jkrug wrote:i'm in my second year of riding strapless, and am struggling a bit with whether i just suck (leaving myself vulnerable with that one) or need additional equipment. i currently ride a Jimmy Lewis KT (6'*20") and really like the board. but when it gets bigger out there, i have a real tough time carving it, or even staying in control at times (like riding down the face of a big wave). my size is 6'3", 210 lbs. would a smaller board help out in those bigger conditions, and if so, how much smaller? or should i just stick with this board and work on simply getting better?
from my windsurfing days i understand the need of a smaller board in stronger winds, but this isn't so much about the winds as the waves, and i don't have a surfing background.
I'll ask you the same question as I put to others:
Why did you lose the straps - or have you never tried waveriding with straps ?
And have you ridden the same board with straps ?
Have you ridden other surfboards with straps before your "second year of riding strapless" ?
Curious - as there are often big differences in the boards IMO
More rocker wont necessarily help though - as it can make the board even more uncontrollable when going down the waveface with a big/wide board
It will slow you down, yes (which you actually dont want in big waves where you have to ride around big whitewater sections often), but apart from slowing down which helps but often not desired - it will only make the board even more "unruhig und nervös" (what is the word in English ? Unsteady - Nervous - Jumpy ? )
I use boards with less rocker for bigger waves, and more rocker for small steep waves
But a smaller board is one solution yes, if you ride strapless, just remember it can be harder to go upwind compared to your bigger board, especially if more rocker
Peter