Desert Storm surfboard
udo wrote:
7'6 " -Sold
Anyone on Swellnet buy it...Mcface ?
I didn't as I knew that storing a 6th surfboard in our 1 bedroom apartment wouldn't be well received by the missus (particularly one not being used that often), however I'm kicking myself that I passed up the opportunity now. A bit more juice to give me confidence on the bigger days, and to pack into the overseas quiver when the opportunity arises would be great to have.
6'10" D.S. $450 neg
https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/mermaid-waters/surfing/6-10-webster-des…
I'll be selling my 6'6 DS once I'm back down south, bit to my volume for me, keeping the 6'10 though :)
Thanks. I’ve got a 6’10. Might look at getting one of the lower volume 6’6s down the track.
No worries, the 6'10 I have is 20" x 3" at 43.5L and is great. Think the 6'6 is just too much volume for me.
Cool. My 6'10 is 48.5L. Haven't had the opportunity to use it much in the conditions it's made for but that lower volume sounds good. I can duckdive mine but only just.
Thats what Webbys literage chart shows...its only .5 Ltr over 4 inches length.
https://www.webstersurfboards.com.au/guns/#desert-storm
My suggestion, is it depends what you're after. I have the slim 6'6 (on the chart there it says 38.5 but pretty sure mine is 38L). Thing is though I'm 6'6 myself. I have a lot of fun on it but if I really want to push it in a bit more size, I probably would be better off with the slim version with a little more length, either 6'8 or 6'10, as the 6'6 has comparable volume to my other boards. Then again if I want to use it in a greater variety of conditions, but still be useful on bigger days I probably would have been better off with the wide version at a couple inches less, say 6'4.
I grabbed mine off gumtree (as udo knows) so obviously finding ideal dims is going to be difficult. But having said that I think the slim 6'6 version was designed for a smaller person than me, and if I had a second shot I'd either be getting that 6'8/6'10 slim or the 6'3/6'4 wide.
Bnkref, I have a 6'10 x 19 3/4 x 3. Absolutely love it and have ridden it a lot for three years. My shorter on is 6'4 x 19 1/2 x 2 3/4, and it looks, feels and surfs like a completely different board. Much finer rails, and more of a finesse board.
Both are great. But long story short, I'd slim down the dims on shorter a DS.
Concur with you there Island Bay on a shorter DS. On a different note, he's just shaped me a 6'2 x 20 x 2 3/4" @ 37L 4 channel twin pin model, something completely different for me
Thanks Island Bay. Yeah I was thinking along the lines of this option he offers: 6’6 x 19 1/2 x 2 3/4 – 38.5L
Might get a new one when my current step up gives up the ghost.
Davesansom wrote:
I looking at the DS but am also interested in another of Webster's model the wacko maybe it's abit more versatile, anyone had a crack on the wacko model? Thinking around 6'2 or 6'4 as abit if an all-rounder
G'day, did you end up getting a wacko? I like the description of them on his site. I'm wondering if anyone has any feedback on them.
freeride76 wrote:
yep.
magic board
Hi freedride, what conditions/wave size do you use the 6'6" in?
Those dimensions sound better for 6’6 x 19 1/2 x 2 3/4 – 38.5L Bnkref and FR76 confirms it :)
freeride76 wrote:
anything from 4-5ft to 8ft
would ride in clean 8-10ft Indo.
Can confirm that my 6'10 DS goes very nicely at 8ft Impossibles.
Hey guys, finally got on the DS train just in time for this last run of swell in Sydney. I don't know why I waited so long! As a bigger guy (6'5 115kg) I'm now starting to wonder how a smaller size might go in chest high daily waves. For reference I rode a 6'10 x 21 1/4 x 3 1/8 50L wacko most of the winter and went with a 7'2 x 21 1/4 x 3 3/8 55L DS. The paddle is unbelievable as expected, but I was really surprised how easy it rolled rail to rail and the hold for a 3 3/8 thick board was impressive. Thanks for all the inspiration and knowledge everybody, I see a few more of these being ordered in the future.
Wonder what it is about these boards that people love so much?
I’m thinking it’s the “foam is your friend” saying.
If you can’t catch waves then you’re having a shit house surf, and the DS certainly give you a head start in that respect.
Interested to hear others thoughts…
Goofy I have a 7 footer DS for a couple of local fickle reefs went they fire get a bit of size.
Webby sussed me out what I wanted and the waves I was surfing.
When I got it I wasn't that impressed seemed like a big lump of foam.
Tried it in smaller waves to get the feel of it and it really didn't do much for me.
Then the 1st sold wave I took off on the board just lit up, quite surprised me.
Really sure under foot but for a 7 footer I can throw it around a bit I rate the board highly.
The paddle power is OK but not that much more than expected unlike performance which quite surprised me however it does need a bit of grunt to get going.
I think for me the key was Webby changing the dims for what I needed and me keeping my mouth shut.
I focus wrote:
I think for me the key was Webby changing the dims for what I needed and me keeping my mouth shut.
