Guide To Noseriders Dave Edit 2022web

ALMOND SURFBOARDS NOSERIDERS & LONGBOARDS
“There are no bad waves, only a poor

choice of equipment and a lousy attitude.”
-Mickey Muñoz
3
INTRODUCTION
This is our Guide to Noseriders and Longboards. We

are going to share tips for improving your technique
as well as some general principles for selecting your
equipment.
Whether you’re an experienced shortboarder looking to

diversify your equipment or a novice surfer wading into
the lineup for the first time, our resounding advice is:
the best time to start surfing a longboard is yesterday.
A log will catch waves earlier than anything else in

your quiver, keep you surfing on days when you might
otherwise stay home, and increase your wave count
every time you paddle out.
Continued below
4
To be truly a great all-around surfer, competence on a

longboard is a necessity. Regardless of where you live,
a good longboard in your quiver will allow you to surf
on days when a shortboard will likely have you heading
home from the beach without even getting your toes
wet.
We call these #twofeetandfiring days. The waves might

be small, but with the right attitude there is a whole
bunch of fun to be had. You just need a little (or a lot)
more board under your feet.
The beautiful thing about riding a longboard is you

get to take a backseat and let the board do most of the
work. Your job is to find the pocket of the wave and let
the inherent glide of all that foam harness the wave’s
energy, resulting in a soulful ride down the beach.
5
CATCH WAVES EARLIER:
When the waves are under head-high, the glide of

a longboard provides an undeniable advantage for
catching waves early in their formation, giving you
precious extra seconds to get to your feet and choose
the line you want to take. This is because catching
a wave requires the rider to match the speed of the
board to the speed of the wave—and with longboards
sitting higher in the water & gliding more effortlessly
across the ocean surface, they paddle much faster than
shorter boards.
If you have read our guide to Fishes and Small Boards,

you know about our efficient placement of foam
(particularly under the rider’s chest when paddling) to
help make our smaller boards paddle easier and catch
waves earlier. We put a ton of emphasis on ensuring
your wave count doesn’t dramatically change whether
you choose to ride a 5’2 or a 9’8.
6
But at a certain point, you simply can not replace length.

Even the beefiest of 5’2 fishes can’t compete with the
glide and paddling speed of a 9-foot+ longboard. And
while the small board has an undeniable place in your
quiver, when the waves are small and wave count the
priority, something over 9 feet becomes a priceless
commodity. The key is to build out your quiver like a
golfer builds out his bag, with each board holding a
clearly defined purpose.
The earlier the wave starts doing the pushing—rather

than your arms—the more time you have to get to your
feet and get situated, and the more effortless the entire
experience becomes.
7
THE IMPORTANCE OF MASTERING FOOTWORK
For these reasons, longboarding is generally

considered to be “easier” than shortboarding;
however, riding a longboard adds an element absent
from riding a fish or shortboard:
Unlike a small board of any kind where you’re able to

impose your will on the direction of your surfboard
from essentially one stance, a longer board requires
you to constantly move your feet based on both where
you are & where you want to be on a wave.
8
A 9’6 noserider simply won’t turn when the surfer is

firmly planted in the middle of the board. You have to
move your feet to impose your weight & will on the
direction of the board.
When you want to turn or slow the board down, you

step back toward the tail. When you want to speed
it up, you step forward toward the nose. This dance
helps you achieve the right acceleration, deceleration,
and change of direction to navigate the wave and keep
your board in the sweet spot: the pocket.
9
THE POCKET
Whether it’s effortless glide you seek or mastering the

art of noseriding, effective longboard surfing hinges
on your ability to get your board into the pocket of a
wave—and keep it there.
Staying in the pocket requires an ever changing

combination of stalls, bottom turns, cutbacks, and
cross-steps backward & forward.
10
The original intent behind all these techniques was

simple—to stay in the pocket as long as possible. If you
got a little bit ahead of the pocket you would stall. If
you got way ahead of the pocket you would cut back. If
you saw an oncoming section you wanted to beat, you
would cross-step forward to speed up.
Wherever you find yourself on the spectrum of

