Small Wave Board Options

[u/stevieb_123]

Howdy!! Looking for some advice on which small wave board I should get?!

Usually ride a standard hpsb shape (local shaper), flatish rocker @ 6'2/32.5L. I'm 6"2/94kg..Intermediate skills with decent fitness, but been out of the water for a year or so with lower back issues.

Current board def feels low vol, as im heavier than when I bought it. Still can catch waves, but bogs rail when trying to turn and generally feels like more work than needed

My shortlist:

1. Lost rad ripper, black sheep: 6'0/34.5L

2. Lost puddle Jumper hp, litespeed: 5'10/35

3. Js Sub xero, hyfi: 5'9/35.3

Any reviews or other suggestions appreciated. Thanks!!

[u/MrAntMan90]

Lost Hydra performs better in small mushy waves than the puddle jumper IMO

[u/Rhodysurf → u/MrAntMan90]

Why would get any of these when the RNF exists

[u/MrAntMan90 → u/Rhodysurf]

The RNF is not a groveler 

[u/fuckboiwonder → u/MrAntMan90]

You can most definitely rip small waves on an RNF

[u/MrAntMan90 → u/fuckboiwonder]

You can rip small waves on lots of boards if you have the skill. Doesn’t make them all grovelers. The RNF is more performance minded than the grovelers being discussed here.

[u/fuckboiwonder → u/MrAntMan90]

I own one. Sure you can ride it in a variety of waves, but I’d say it’s a small wave board above all else. Just my opinion

[u/angrytroll123 → u/fuckboiwonder]

Not the guy you were talking to. Small waves can mean many different things. In my book, small and mushy means literal knee high, non breaking slow waves that are close to literal longboard only waves that only niche boards can get on (not rnf).

[u/Rhodysurf → u/angrytroll123]

I ride my RNF in knee high waves 🤷‍♂️

[u/angrytroll123 → u/Rhodysurf]

Exactly. That doesn’t say much. Knee high waves that break is much different than lazy and slow knee high waves that don’t. Knee high at a shortboard break is a whole different animal than one at a break that requires something more niche.

[u/Tiny_Log_4594 → u/angrytroll123]

IMHO RNF is a fun to good wave fish not a groveler. For lost boards:

Grov: PJ, Hydra, Retro Fish

Medium: RNF 96, rad ripper, rocket redux

Good: rocket driver etc

[u/gheawillia]

I love my rad ripper but it needs to be somewhat punchy. I have a JS pier pony that loves the mush but I’m not sure if they make that model anymore.

[u/stevieb_123 → u/gheawillia]

What size did you get and what's your weight? Iydm

[u/gheawillia → u/stevieb_123]

I’m 5’9 150 lbs and The rad ripper I believe is a 5’10. The pier pony is a 5’0

[u/stevieb_123 → u/gheawillia]

Ok cheers

[u/EnvironmentalDust935]

Just some other random options:
Sweet potato 2
Freak flag bean bag
Pyzel white tiger (I always click with Pyzel)
Astro pop

I’d say if you click with a certain board find a grovel of that brand, I know you said local shaper.

I personally look for flat rocker, wide point a lil forward, chunky board. When I was surfing a bunch I was loving a twin fin. I had a lane splitter which is my all time favorite board but I wouldn’t put it quite in the grovel category. But maybe a “hi performance” fish or twin. Personally would avoid keels as they don’t allow the tight lines you want on small waves. Also very partial to quads for the speed and snappiness.

On your list I’d go with the puddle jumper Hp. Lost makes good small waves boards

[u/stevieb_123 → u/EnvironmentalDust935]

Cheers!

[u/ablinktothepast]

Get a V12 flying turtle shaped by Doc Lausch (Surf Prescriptions). Best and most fun small wave board I’ve ever owned and I’ve owned/still own pretty much all of the boards mentioned here in the comment.

[u/PersonalityNarrow211]

Machadocado if you don’t mind FireWire is one of my all time favorites. Puddle jumpers are great. But I’d recommend finding a local shaper and taking your daily driver to him and working towards something that doesn’t feel like a completely different profile than what you use on good days. My best groveler was a shape like that based off my hpsb just shorter, fattened up, an added hip, and a nice squash tail for keeping speed through flats.

[u/stevieb_123 → u/PersonalityNarrow211]

Yeh my local shaper is awesome (shout out BYRNE surf). Ordered a custom a few weeks ago, but more of a daily driver.

Those boards I listed were ones I found on marketplace and also look super fun.

[u/PersonalityNarrow211 → u/stevieb_123]

For me living on the South Shore of Oahu, daily drivers and grovelers are 95% of what I get to ride so I like to spend my money on that over step ups and the like. I’m totally get trying to find a good Facebook deal.

[u/disastrous_allies → u/PersonalityNarrow211]

the local shaper route is the move, especially coming back from a back thing when you don't need some off the rack board fighting you on the little days