Board Reports
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 4:09 pm
I don't know whether this thread will take off, but I think there is some merit in standardising board reports a little more so that people can learn more from other peoples surfing. My thinking is, everyone writes board reports from their own perspective and subjective experience of the board, meaning every report is going to pretty subjective and hard to relate to yourself... Unless, there is certain key background info included:
- The board specifics (of course).
- Years surfing and skill level (just years surfing if you're uncomfortable with tooting your own horn).
(Beginner - starting to learn the ropes)
(Intermediate - knows the basics and has some degree of confidence surfing, however can be very inconsistent with linking and making turns, maintaining speed, and keeping cool in waves of consequence)
(Advanced - starting to master the ability to link turns with power while maintaining speed, surfs close to the pocket with full wrap around carves, confident in waves of consequence, starting to toy with progressive turns requiring tail-release and other difficult elements).
(Expert - might not look out of place next to a WQS surfer at times, big wave surfing is not a problem).
- What type of waves and surfing you wanted it for, and where it sits in your quiver.
- What is has done for your surfing.
Whatever else you write is up to you (e.g. how it behaved in waves x, y and z, and memorable moments that blew you away or disappointed you, etc.). Seeing as the background information is there, its easier to interpret this information and understand where you are coming from.
For example, an advanced surfer might evaluate a board for its ability to make very tight radius turns and have that as important, where an intermediate surfer might rate the same board poorly because it doesn't float very well and feels too twitchy and unstable. If the background information is there its a lot easier to understand what the board means to YOU, not what it is/does in general.
Seeing as posting this used a lot of brain power and time I'll chime back in later to write a board report with this background info there as an example...
If noone is interested then boo to you all
- The board specifics (of course).
- Years surfing and skill level (just years surfing if you're uncomfortable with tooting your own horn).
(Beginner - starting to learn the ropes)
(Intermediate - knows the basics and has some degree of confidence surfing, however can be very inconsistent with linking and making turns, maintaining speed, and keeping cool in waves of consequence)
(Advanced - starting to master the ability to link turns with power while maintaining speed, surfs close to the pocket with full wrap around carves, confident in waves of consequence, starting to toy with progressive turns requiring tail-release and other difficult elements).
(Expert - might not look out of place next to a WQS surfer at times, big wave surfing is not a problem).
- What type of waves and surfing you wanted it for, and where it sits in your quiver.
- What is has done for your surfing.
Whatever else you write is up to you (e.g. how it behaved in waves x, y and z, and memorable moments that blew you away or disappointed you, etc.). Seeing as the background information is there, its easier to interpret this information and understand where you are coming from.
For example, an advanced surfer might evaluate a board for its ability to make very tight radius turns and have that as important, where an intermediate surfer might rate the same board poorly because it doesn't float very well and feels too twitchy and unstable. If the background information is there its a lot easier to understand what the board means to YOU, not what it is/does in general.
Seeing as posting this used a lot of brain power and time I'll chime back in later to write a board report with this background info there as an example...
If noone is interested then boo to you all