longboarding proficiency, keeping your board locked in
the pocket of the wave is “A1” on the list of priorities.
So, let’s take a look at the board under your feet, and
then we’ll cover some technique.
11
EQUIPMENT SELECTION:
When it comes to surfing, the right board makes all

the difference. And the right board requires a synergy
between wave shape and surf approach.
As builders of surfboards, our aim is to shape the

board that best fits your current goals, keeping in mind
the types of waves you’re mostly likely to surf.
To start, if you want to know in less than 3 seconds

what the intended purpose of a surfboard is, look no
further than the tail.
FISH SIMMONS DIAMOND WING FISH
PIN BUMP SQUASH ROUND
12
With very few exceptions, these rules hold true:
• Narrow, pointy tails with lots of curve to them are

shaped with turning and maneuverability in mind,
and are often intended for waves with steeper faces
and more power, using the smaller surface area to
eliminate drag.
• Wide, square tails with plenty of surface-area are

shaped with planing and noseriding in mind, using
that bigger surface area to harness as much of the
wave’s energy as possible.
When you design a board for Pipeline, you want it

narrow. It gives the rider maximum control. Since
steeper waves have more power, you need less help
from the tail in capturing wave-energy, but you need
all the control you can possibly get.
Conversely, when you design a board for a slow, rolling

wave like Waikiki, you want a fuller outline with
a wider tail to help harness every bit of the wave’s
energy and convert it into forward momentum.
13
The control and sensitivity on a big, wide board are not

quite as generous, which is why the rider needs to get
his or her trail foot all the way back on the tail to turn
it effectively.
SQUARETAIL PINTAIL
More on tails later.
14
ROCKER
The next element of a surfboard I want you to pay

extra attention to is the rocker. Surfboards are not
completely flat like ironing boards. Rocker is the term
used across surfboard design to describe the curved
profile of the bottom of the board, from the tip of the
nose through the end of the tail.
MORE ROCKER
LESS ROCKER
A board with a lot of rocker will be more

maneuverable, but slower due to less foam area
engaging the water. A board with a little rocker will be
less maneuverable, but faster due to more foam area
engaging the water.
One of the most underrated parts of excellent

surfboard design is concocting the right rocker profile
for the optimal ride.
15
At Almond, we don’t talk as much about rocker profiles

for a few reasons. They are harder to show visually.
They can be confusing to customers who are less
familiar with surfboard design. They can’t be simplified
to a single number or measurement. And we’re sorry to
say, our rocker profiles are one of our best-kept secrets.
We have put as much R&D into rocker profiles as any

element of board design over the years. Part of the thing
that makes an Almond feel like an Almond is the care
and attention we have put into crafting our custom
rocker profiles across our entire lineup of boards.
To get a true “rocker measurement,” you would need

hundreds of points along a curve, spanning the entire
length of the board. But you mostly hear rocker
measurements simplified to a single nose measurement
and a single tail measurement. Meaning: if you were
to lay the board, bottom-side-down, on a perfectly flat
surface, how much space would there be from both the
tip of the nose & the tip of the tail to the flat surface
below them, respectively. You get a very basic picture of
the rocker, but enough to tell if the board is too flat for
you (like an ironing board) or too curvy (like a rocking
chair).
16
If you look at the rocker of a high-performance

shortboard, you will see quite a bit more curve in the
nose than in the tail. In contrast, we tend to employ a
much lower, more gradual entry rocker from the nose but
with a more pronounced “flip” in the tail. This approach
is why you will sometimes hear people refer to a
longboard as having “reverse rocker,” because from a
shortboard-centric perspective, ours is “backward.”
But here’s the reason why:

