Soulcraft

[Chrisjjbrown]

Which Soul Craft board do you like best and why?

I am thinking about the Blunt Nose any recommendations. No way to Demo so any info would be great.

[shawndoggy]

Unlikely that very many have ridden enough to be able to give you a good opinion. I haven't.

I'd prolly call Jeff and tell him your riding style, skill level, experience, what you are looking for from the board and trust his judgment.

[Chrisjjbrown]

Unlikely that very many have ridden enough to be able to give you a good opinion. I haven't.

I'd prolly call Jeff and tell him your riding style, skill level, experience, what you are looking for from the board and trust his judgment.

Sure understand, you your picture looks like you have one, which one, Do you like and is it worth the cost as opposed to mass produced board?

[shawndoggy]

Sure understand, you your picture looks like you have one, which one, Do you like and is it worth the cost as opposed to mass produced board?

I have a fangtail.

Sooooo worth it.

[dealjb]

Rode a friend of mines Honu in a 4'9 and loved it. Super fast down the line, quick edge to edge and releases easily off of the wake. I was not sure what to order, but as SD suggested I called and talked to Jeff about my style and size.

Ordered a Honu 2 inches shorter and .25 narrower based on Jeff's recommendation.

Super excited, feel like I am waiting on Santa Clause!

Do wish I would have had the opportunity to ride a Fangtail.

Edited July 16, 2015 by dealjb

[DocPhil]

I rode a fang tail a few times and didn't care for it at all.

I would recommend a demo board.

[shawndoggy]

I rode a fang tail a few times and didn't care for it at all.

I would recommend a demo board.

I thought you had an emily?

[DocPhil]

I thought you had an emily?

No remember you made fun of me because the fang tail was a "gift" for the wife but happen to fit me perfectly

[shawndoggy]

No remember you made fun of me because the fang tail was a "gift" for the wife but happen to fit me perfectly

lol old age. I thought you had the same board my wife got. She's kinda meh on it too. My son can ride it well, but it sortof "rides her" because she's not good at driving the rail.

[IXFE]

Unlikely that very many have ridden enough to be able to give you a good opinion. I haven't.

I'd prolly call Jeff and tell him your riding style, skill level, experience, what you are looking for from the board and trust his judgment.

This right here is why I don't own a "custom" board. I know you like to advocate the custom stuff, Shawn. But think about it...

I'm supposed to call a complete stranger, somebody I've never met before, who's never seen me surf, nor has any idea what my wave is like... and I'm supposed to trust this guy to listen to me babbling about myself and then prescribe an $800 board for me which I may or may not get before Christmas.

No thanks...

[shawndoggy]

This right here is why I don't own a "custom" board. I know you like to advocate the custom stuff, Shawn. But think about it...

I'm supposed to call a complete stranger, somebody I've never met before, who's never seen me surf, nor has any idea what my wave is like... and I'm supposed to trust this guy to listen to me babbling about myself and then prescribe an $800 board for me which I may or may not get before Christmas.

No thanks...

Well ... I haven't "met" the guy who designed my boat or my wakeboard either. So let's throw out that red herring.

"seen you surf"... I've "heard" that some people use photographic equipment to record themselves and then use a vast series of tubes called the "interweb$" or some such thing so share movies. So I'm pretty sure you could let someone from afar "see you surf." Not the same as in person but not the same as blind either.

We've discussed your aversion to delayed gratification, I can't help you there.

And as for the people who actually do partake in the "sport" side of wakesurfing (i.e. competing) there sure are a lot of SC's on the podium. If you ever meet Jeff, you'll know it's not because of his vast payroll.

But you could order from someone else too. Chaos, doomswell, brigade, etc. SC isn't the only choice for sure. wrap yourself up in the flag and buy American for goodness sake IXFE! The Chinese already have enough of your Exile money!

Edited July 17, 2015 by shawndoggy

[IXFE]

Just to give more context... I did call Soulcraft two years ago and had that conversation. The prescription for me was.... surprise! A Fangtail, which was the "it" board back then. Lucky for me skurfer had a demo Fangtail that I was able to use in my size. He teases me to this day because I kept it for a month!! I surfed it for probably a dozen sessions. Why?? Because I wanted to like it so bad. But I didn't, and I finally gave up on it and gave it back to skurfer. So much for Jeff's prescription.

If you call today I bet the prescription will likely be the Blunt Nose Honu... as that seems to be the "it" board this year. I really think all these guys really do is help you get into the right size given your weight (not rocket science).

Bottom line, don't buy one of these boards unless you can demo first. Unless you're the kind of guy likes to put $800 on red and can shrug it off when that little ball lands on black.

[IXFE]

Well ... I haven't "met" the guy who designed my boat or my wakeboard either. So let's throw out that red herring.

