I started a thread like this a year and a half ago and it went for 4 pages or something. Look for posts by myself eppo. I have also done some pretty thorough reviews on my board of choice. I went through all the above boards and tried them all ( except the shinn wave which was the one I really wanted to try) and trust me nothing comes even faintly close to the CB wave. Don't waste your time, I have done it for you.
That being said you must be certain on what you are looking for. The cb wave gives me versatility in that on flat water I use wake style fins and go tt all the way. On medium slop I add the back thruster, gives a bit more bite but still loose enough for all your tt desires, then bigger surf add all three. It rides so well the other way I basically use it as a tt then switch onto toes as I hit the lineup.
But it is not a sb and never will be. I did a massive downwinders from sandy bay at ex mouth to wherever the hell we came in, did all the outer reefs. Was out there with a really proficient strapless rider. We come across an epic wave, left and right hand ( not telling where) and it was magic to watch this guy. I still need some power, although it gets close as I need it and much closer than all the boards mentioned above, he was really surfing these waves. Killing the kite and crankin down the line. Add it unhooked and it was then I really understood the difference.
Just make sure you know what you want. I only surf, boost big, transition rolls with the occasional loop when I'm feeling stupid, now that's me. Also when the surf get real real huge, even the cb wave can find its limits. Controlling speed as with and tt does become an issue. Only happened twice though, in 5m swell up north.
I tried the sb thing to the point I was strapless riding okay in waves, but just didn't dig it. What are you looking for for? That's the important criteria here. the rest is bull**** really.
The hammer isn't bad in the waves but it is very wind hungry and it still predominantly a TT. The wave moves closer on the spectrum( much closer) to a SB. Hammer is old technology, but still would be good for those that like to be highly powered up and like a fast cutting TT style in the waves. It is just a TT that is 'better' in the waves than normal, but it didn't get close enough for me. The wave does and remember it was designed for someone to ride at gnarloo, so works well is good swell. The hammer would still have speed control issues, it just has more stick and clearance on each end. The hammer would have been my third choice between wave, shinn and hammer. There is another with just a single fin at each end( can't remember right now, guys on the net will help), that was in the mix as well. Again demo, but blind Freddy will see the wave is superior to them all. If you want a TT style board that surfs.
Ocean Rodeo Mako and Mako king would be the boards with single fin each end or mutant on the bigger versions.
hav'nt ridden one but they are rated pretty highly OS for freeride/surf.
Slingshot SX137 is really nice on waves. Not current but worth a look if you find one second hand. Carves really nice. :D
The board looks like this. Came in yellow and brown too.
Rounded tips, narrower tip widths, longer fins can be better. Ignore fashion - ride everything and you find out that conditions play the biggest part in what is the most fun board to ride in the surf.
Have a look at the RRD Toxic wave, really good fun in the surf. Its a mutant style board so can be ridden both ways.
Anyone ridden this and has a review? Interesting design. How well does it go the other way really.