With a low, gradual entry rocker, we create maximum
glide across the surface of the water granting you
easy paddling, early wave entry, and effortless glide
once you’re up & riding. Paired with the slightly more
pronounced lift in the tail (the “flip”), you’re able to
rock your weight onto your back foot over the fin,
which lifts the nose of the board out of the water, and
turn with FAR greater ease.
The other benefit of a little flip in the tail is that it

helps the board match the speed of the wave when
you want to lock into the pocket for longer windows
of noseriding. The added curve in the tail matches the
wave shape more readily, by engaging it less, and the
board stays in the pocket rather than out-running it.
17
18
Quick story.
Years ago, maybe 2012, we started shaping boards for

an Australian surfer named Simon Patchett. He spent
a few months on the first longboard we sent him, and
he liked but didn’t love it. He came to the conclusion
the board was a little too fast for the punchier, more
powerful waves he regularly surfed while out-running
the pocket when he wanted to stay nestled in its sweet
spot.
We started comparing notes about boards and wave

types and quickly realized the difference between the
waves he was surfing in New South Wales and ours here
locally. So, the tail rockers we developed for breaks like
Sano, Blackies, Doheny, Malibu, and the like were too
flat for Simon’s waves. Our charge was clear: rework
the rocker to allow the board to more naturally match
the speed of his wave.
And with that, our Australia Rocker Profile was born.
Simon met the next board we sent with great

enthusiasm. It maintained the paddling glide he loved
about the first board, but now with far better (and
far longer) noseriding success by holding him more
naturally in the pocket.
19
Wonder what happened to our Australia Rocker

Profile? We now use it on the Logistic, our noserider for
punchier, hollow waves.
Around the same time period, 2010-11, we were

building custom Sano Specials for Nathan Adams with
the exact opposite aim.
Nate wanted his boards to be as flat as possible. Being

an incredibly talented surfer, he did not mind the extra
footwork required to slow the board or redirect it, he
just wanted a board that would slide across the surface
of a wave with as little resistance as possible.
I just rewatched the first edit we ever did with Nathan,

and the flatness of the board is wildly obvious in the
way he surfs and the way the board engages with the
wave. Watching Nate ride these incredibly flat boards is
a thing of beauty, but it’s hard for the average surfer to
emulate:
https://vimeo.com/12298806
20
So, where does that leave us now?
Well, we have spent the last 14+ years perfecting the

perfect rocker profiles.
The Almond Rocker Profiles we employ on our

longboard models (Surf Thump, Lumberjack, Walks on
Water, Sano Special, Pinwheel) have been painstakingly
developed for the widest array of wave types and the
perfect blend of effortless glide, control, stability under-
foot, and noseriding, which provide the precise type of
surfing experience we want for our customers.
As much as any element of board design, our rocker

profile makes an Almond ride like an Almond.
Quick facts about rocker to keep in mind when

inspecting a surfboard:
• Boards with more rocker fit steeper, punchier waves.
• Boards with less rocker harness more energy from

smaller, softer waves.
• Noseriders should have low rocker profiles, with the

most noticeable rocker occurring in the tail.
21
22
USING TAIL SHAPES & ROCKER TO

DIAL IN OUR BOARDS:
When looking for an Almond to help you reach &

surpass your goals in this next season of your surfing
life, remember to pay close attention to the shape &
rocker of the tail.
• If noseriding is your goal, focus on the boards with

wider, fuller, tails with a little more flip.
• If arcing turns and general maneuverability is the

preference, look for a board with a pulled-in, curvier
tail outline and a little less flip.
Using just tail shapes as the differentiator, you can

start narrowing down your search for your perfect
Almond longboard:
FULL, SQUARE TAILS: PULLED-IN, CURVY TAILS:
- LUMBERJACK - SURF THUMP
- WALKS ON WATER - SANO SPECIAL
- LOGISTIC - CASH-YEW II
- PINWHEEL
23
SQUARE TAILS
All three of the square tail models—

