortboard. I see these as your common garden variety 3 fin thruster set up, 7'6", wider than a shortboard, thinner than a mal, usually softish rails with a hard edge through the tail...

one thing you never hear is - look at that guy styling / ripping on that mini-mal! - IMHO they are an abomination

Now 'Mid Lengths' are a completely different kettle of fish - I see these as shapes that fundamentally work - single fin long boards / eggs / bonzers / fish etc that are then shortened / lengthened that are tuned to a mid-length for a specific reason... E.G. reducing a 10ft noserider to an 8ft - keeping width and volume, adjusting rocker line etc so that the board noserides but will also turn well in smaller arc and be more portable... I think all mid lengths work on similar principles, and functionality in some areas may indeed be comprimised - but i see the 'mini mal' as a board trying to be something it's not.

I'm certainly no authority on this, and will no doubt be poo poo-ed by some of the Glitterati but what can I say - I hate fecking 'mini-mals' - their stupid shape and everything they stand for!!! Poor guys who have bought them - I think therapy should be available... I think mid lengths can be a beautiful thing tho - so it's defo not a 'sizist' issue

[Archy_is_God]

There's a couple of blokes around here who genuinely surf well on mini mals as their daily driver. Kiwi Gav surfs Down End point very well on one, even up to double overhead.

They are not particularly trendy and people tend to move on from them, which is why they are sidelined a bit IMO, but a thoughtfully designed one can be versatile and work well.

They used to be quite popular small wave boards here and in Oz in the early-mid nineties and some guys can still make a good fist of shaping a mini mal. Unfortunately, because of the main user demographic, there's a lot of crap out there as the 'discerning eye' is never really cast over them to scrutinise whether the bloody things work well, so any old crap gets bought and surfed!

In my mind, most 'general purpose' things over 7ft and below 9ft fall into the broad catchall of 'midlength', so Magic Carpets, mini logs, mini mals, late 60's influenced 'Vee Bottoms' and some Simmons and fish style boards are all midlengths of a sort. A gun, like Hoff's 8'1" in the For sale section obviously isn't, as it's for a specific purpose.

In recent years, the midlength 'fish' a la 7S etc seems to have superceded the mini mal, but when you really pare down the design elements, many of these are swallow-tailed mini mals anyway... occasionally with multi fin set ups, I guess. They are a milion miles away from a Frye-style Longfish or Larmo mega-twinzer (which would definitely not be any good for learners). You could also make the arguement that the 'Fatboy Thruster' is really a narrower-nosed mini mal, I think.

I have had a particular interest in a couple of mid length designs of late; the modernised 'Hot Gen' style board and the hybrid Bruce Fowler 'Stoker V Machine' boards that seem to have great small-wave capabilities (i'm talking waist high mush) without being logs or (my personal pet hate, Griffster!) the lightweight 'performance mal' (an oxymoron? Nothing against the guys who like 'em, but they just don't do it for me...)

The reason I have taken an interest in these boards is purely selfish - I wanted a board that my wife could use/carry/get in the car that would also get me in the sea in weak-ass micro mush where even my fish would start bogging.

I am formulating a cunning plan with a thouroughly knowledgeable chap as we speak, so will keep this thread updated with, er, updates.

[Archy_is_God]

Stokers:



A sub 7 footer here, same design:



The Hot Gen style Vee Bottoms:

(Courtesy of Cuttlefish)



Lovelace's tweaked Wayne Lynch inspired vee's:




Vid of the same design:

http://pcprogress.blogspot.co.uk/2011/0 ... bowls.html

[Archy_is_God]

Sorry - not sure what happened with the resizing there...

These little buggers are the ones that have piqued my interest:



They look weird at first, but their ability to get up and away in really small surf is surprising, by all accounts.

I guess these are more similar to Cuttlefish's Acid Drop planshape-wise.

[VillageIdiot]

Meanwhile.................................................................http://empiresurfboards.blogspot.co.uk/ ... aky%20long

[Archy_is_God]

Just the ticket

[mister-griffster]

^^ Now THAT's a mid-length - keep on posting that good old fashion board porn Archy I've had my eye on those Vouch shapes for quite a while - a nice blend of the HG style board with the wide-point aft - the lovelace boards are just sick - soooo bladey - love 'em!! - Yeah you're on the right track with that cunning plan - plenty of chaps on this forum who can sort you out with a dream of a board

lightweight 'performance mal

- eewwch - I have to go an weep to myself in the shower - I just feel dirty - Fair play to the guys who ride them, not knocking them at all - horses for courses and all that and a lot of the guys are bloo dy talented - more talent in their little toes than I can dream of - but as a concept it kind of feels like french kissing your female relatives at a family funeral - just plain wrong!

[Black]

french kissing your female relatives at a family funeral

[Archy_is_God]

[Cuttlefish]

Then there's a mid-length like this one which is a long way from a mini-mal.
7'6" X 22" X 3".
Built for Qld points.


Uploaded with ImageShack.us


Uploaded with ImageShack.us


Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[VillageIdiot]

Duck-dive-able or no ?

