Okay folks. Let me ask if we just might be doing this wrong.
JeanG: Re the nose punching through waves , less is best. These boards penetrate way better than a pointy long nose with lift through foam balls. Regardless of design the less foam you have under your feet the easier you will go through a wave. It might take more skills to stay up but the Vanguard shapes with the more square nose and tail are way more stable than a similar longer board same litres with a pointy nose and tail. Same goes when surfing the pocket the shorter and narrower the board the easier it fits. That's why these vanguard style shapes sometimes get over surfed. Everyone tries to smack everything and losses their timing and rush their turns. Best bit of advice I got from a guy at Noosa Woogie Marsh (Sup Pioneer in Aus) , he paddled over and said you are trying too hard "just slow down and time your turns"
The vanguards make you feel you are surfing like Kelly but you certainly don't look like it. These boards can be ridden on the flat or rail and it's quiet easy to become the "Dishpan King" the shorter and narrower you can go will return best performance , these design let go if you go too wide or too long. It doesn't translate over perfectly from the short board specs.
Not sure if I answered your question but these are a unique beast and far from perfect but it's a fun time trying them all
wonder when these will be hitting the shops