Lumberjack, Walks on Water, and
Logistic— are “cousins” with slightly
different intended applications.
24
THE LUMBERJACK
WAVE TYPE: BROAD RANGE OF CONDITIONS.
CHARACTERISTICS: STABLE, VERSATILE NOSERIDER.
TURN: SWINGS / PIVOTS FROM TAIL.
GLIDE: 9/10.
The Lumberjack was the original model in this

category, and the other two are evolutions of the
concept to suit a wider range of wave-types and surf
approaches.
We designed the Lumberjack as a classically-inspired,

beach break noserider with Blackies in mind (a
longboard-friendly surf spot in our hometown). The
Lumberjack is designed for maximizing the wave’s
energy in average beach break conditions, while
offering the rider control of the board from the tail to
the nose.
25
It’s a proven board we have been building for over a

decade, which is one of the reasons the Lumberjack
has traditionally been our most popular longboard
model.
Of the square-tailed longboards we built last year, 68%

were Lumberjacks. If you are drawn to the stability
offered by a square tail, but aren’t certain which model
to choose, the Lumberjack is the best, all-around bet.
26
WALKS ON WATER
WAVE TYPE: SOFT WAVES.
CHARACTERISTICS: WIDE, STABLE, HIGH VOLUME.
TURN: REQUIRES A BIT OF EXTRA FOOTWORK.
GLIDE: 10/10.
If you’re looking for even more stability under your

feet, meet the Walks on Water.
We developed the Walks on Water with our team rider,

Andy Nieblas, as his evolution of the Lumberjack. Andy
surfs waves like San Onofre and Doheny most often.
Those waves are softer than a typical beach break
wave, breaking less top to bottom but with a little more
push to them.
27
To provide maximum stability for Andy’s noseriding,

we beefed up the Walks on Water. It is wider, thicker,
and fuller in the rails than the Lumberjack, which
makes the board more stable, but, as a result, requires
more footwork.
If your home break is a soft-ish wave and noseriding

ranks highly on your priority list, the Walks on Water
is the most stable foam you can put under your feet.
If you don’t believe me, just watch all the astounding
things Andy is able to do on his.
28
LOGISTIC
WAVE TYPE: STEEP OR HOLLOW WAVES.
CHARACTERISTICS: ADDED ROCKER FOR HARNESSING PUNCHIER WAVES.
TURN: FEELS MORE LIVELY THAN OTHER SQUARE-TAILS.
GLIDE: 8.5/10.
If we designed the Walks for slightly softer waves, then

the Logistic heads the other direction handling waves
with more power.
The Logistic is our more progressive vessel in the

Lumberjack family. We pulled the nose in, gave it a little
more rocker, and made it feel more lively under foot.
This is the board for people who want to noseride, but
maintain versatility at all times. If your home break is
a little more punchy, and you want to navigate slightly
more critical sections on the nose, the Logistic is the
way to go.
29
The thing that makes the Logistic especially unique

is the control you have from the nose. The slightest
adjustments will correct your line and extend your
noserides. Because it’s a bit more specialized, about 15%
of the square-tailed longboards we built last year were
Logistics.
30
THE CURVY-TAILED BOARDS
Noseriding is only a small portion of

the benefit of riding a longboard.
You can go through years of

productive and enjoyable
longboarding, and never so much as
hang a single toe over the nose. For
the surfers looking for a more all-
around logging experience, enter the
curvier-outlined models.
Don’t get me wrong, each of the
models in this section will allow you
to hang all your piggies over the
bow, but we built these boards with
a more all-encompassing approach
to the beauty of surfing.
The elliptical nature of the outlines

in this section make these boards
both easier to turn and capable of
handling a wider variety of waves.
31
SURF THUMP
WAVE TYPE: BROAD RANGE OF CONDITIONS.
CHARACTERISTICS: VERSATILE, ALL-AROUND CLASSIC LONGBOARD.
TURN: TURNS EASILY FOR IT’S LENGTH.
GLIDE: 9/10
For those of us who wish we could have a little bit

of everything, meet your author’s personal favorite
surfboard: The Surf Thump.
The Surf Thump has the length and thickness to catch

waves exceptionally well and an adequate curve in the
outline to make it feel lively under your feet. Having
a board that will glide with ease but redirect at will is
almost always a win-win.
As you’ll notice that the outline of the Surf Thump is a

nearly continuous curve which holds its width through
the middle third of the board. It’s this specific combo
of curve and hold which allows the blend of glide and
turning.
32
And I’m not the only one who can’t get enough of the
Surf Thump… it is our top-selling longboard model for
the last several years.
We love it so much, we made it our latest addition to