"seen you surf"... I've "heard" that some people use photographic equipment to record themselves and then use a vast series of tubes called the "interweb$" or some such thing so share movies. So I'm pretty sure you could let someone from afar "see you surf." Not the same as in person but not the same as blind either.

We've discussed your aversion to delayed gratification, I can't help you there.

And as for the people who actually do partake in the "sport" side of wakesurfing (i.e. competing) there sure are a lot of SC's on the podium. If you ever meet Jeff, you'll know it's not because of his vast payroll.

But you could order from someone else too. Chaos, doomswell, brigade, etc. SC isn't the only choice for sure. wrap yourself up in the flag and buy American for goodness sake IXFE! The Chinese already have enough of your Exile money!

Totally worthless post. You know exactly what I'm saying, Shawn.

I don't need to know the designer of my wakeboard or my boat.... BECAUSE I CAN DEMO THEM!

[shawndoggy]

Totally worthless post. You know exactly what I'm saying, Shawn.

I don't need to know the designer of my wakeboard or my boat.... BECAUSE I CAN DEMO THEM!

Whether you know them or not is not the point then. We agree.

And not worthless. If you really want a chance to ride 'em all, go to polar bear or the surf fest in Utah next month. You will probably find your glass slipper there.

You are right that it is difficult to get handmade boards to demo because production margins aren't high enough that distributors can order a million to sit in a warehouse or provide an attractive enough wholesale price for retailers to bite. Basically there isn't too much markup between the price direct to consumer and price to retailer.

Much like the exile model, actually (and probably also a reason exile could be comparatively harder to demo than WS).

[IXFE]

Whether you know them or not is not the point then. We agree.

And not worthless. If you really want a chance to ride 'em all, go to polar bear or the surf fest in Utah next month. You will probably find your glass slipper there.

You are right that it is difficult to get handmade boards to demo because production margins aren't high enough that distributors can order a million to sit in a warehouse or provide an attractive enough wholesale price for retailers to bite. Basically there isn't too much markup between the price direct to consumer and price to retailer.

Much like the exile model, actually (and probably also a reason exile could be comparatively harder to demo than WS).

Surf fest in Utah is today, right? I thought about going, just couldn't slip away... but the desire is there and the wife is supportive. Maybe I'll do Polar Bear. October, right?

You're right... maybe some day I will own custom, but it will only be after an event like this where I can try them all... no way am I doing the call-a-biased-stranger-and-let-him-talk-me-into-sending-him-800-bucks business model.

Exile is a bad analogy... you know how many XM9's I heard on the water before buying them...? They're everywhere and it's not like there are tons of different models. I knew exactly what I was investing in the day I wrote the check. And you may recall, at the time I was coming off a bad deal from the other stereo guys, ironically the system I bought w/out a demo, just based on reputation, forum banter, and trust... so my mentality then was "anything but."

Edited July 17, 2015 by IXFE

[IXFE]

One last comment, because I realize we diverted to my issues, not the OP's question.

I personally think it's a little reckless to advocate that a person call and trust the manufacturer to sell you the right board without spelling out the risk. It's a gamble. And just because that gamble works out for some does not mean it works out for everybody. I'm not the only one who's tried a Soulcraft and thought, "meh." Even Shawn admits he has one in his family that is "meh."

And just because the pros use it... please, don't get me started. I'm a pretty good golfer, but I don't use the same clubs (blades) that most pros use. Can I hit them, sure. But it's not the best choice for MY game.

[wakemitch]

No owner of a Wakesurf company is going to talk you into the wrong board. The industry is too small and they don't want people to be unhappy with their board.

They know their product better than everyone and will make the best suggestion they can if the rider provides accurate info about their riding and wake

I personally trust jeff's suggestions.

[IXFE]

No owner of a Wakesurf company is going to talk you into the wrong board. The industry is too small and they don't want people to be unhappy with their board.

They know their product better than everyone and will make the best suggestion they can if the rider provides accurate info about their riding and wake

I personally trust jeff's suggestions.

But would he tell you if he didn't have a board for you... that you should call Chaos instead??

My thinking is they only know THEIR product line. So the recommendation is limited by that fact.

Even then it's a crap shoot... if it was a science as some are suggesting, then how was I so badly misdiagnosed?

Demo Demo Demo!

[shawndoggy]

Surf fest in Utah is today, right? I thought about going, just couldn't slip away... but the desire is there and the wife is supportive. Maybe I'll do Polar Bear. October, right?

You're right... maybe some day I will own custom, but it will only be after an event like this where I can try them all... no way am I doing the call-a-biased-stranger-and-let-him-talk-me-into-sending-him-800-bucks business model.