[spewing]

Duck-dive-able or no ?

I've got a surftech M13 it's 8' x 22" x 3" I'm 90 kg and can duck dive it reasonably well. My issue with it is continues duck diving it when your caught inside on a reef and have to get back out. It really saps your energy constantly duck diving that much board. Some times I revert to long board mode and roll it under waves which works as well.
I've riden the 7' version in waist to chest high surf and it rode and paddled well.

I'm seriously tempted to go to Empire and get something in the 7' to 7'6" range like the board in Cutlefish's picture
I've got a 7' x 21 1/2" x 3" Empire bonzer with loads of volume but it's a different sort of board (could be I've still not got it dialled)

[Archy_is_God]

Empire did a '9' model (I think that's what it's called) that has that more pulled in planshape. They look like handy for when it's big and stormy and you need to paddle about quickly.

[ATTMFKH]

Got a McTavish Woody Carver 7'6" x 21 x 3 ........................... had it out in waist high clean waves up to overhead and nasty and it's all good ........ can handle quite a late drop as it's got a good bit of rocker.





Got an 8'2" Royal Mini-Log I'm chokin' for a soakin'

[Cuttlefish]

Duck-dive-able or no ?

I'm 92 kgs so yes but not all that deep.
However it's made for the points when they are sizier so not too much duckdiving needed.
For solid beachbreaks I'll use my 7' X 21" X 3" old school (wide point forward) 2+1 diamondtail which is easier to duckdive.
Still gets tiring if having to duckdive too many set waves in a row.
Got the trade off of paddle speed versus getting caught in side and beaten up.

[buttholesurfer]

I've been checking out the FCD Huevo at the 7' mark. Looks like a good all rounder and travel board. Have looked on the shnet and there's varying opinion on use and build quality.

[VillageIdiot]

My 7'7" Hull is curiously easy to duckdive for it's size. Must be something to do with the convex bottom shape offering less resistance.

[kayu]

These little buggers are the ones that have piqued my interest:



They look weird at first, but their ability to get up and away in really small surf is surprising, by all accounts.

.

Mid-length boards work fine......from old templates or new ones. The photos look sweet...( Paul Hutchinson ?....had a "hull" type board from PH early 70's ?...great board and would fit quite neatly into a modern "hull" quiver.........

[Archy_is_God]

That's good to know.....

...because I have a new 8 footer on it's way!

[mrkmrk2842]

Hey Archy
where's your 8'er on order from? Must admit this thread has particularly got my interest as I've just got my hands on a Hilbers Fineline Hot Generation - first impressions are bloody fantastic - taking it out for a second surf a bit later tonight
Interestingly I was seriously considering a Lovelace v-bowls but the shop in France were dicking me around so much I gave up - quite happy about that now....

[Archy_is_God]

I'd be keen to hear more about that Hilbers for sure - what size did you go for mrkmrk?

The new 8fter will be sailing over to me on a Sea of Cheese via Mr. Mason

[mrkmrk2842]

it's an 8'2 - effortless speed of a hull but far more back footed ride - really enjoying it but it does lean more towards a longboard feel than a midlength despite only being 8'2 and very refined in it's foil. I've yet to get it in a good wave but in small waves it's a blast..
what are you getting from Tim? Full on hull or something a bit more all round?

[Archy_is_God]

Probably more akin to the Hilbers, I think. Definitely not full-hull or as pulled-in as the v.bowls.

Any chance of some cheeky pics of the Hilbers?? Sounds ideal as a small wave cruiser

[KSA1]

This is a great thread, loads of good stuff so far. Hopefully my 7'8" hull from Mr Mason is fairly close to arriving too - really looking forward to getting this one. I've been thinking about another mid length too, maybe along the lines of a 7" quad egg - something like the Hanel shape might be fun.

[Archy_is_God]

Just spotted this on the Mollusk site:



And, not that I am one to bang on about things (ahem), but it's food for thought to consider that a 7'6" tri-finned, down-railed 'Egg' is another man's 'mini mal'.....

Do such matters depend on 'who' shaped it and 'where' it is being sold? Or indeed, how much it may cost??

No doubt that this would be infinitely better to ride than some mass-produced abborhance with plastic fins, but the premise is the same - "what's in a name?'

[Bearded Gimp]

Steady on there Archy. The smoke and mirrors are there for a reason, you know......

[zboy]

ive a egg shape, henty single fin,6.0ft 21wide and its a blast would make a great travel board. i had it out last winter at inch reef and another spot ,closer to home on big solid swells, no probs real fun, fast as, and jus loves gliding up and down the face. but its not a mid lenghth i know, but eggs r a fantastic alternative shape to ride

[kayu]

6ft to 7ft double enders IMO , are one of the most versatile designs ever. They are a simple and functional blend of natural curves that suites all surfing levels.........I like the way you have to "surf' these boards , and not just physically bludgeon them into position , with the aid of extreme "lightness".......they do like a bit of volume.......