https://www.facebook.com/groups/paipobe ... 245895080/
the boards we are riding are very much influenced by kneeboard design. It seems that prone/bellyboard surfing around the world falls into three main groups, bodyboarders who are looking for a new challenge, wooden paipo and bellyboard riders who are expanding the boundaries of what their craft can achieve and stand/kneeboard riders who are broken and just trying to get back in the ocean. Of course this is a generalisation and there are many others. Steve's new prone board is quite sophisticated with chine rails and super hard edges through the triple flyer swallowtail. Made from stringerless epoxy it is light and looked very fast and responsive. He was using more upright and pivoty hanalei fins than the split keels we use but maybe he is further down the development path than Don and I. I'm sure he would be happy to share his knowledge with you.
Bob Green
In terms of the types of people who rise paipo/bellyboards, I'd add a 4th group - the curious. People who are exposed to prone surfing and think they'd like to give it ago. Tom Wegener would have influenced people, more people are exposed via occasional magazine or net stories and even bodyboarders,
who have wanted to experience history first hand or experiment.
In terms of board development, my idiosyncratic way of looking at it is to see 4 broad streams.
1) traditional boards around the world, which may had limited use outside that area and perhaps even were used for a limited period of time. The alaia is the most influential and sophisticated of these boards.
2) the British style bellyboard which is having a resurgence in popularity but also there is some experimentation with materials, but the dimensions are fairly standard.
3) the Hawaiian paipo board, which was essentially an extension of bodysurfing and adept at planning at speed and drawing long lines.
4) Wally Froiseth's twin finned board, with handle, which was developed in the 1950s and was replicated in the USA, Australia and elsewhere.
Skip Newell who was involved in the 60's/70s Newport boards, drew inspiration from Hawaiian paipo boards. Paipo boards in Hawaii were ridden prone, kneeling and standing up. Paipos and bellyboards were a transition for many early kneeboarders.
Greenough took design in a different direction for kneeboards and surfboards in general.
Currently there is a also some cross-over between stand-up boards, kneeboards and even bodyboards and what people ride prone, though this is very idiosyncratic.
Besides wood versus fibreglass, the other important dimension is finned versus finless. 19 July 2022
https://www.facebook.com/groups/paipobe ... 625180080/ 5 7 by 23 and a quarter. 13 inch swallow tail.
Keith Usher
those look like knee board dimensions
Damian Coase
definitely but for a little guy. My last couple of kneeboards were 6 3 and 6 5 by 23 and a half. As I can't really paddle any more, paralysed right arm due to spinal injury, I find I need a fair bit of volume to actually kick onto a wave. I'm also 100 kgs.
Keith Usher
how do you duckdive? ever seen Bethany hamilton with her handle?
Damian Coase
my right arm is partially paralysed but I can lift it enough to duck dive smaller waves.I also have a handle for going over whitewater and if a big one comes “abandon ship ”.
Bethany is amazing but she started when she was 15, I’ll be 67 next month. Still having fun which is what it’s all about.
Damian Coase
stinger is up in line with the front fins. It will be interesting to see how it goes.
bottom has a bit going on.
John Whiting
Is the deck concaved? if it is, is it for your body to lay in?? kinda like the idea of the old Greenough spoons?? or is flat and I'm seeing things.. haha\
Keith Usher
Its interesting that is you look at board position while riding it pointed down the face of the wave and spmwhat out into the flats. and with wanting to be on the inner rail side ot the board concaved deck is going to make it harder to be over on the rail, I find a domed deck makes more sense.
Jai Baker
Concave decks should be more responsive as the side comes up into your toes , heels when standing or sides of body to lay against . That with a low rail the vee bottom on Pino’s board make for an easier rail to
rail transfer .
I’ve been riding boards just like Pino’s for a long time now . I’ve made flat deck ones , Pu shapes too that didn’t feel the same . Also the deck shape is what gives my stringerless eps shape it’s positive flex and strength .
Hope this all makes sense . I’m sure someone out there has a variable to what I’ve found in my crafts but that’s all apart of design I guess .
Don Boland
I am jealous hope I get a go?
On the topic of design my main aim is to have equipment that suits the waves we ride so we maintain the “Stoke”
PS would be great to hear from somebody like Steve Artis ,Peter Ware perhaps,I am sure their knowledge would be no burden
February 12, 2023
https://www.facebook.com/groups/paipobe ... 058650080/ it’s fantastic, still gives me speed, positioning in the pocket and main thing is fun'
Bob Green
Is the narrower tail/wings so you can kick from further forward, rather than hanging off the tail. Don's boards were noticeable for the narrow, pulled in tail.
Damian Coase
yes I guess so, still 13 to 14 inches wide. It's all about the outline curve. The photo also over accentuates the curves a little.
Keith Usher
interesting tail scoop on the tail of the far right.
Damian Coase
that one is designed for an open ocean wave nearby that can be really bumpy. Greenough edge bottom and flex tail.
it tracks a little with the edge bottom but I'm working on the fin size, rake and placement. Definitely helps with the bumps and loves a late take-off. Still so much to learn about these boards.
Daniel Nel
The Yellow and Grey Parker. How does that one go ?? Somehow i like the shape
Damian Coase
That's my latest epoxy Baker board and I love it. Draws a bit longer line than the yellow one but the flyer makes it manoeuvrable. Still learning its secrets but enjoying the ride
going prone has so many advantages
https://www.facebook.com/groups/paipobe ... 056005080/
it's to replace my first bellyboard which is 5 foot 6. Much more refined.
it's a 5 foot 5 inch by 23 inches wide. Surfed it again today and it is flying.
I'm 100kgs with a partially paralysed arm from a spinal accident so I need something that floats me a allows me to catch a wave. On a wave my legs and flippers are hanging off the back of the board.
18 October, 2023