Exile is a bad analogy... you know how many XM9's I heard on the water before buying them...? They're everywhere and it's not like there are tons of different models. I knew exactly what I was investing in the day I wrote the check. And you may recall, at the time I was coming off a bad deal from the other stereo guys, ironically the system I bought w/out a demo, just based on reputation, forum banter, and trust... so my mentality then was "anything but."

Teh utah surffest was the weekend of August 15th I think? I half thought of signing up for a couple of minutes.

Exile's business model, not your personal experience with the brand. If you lived on oceanside CA you could probably try a bunch of soulcrafts too (or doomswell/chaos in TX/etc). It's just that dealers don't want to stock a bunch of expensive "rack" boards that go for $800 apiece only to find that customers call the guru him or herself and get a better deal direct. That's why the boards are hard to demo (and exiles are impossible to demo in my area).

Edited July 17, 2015 by shawndoggy

[Chaos]

Sorry to resurrect an old string, but this one is awesome. I love the back and forth.

To use a common phrase 'Know your shaper'

Also, if your shaper can't contrast his board models versus others, get a new shaper. The realities are all these so called custom board models are based on a handful of mother boards created by a few of us decades ago.

Nick

[Chrisjjbrown]

The best part about this is I am pretty sure IXFE just posted a picture of the New Soul Craft that he ordered

[Lance B. Johnson]

The best part about this is I am pretty sure IXFE just posted a picture of the New Soul Craft that he ordered

I saw it in person. That is a sweet board for sure.

[skurfer]

I saw it in person. That is a sweet board for sure.

Will be killer to see his sponsors laminated into the board, not just stickers!

[IXFE]

The best part about this is I am pretty sure IXFE just posted a picture of the New Soul Craft that he ordered

I saw it in person. That is a sweet board for sure.

I'm kinda speechless... somehow I had forgotten all about this thread until I just saw it pop up. Imagine my horror to go back and read some of my own posts. Um, yeah... time for me to eat crow. It doesn't happen often, so enjoy it while it lasts!!

So a lot changed since I posted those thoughts. Most importantly, this past Fall I got to surf extensively on another Fangtail (Darkside), Honu (Anderson24), and HC Pro (Wakesetter67). When I surfed the Fangtail and Honu behind Darkside's 24 MXZ, those guys are my witness... it was like my eyes were instantly opened. And it wasn't like I loved one more than the other... sure they felt slightly different, but both of them felt so fast, light, and maneuverable under my feet. Then a week later I come home and get invited on a 25 LSV demo. Guess who's there on the same demo...? None other than Wakesetter67 with his SC HC Pro. Given my experience the week earlier, I was super anxious to try Vince's board. That's the day it all clicked. I would have taken that board home if Vince would have let me!

So here's the real lesson for me...

I realize now that I probably wasn't a good enough surfer to appreciate the Fangtail that I demo'd two years ago. Here's what I mean... two years ago I would have told you that the Fangtail was too unstable or "tippy" (side-to-side). Now I see it as highly maneuverable and very quick "rail to rail." Here's what I also like about these boards... I've been riding a 4'5" Ronix Carbon Powertail for the past two years, by all measures a very light board. These Soulcrafts are even lighter, and it's especially noticeable in the nose. So why does that matter? For me that lightness and quick rail to rail action makes my bottom turns noticeably wider... I find I can venture out further because I can quickly change directions and get back to the wave faster. And I can feel that it's much faster "up the face of the wave" and it's easier to feel "light" as I crest the lip of the wave. It just feels like air under my feet and makes me feel like I can thrash it all over the place trying all sorts of new moves. It's like the board isn't even there (compared to the feeling of other boards under foot). Kinda like the first time you tried on a pair of Nike Free 3.0 shoes. Remember that? Remember how you thought, "Are those even shoes on my feet? Feels more like socks!" Anyway, that's the first time I've tried to articulate how the SC boards feel to me, so I apologize to the purists if I'm using the wrong lingo.

For those of you who didn't see it in the other thread, here's the board I saw at the show in Skurfers booth. It instantly reminded me how much I liked Vince's HC Pro and inspired me to order my own that day (it was an impulse buy, a b-day present to myself). All I did was ask for black wood instead of the brown. Jeff came up with the white rails, I think. I love how it matches my new boat. And since it's a custom design I figured why not throw a few logos on there?

Jeff, if you are reading this... sorry I doubted you. I just needed to demo demo demo... now I'm a believer and I'm so excited to get my new board (I think it's in lamination today). And skurfer... you're the man. Really appreciate your help on this. Finally to Shawndoggy... you were right, as usual. Someday I'll learn to just do it your way the first time.

Edited February 11, 2016 by IXFE

[Chrisjjbrown]

I want one so much.