the R-Series line!
Meet the highly-versatile, highly-noseridable

9’2 R-Series Surf Thump. If you are just dipping your
toe into the realm of longboards, and want a low-
maintenance option that won’t break the bank, this
rugged foamie is undoubtedly a great first step. And if
you’ve long been logging and want something you can
keep in your van or truck all summer without a second
thought, this wax-free beauty won’t disappoint.
33
SANO SPECIAL
WAVE TYPE: SOFT WAVES.
CHARACTERISTICS: STABLE UP FRONT, LIVELY FROM THE TAIL.
TURN: TURNS EASILY FOR ITS LENGTH.
GLIDE: 10/10
The Sano Special is an evolution of the Surf Thump in

the same way the Walks on Water emerged from the
Lumberjack—and with a similar intent.
We designed the Sano Special with softer waves in

mind and where maximum paddle-ability is required.
If you look only at the back third of the outlines, the
Sano and the Thump look fairly similar. However,
when you look up toward the nose, you see how much
fuller, wider, and flatter is the Sano Special. Which,
as you now know, gives it as much planing surface as
possible to help catch those extra soft waves with ease.
Just remember, a big, wide nose won’t fit very well into
the pocket of a steep, hollow wave.
34
*Aaron Cervantes catches a wave early on a Sano

Special board.
35
CASH-YEW II
WAVE TYPE: LONG, ROLLING WAVES.
CHARACTERISTICS: THE EPITOME OF EFFORTLESS GLIDE.
TURN: STEP BACK ON THE TAIL TO FLOW THROUGH TURNS.
GLIDE: 10/10
If gliding into waves earliest appeals to you, we have a

whole category of boards that do just that: Gliders.
Our glider is called the Cash-Yew II.
Traditionally, a glider is supposed to be 11 feet or

longer, but we have been pretty happy with the feeling
you get paddling them at smaller sizes—regardless of
the rule book.
36
The most common lengths we’re building are: 10’6,

10’2, and the mini glider at 8’8. As you can see, the
outline of this board is one long, continuous curve. and
relies on its length & ability to soar across the surface
of the water for its speed.
All of that curve is also what allows you to have

surprisingly lively directional control over something
so long and fast.
*To get an idea of how far back you need to be to

effectively turn a 10’2’ longboard, take a look at
Andy riding his Cash-Yew II.
37
SO, WHICH SURFBOARD IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
As you scroll back up and look through the longboard

outlines, you will begin to see our specific design
purposes for each of our models. And what’s cool is the
basic principles we’ve talked about here apply to all
surfboards everywhere. Remember to keep an eye first
on that tail. It most paints the clearest picture of how a
board is intended to be ridden.
And then check the rails. Every shaper plays with

curves to accomplish their own desired outcomes in
tandem with the desires of their riders.
We’re no different here. At Almond, we use our own

experiences in the water and the input of our team
riders to develop shapes and models that perform
precisely how we want them to in any given wave &
condition. And our attention to detail for each board
we create makes it very easy for us to engage every
level of surfer in our community in dialogue for their
next board.
38
When you come in and describe your current ability to

surf, where you surf, and what you are hoping to get
out of your next board, we are already crunching the
factors in our minds to get you exactly what you need,
whether directly off the rack or something a little more
custom.
Our aim is to match you with the exact board you need
at the exact time you need it for optimum success.
39
WHAT LENGTH IS RIGHT FOR YOU?
We get a ton of questions from customers trying to

determine the correct board length to ride. Here’s
where we land:
Surfboards are not sized in direct relation to your

height & weight like alpine skis or a wetsuit, and
because they come in a variety of shapes, volumes, and
purposes, hold much more subjectivity.
Below, we have listed the most popular lengths of each

