North of the equator, summer is approaching. If you are not flying south, there is only one tried-and-tested way to heal the flat spell-inspired summer depression that may plague two coastal surfers: buy a log.

Justin Quintal, a surfboard rider of all kinds, can almost surf. Through his collaboration with the legendary Florida shaper Ricky Carroll, Quintal's Black Rose MFG. A complete set of longboards has been developed to echo and modernize the classic outlines of the past era. Over the years, this Florida boy has collected more than a handful of duct tape titles with classic logs and accumulated museum-worthy boards built by master craftsmen, making him an ideal reminder to teach the wisdom needed for picking. A low tide.

When I caught up with Quintal, he was preparing to participate in the Mexi Log Fest for the first time in Saladita, Mexico and defending the title at the Joel Tudor Duct Tape Invitational.

What should people who do not ride longboards look for in their first log?

There are some magical numbers, and I always use my longboard to rotate my size. I think Model T is basically the best and most balanced longboard. Joel [Tudor] and Donald [Takayama] developed it during a very cool longboard surfing period. The board is 23 inches wide, 19 inches at the front, and about 15.5 inches or 15.75 inches at the rear. Nothing is too dramatic. It has a little rocker. The wide point is almost in the center. It is just a really user-friendly and easy-to-ride board.

Therefore, when you look at the size of the first long board, 23 inches is a very good starting width. If you are a bigger surfer, you can walk an extra quarter to half an inch. A smaller surfer can walk a quarter to a half inch less.

Then, in terms of length, I think 9'6 is a good length-right in the middle. Then you can rise or fall from there.

If you are a beginner with a long board, the wider board in the middle will make it easier to ride. You want something with a slightly wider nose. This will make the platform more stable when you learn to step and ride the nose.

If someone said, "Hey, I imagine longboard surfing like Alex Knost,"-a little more swing, or a little looser-I would find something narrower and push the wider point back.

It also depends on where the surfer lives. If they were from Florida like me, where the waves would be smaller, heavier, and more unpredictable, I would recommend something more like a T-shape. If they want to surf, something thinner and narrower will work a little better.

What role does the slide play in longboard riding? Regarding guide rails, what should people look for?

The guide rail is very important. In my opinion, fifty or fifty slide rails are very suitable for traditional longboard surfing-nose riding, striding, etc. The softer rail is really forgiving, and riding a classic-style longboard can really make your surfing smoother. But if someone is looking for a long board that they can still turn and they can generate their own speed, I would recommend a rail that exceeds 6040. More downward-sloping rails and more edges towards the tail will help track and grip.

What about the bottom profile?

The bottom also has a lot to do with the riding style of the skateboard. If you want to make more turns, the more dramatic "V" at the back may help. Things that are flatter will go faster and more forgiving. Most logs, even if their bottoms are usually flat, just round the 550 rails and they will roll toward the rails. It gives the illusion of a belly or convex surface. I think flattening is better for beginners, but I personally like to have a little belly on my board. It slows down and ensures a smooth, smooth ride, even when bumping. I suggest playing with the belly, the more experienced you are. It took me a while to figure it out, but now I like it. A good visual effect is to turn on the faucet and put a spoon upside down under it. You will see that the convex surface sucks the spoon into the water, and the water flows away from the side.

I also like that the nose is a bit concave. This allows the board to continue driving along the line while you are riding the nose. If your belly is too big or the underside of your nose is too flat, you can easily be sucked away by the waves when you ride the bridge of your nose.

For those who are trying to transition from short boards to logging, does a smaller long board make the transition easier?

I tell people that if you want to use a longboard, buy a real longboard. I say 9'6 because it is a very standard length, but I tend to ride logs no less than 9'9 or 9'10. I really like the bigger board, because when you get the glide coefficient, you can cover a lot of water effortlessly. If you are using 9'0 or 9'1 or 9'2, it feels that the foam is much more than the short board, but you are not really taking advantage of the long board. I try to push people to go longer.

Is weight something people should be aware of?

really. Obviously, the lighter the board, the more sensitive the response. However, if you are too light, then you are a bit contrary to the original intention of having a long board. My nose usually weighs about 28 pounds. This may be too heavy for most people. I recommend 15, 16, or 17 pounds. As a good starting point.

What should people know about fins?

If you want a full nose bridge, I recommend a pivot fin—a more upright one with a lot of surface area—and push it all the way back to the fin box. With the pivot tail, you will be able to make more agile pivot y-turns.

If someone is looking for something that can be turned a little bit, or they want to loosen the nose pads, I recommend Greenough 4-A fins. 4-A is the most balanced longboard fin, without a doubt. It has an extra base and works very well on the nose, but it has an extra rake, so when you go back to the tail, you can do more elongated turns.

The longboard has many tricks or novel design elements-from the deep recess under the nose to the recess at the top of the tail, let the water push it down when you ride the bridge of the nose. Is there anything that people should avoid or be wary of?

One thing I see that many people want is [David] Nuuhiwa, below the Bing-style deep concave plate. You can't take anything from Nuuhiwa-he is a legend and one of the best nose riders of all time. Obviously, these boards work, but they just figured it out. I don't think it needs to be that deep. That will be something that needs attention. If you can't get the oatmeal from your nose, don't use too much force.

One thing I often do is to have a small flat surface under the nose, or just a subtle pit. I always felt that I got more improvement from it. It forces you to perform the nose bridge on the more suitable part of the nose bridge. It feels really stable, even if you look at some of Joel’s boards-like I saw him and Nathan Strom do-it has that flat spot under the nose, really no dents. .

Any tips on how to properly adapt to waves on logs?

First of all, I want to say don't even put belt plugs there. If you need a belt, you probably shouldn't ride a longboard that day. Not having a belt will force you to pay more attention to what you are doing, and eventually you will not fall too much. When riding logs, you should pay more attention to your surroundings. Don't think it's all gravy, you are cool because you don't have a belt. This is a very important thing, and if you lose it, you may hurt someone. Also realize that just because you can catch more waves does not mean you should get every wave from the person on the short board. Pay attention to your surroundings, respect others, and have fun.

As far as horse riding is concerned, one of the things my father told me when I was young was, "Catch a few and stand there." I would say don't immediately try to make any crazy turns or strides. try your best. It feels like the board comes out. Feel its reaction to the waves. From there, I would say take your time and take baby steps. Longboard surfing will make your style smoother. This should be a different journey. You are not trying to pump or pull your butt. Take it easy. settle down. You want to pearl and blow a few parts, but just have fun. Oh, and look at the seedlings and sprouts.

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