of our longboard models. They also happen to be (and
not surprisingly) the perfect entry point for each one.
Model: Length:
Pinwheel 9’0
Surf Thump 9’2
Lumberjack 9’4
Sano Special 9’6
Logistic 9’6
Walks on Water 9’8
Cash-Yew II 10’2
If you are a little larger, or want a little more wave-
40
catching ability, size up from the average. If you are a

little smaller or want a slightly more nimble feel, size
down slightly from the average.
Truth be told, the beauty in every board is found

in what you make of it. Shaping legend and major
influence on Almond, Terry Martin, once said,
“There are two types of people who come to

me. Those who take the board we laid out in
the beginning, learn all of its nuances, and find
joy wherever that board leads... And those who
long deliberate over every measurement, rocker
placement, length down to the centimeter, and so
on.
No matter what I shape, it doesn’t seem like the

second ones have as much fun with my boards,
while the others seem to be in a constant state
of fun & appreciation. And for me, it’s all about
fun.”
So, pick the size you feel most comfortable with, and
put the time in to find out how it wants to surf, how it
wants to glide. Trust me, you’ll soon be having a blast
& surfing like it was made just for you!
41
LONGBOARD FINS 101
In the same way the tail, rocker, and rails of a

surfboard tell you how and where to surf it, the shape
of a fin is nearly as important in its own right. It must
directly complement the tail, or you get a fin that
works in opposition to the board. Not a good thing.
So, let’s break our fin design into 2 types,

corresponding with our two types of tails. Because as
the tail turns, so turns the fin.
10” HUCK FIN 10.5” PIN FIN
PIVOT
REDIRECT
“STOP & GO” “MAINTAIN SPEED”
42
FINS FOR SQUARE-TAILED BOARDS:
PIVOT
“STOP & GO”
You will commonly see fins that stand nearly straight

up and down on boards with square tails. The reason
for this is two-fold:
1. To provide enough surface area for holding the tail

in the wave.
2. To provide a defined vertical axis for pivoting turns.
A pivot turn is when you step back on the tail of the

board—slowing it down—and proceed to swing the
board as though the fin were the hinge on a door.
(See the “Huck” fin template on the previous page.) By
slowing the board down and pivoting off the tail, the
board is more easily set up to prepare for a noseride.
43
Here is Kameron Brown demonstrating a pivot-style

turn—utilizing a drop-knee approach to get his foot as
far back on that tail as possible.
The tail is buried and the nose is lifted as Kam slows

that 9’8 Walks on Water down for a proper pivot turn.
Once you are comfortable getting back on the tail of a

board, the pivot fin is surprisingly effective. And the
length of the board allows the surfer to regain speed in
a new direction once the turn is complete. Appropriate
fins for square tails would be our “Huck” fin & the
“Log Rhythm” fin.
44
FINS FOR CURVY-TAILED BOARDS:
REDIRECT
“MAINTAIN SPEED”
You will commonly see fins with more of a sweeping

shape on curvy-tailed surfboards. The sweep is called
“rake.” Fins with rake combined with curvy tails work
in tandem with the board’s outline.
As you lay the board over to one side, the curve of the
outline allows the board to change direction while
maintaining speed. The rake of the fin acts like the
rudder of a ship, banking through an arcing turn.
45
*Pictured to above is Nathan Adams demonstrating

a rail-initiated turn on his 9’7 Sano Special.
Compared to the photo of Kameron, Nate’s nose isn’t

lifting out of the water to stall. He is “laying the board
on rail” and using the fin & outline of the tail / rails to
make the turn possible.
Appropriate fins for curvy tails are our Pin Fin & 9”
Flex Fin. We designed a specific fin to accompany each
of our longboard models, so we’ve done the work for
ya, but when considering a new fin for an old board,
or for philosophical surf talk in the parking lot, these
basics will come in handy.
46
KNOW YOUR WAVE
If you aren’t totally sure what kind of waves your

home break sees most often, the best thing you can do
is spend some time watching. Don’t just watch the
waves but other surfers in the lineup. Look for trends
or clues about which type of equipment works best for
people.
If the waves at your home break are super soft and

just tend to roll toward shore, you are going to want as
much board as possible. Think Walks on Water, Cash-
Yew II, or Sano Special.
If you’re near an average beach break, small some days

and a little bigger on others, you are going to want
something more versatile to cover a broader range of
needs. Think Surf Thump, Lumberjack, or Pinwheel.
If the waves at your home break lean punchier and

steeper, and you want to ride a longboard, you’re going
to need something more progressive. Think Logistic.
47
4 TIPS FOR IMPROVING YOUR NOSERIDING
Alright, you know your waves, and you’ve finally

nabbed the perfect board/fin combo for the lineup.
You’re popping up, gliding, increasingly locking into
some soulful trim, maybe even getting a piggy or two
over the nose.
Things are coming along great, but you want more.

You want all 10 hanging. Here are some steps to keep it
going.
1. The setup, the setup, the setup.
You have to take one step backward before you can

take three steps forward (literally and figuratively). Get
comfortable surfing the back 1/3 of the board before
attempting to head to the front 1/3.
The old adage, “learn to walk before you run,” is

appropriate when learning to master the art of the
noseride. Get comfortable cross-stepping backward for
the set up, before attempting to head toward the bow.
48
2. Keep your eyes on the stringer while cross stepping.
Your feet will follow your eyes. If you keep your eyes
locked on the stringer as a guideline, your feet will stay
centered on the board. If your eyes wander, so will
your feet. You need to stay centered and balanced when
venturing forward.
3. Aim 6” short of the nose when cross-stepping forward

for a noseride.
Walking to the nose of a surfboard is not the same as

walking to the end of a static diving board. The surfboard
is actually moving backward slightly as you walk forward.
You will often see surfers run right over the end of the
nose. Don’t do that! Aim short.
4. Err on the side of putting more weight on the inside

rail of the board.
The primary force in surfing is lift, and the concave in the

nose of a longboard is designed to create lift on the face
of a wave. If you find your balance over the outside rail of
the board (the beach side), the wave will pick you up and
dump you right into the flats. Use your toes to keep that
inside rail firmly planted in the wave face.
49
Bonus tip:
Think about the line you are traveling, and where it

will lead when you speed up. Moving to the nose of
your longboard increases momentum, so you want
to set up deeper than you think and use that speed to
catch up to the pocket.
You can achieve this by taking a high-line and angling

slightly toward the beach as you start your cross-step.
You can also do this by taking a lower line on the wave

angling slightly up the face, and using a noseride to
accelerate your way back up into the pocket. This
requires more pressure on the inside rail, utilizing
the lift of the rail to accelerate the board, so don’t get
caught on that outside edge.
Until it’s second nature, this might not make total sense
to you. But just keep reviewing these steps in your
mind during the idle lulls between sets and remember
to always have fun out there.
50
CONCLUSION.
Use the principles laid out above to make more

informed decisions about your surf equipment and to
get more enjoyment out of your surfing each and every
time you reach for the longest board in your quiver.
If you want to go deeper on the technique side, check

out our continuously expanding selection of articles
on the subject.
If you have specific questions or want to see if

our recommendations coincide with your line of
thinking—shoot us a note. If you want to see all of
our surfboard models in one place and read reviews
from your fellow surfers, we have it all available on
the website.
51
MORE FREE RESOURCES:
Almond’s Guide to Surfboards (Introduction)
Almond’s Guide to Fishes & Small Boards
Almond’s Guide to Essential Mid-Lengths
Almond’s Guide to Your First Year of Surfing
Almond’s Complete Guide to Ordering A Custom

Surfboard
The First-Time Surfer’s Cheat Sheet
Building Your Perfect Surfboard Quiver
Read More Articles & Surf Tips...
CONTINUE YOUR MASTERY OF

NOSERIDERS & LONGBOARDS HERE:
52
CREDITS:
Written by: Dave Allee

Edited by: Joel T. Owen
Illustrated by: Dooley Design Co.
Photography: Jeffrey Allee, Thomas H. Green, Cameron Oden
Special thanks to Almond’s head shaper of 14 years (and

counting) Griffin Neumann-Kyle, the team at Almond Surf Shop,
and the talented surfers who have given priceless feedback over
all these years, and lastly I would like to thank you, the reader,
for investing the time to learn a bit more about harnessing ocean
waves for simple pleasure. I hope to see you out there!
53
DISCLAIMER
The information in this book is meant to help you build

confidence in the water—through both an increased knowledge of
your equipment and a better understanding of the forces at work
when you go surfing. The Ocean can be dangerous and powerful;
please proceed with caution and respect any time you enter the
water—and pay attention to local signs regarding when it is safe
to be in the surf. The author, Almond Surfboards, LLC, and all
contributors to this resource absolve themselves from any legal
responsibility for injuries that may occur while surfing. Enter the
water with respect—and at your own risk. Be a student of the art
of wave riding, and enjoy the activity for many years to come.
54
55

Guide To Noseriders Dave Edit 2022web

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Guide To Noseriders Dave Edit 2022web

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Guide To Noseriders Dave Edit 2022web

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

ALMOND SURFBOARDS NOSERIDERS & LONGBOARDS

“There are no bad waves, only a poor

This is our Guide to Noseriders and Longboards. We

Whether you’re an experienced shortboarder looking to

A log will catch waves earlier than anything else in

To be truly a great all-around surfer, competence on a

We call these #twofeetandfiring days. The waves might

The beautiful thing about riding a longboard is you

CATCH WAVES EARLIER:

When the waves are under head-high, the glide of

If you have read our guide to Fishes and Small Boards,

But at a certain point, you simply can not replace length.

The earlier the wave starts doing the pushing—rather

THE IMPORTANCE OF MASTERING FOOTWORK

For these reasons, longboarding is generally

Unlike a small board of any kind where you’re able to

A 9’6 noserider simply won’t turn when the surfer is

When you want to turn or slow the board down, you

Whether it’s effortless glide you seek or mastering the

Staying in the pocket requires an ever changing

The original intent behind all these techniques was

Wherever you find yourself on the spectrum of

When it comes to surfing, the right board makes all

As builders of surfboards, our aim is to shape the

To start, if you want to know in less than 3 seconds

FISH SIMMONS DIAMOND WING FISH

PIN BUMP SQUASH ROUND

With very few exceptions, these rules hold true:

• Narrow, pointy tails with lots of curve to them are

• Wide, square tails with plenty of surface-area are

When you design a board for Pipeline, you want it

Conversely, when you design a board for a slow, rolling

The control and sensitivity on a big, wide board are not

More on tails later.

The next element of a surfboard I want you to pay

A board with a lot of rocker will be more

One of the most underrated parts of excellent

At Almond, we don’t talk as much about rocker profiles

We have put as much R&D into rocker profiles as any

To get a true “rocker measurement,” you would need

If you look at the rocker of a high-performance

But here’s the reason why:

The other benefit of a little flip in the tail is that it

Years ago, maybe 2012, we started shaping boards for

We started comparing notes about boards and wave

And with that, our Australia Rocker Profile was born.

Simon met the next board we sent with great

Wonder what happened to our Australia Rocker

Around the same time period, 2010-11, we were

Nate wanted his boards to be as flat as possible. Being

I just rewatched the first edit we ever did with Nathan,

So, where does that leave us now?

Well, we have spent the last 14+ years perfecting the

The Almond Rocker Profiles we employ on our

As much as any element of board design, our rocker

Quick facts about rocker to keep in mind when

• Boards with more rocker fit steeper, punchier waves.

• Boards with less rocker harness more energy from

• Noseriders should have low rocker profiles, with the

• Narrow, pointy tails with lots of curve to them are

• Wide, square tails with plenty of surface-area are

• Boards with more rocker fit steeper, punchier waves.

• Boards with less rocker harness more energy from

• Noseriders should have low rocker profiles, with the

• If noseriding is your goal, focus on the boards with

• If arcing turns and general maneuverability is the

“There are two types of people who come to

No matter what I shape, it doesn’t seem like the

1. To provide enough surface area for holding the tail

2. To provide a defined vertical axis for pivoting turns.