Thats what I did for this one as well. Most of my other boards from Webby I called and told him what I wanted. For the DS, I just said "I know this is your baby, you know my other boards, this is what I want to use it for, ill leave the rest up to you." Will probably just do this from now on haha
Goofy, if a heavily concaved HP step up is like a high-revving, souped-up Ferrari, then a DS is a heavier machine with heaps of torque.
It feels smooth and plows through chop, and surfs real 'grunty'. It's a very nice feeling, and very different from normal step ups.
Yes, they paddle well, but it's not like night and day.
any observations on comparisons between the MC protow and the DS?
bonza wrote:
any observations on comparisons between the MC protow and the DS?
I have a few of both those models. 6'5 and 6'9 pro tow's and 6'11 and 7'9 DS's.
Pro Tows are super fast and have a real knify/edgy feel. Great for clean hollow pumping waves. They paddle well and are fairly high performance when you get them going. You need to have your feet in the right position with them i have found, they seem to have a defined sweet spot.
Desert Storms are paddling beasts (common knowledge i know) and for me a really forgiving board. They glide into waves, will compensate any poor form to a degree on takeoffs and eat up wonk and chop if conditions aren't ideal. I've found them to make those so-so conditions when other boards are chattering underfoot much better ... even surfing solid NW WA on them in a light easterly when one well known wave up there becomes even harder to surf. Smoothed it out and made it pretty do-able. Less performance than a pro tow which you would expect due to the amount of foam in the DS and the different foils etc etc
I rate both boards highly, My DS's have been pulled in through the tail and the rails are a little more refined as per my request which webby was happy to do (he's a top bloke)
Whitey62 wrote:
For reference I rode a 6'10 x 21 1/4 x 3 1/8 50L wacko most of the winter and went with a 7'2 x 21 1/4 x 3 3/8 55L DS.
G'day Whitey, what's the diff in performance between the wacko and DS?
cycd wrote:
any observations on comparisons between the MC protow and the DS?I have a few of both those models. 6'5 and 6'9 pro tow's and 6'11 and 7'9 DS's.
Pro Tows are super fast and have a real knify/edgy feel. Great for clean hollow pumping waves. They paddle well and are fairly high performance when you get them going. You need to have your feet in the right position with them i have found, they seem to have a defined sweet spot.
Desert Storms are paddling beasts (common knowledge i know) and for me a really forgiving board. They glide into waves, will compensate any poor form to a degree on takeoffs and eat up wonk and chop if conditions aren't ideal. I've found them to make those so-so conditions when other boards are chattering underfoot much better ... even surfing solid NW WA on them in a light easterly when one well known wave up there becomes even harder to surf. Smoothed it out and made it pretty do-able. Less performance than a pro tow which you would expect due to the amount of foam in the DS and the different foils etc etc
I rate both boards highly, My DS's have been pulled in through the tail and the rails are a little more refined as per my request which webby was happy to do (he's a top bloke)
Thanks for chiming in, cycd.
My thoughts exactly, but I didn't want to claim any expert status. And it's been a few years since I had a Protow. Would love to surf one at J Bay (without any hint of devil wind!).
My step up is a Protow and x2 on the sweet spot. It's a pretty unforgiving board unless your foot position is close to perfect. Lock in though on a good wave and you're almost in another dimension.
Thanks all. Much appreciated. My step up protow is 6’4 and love it but yeah those DS sound good.
There’s a 7’6 DS for sale on the Surfcoast Secondhand Surfboards Facebook page. $600. Looks like it’s in good condition. Seller is in Lorne.
Patrick wrote:
G'day Whitey, what's the diff in performance between the wacko and DS?
The Wacko is definitely more of a standard shortboard feel but with a bit more hold from the pulled in round tail and a little more foam under your chest. A lot more refined and quicker rail to rail. The wacko paddles a bit better than a standard shortboard but not by much, where the desert storm is a way better paddler IMO. The weight and momentum, smoothness and glide from the DS really set it apart.
Whitey62 wrote:
G'day Whitey, what's the diff in performance between the wacko and DS?
The Wacko is definitely more of a standard shortboard feel but with a bit more hold from the pulled in round tail and a little more foam under your chest. A lot more refined and quicker rail to rail. The wacko paddles a bit better than a standard shortboard but not by much, where the desert storm is a way better paddler IMO. The weight and momentum, smoothness and glide from the DS really set it apart.
You told me so cool about the board that I decided to definitely try it. I'm not a great surfer, I'm just learning, but I realize now that I still have a long way to go :)
udo wrote:
6'10" D.S. $450 neg
Hell, I was offered a board like that for 850! Good thing I didn't buy it.
Pokitren wrote:
G'day Whitey, what's the diff in performance between the wacko and DS?
The Wacko is definitely more of a standard shortboard feel but with a bit more hold from the pulled in round tail and a little more foam under your chest. A lot more refined and quicker rail to rail. The wacko paddles a bit better than a standard shortboard but not by much, where the desert storm is a way better paddler IMO. The weight and momentum, smoothness and glide from the DS really set it apart.
You told me so cool about the board that I decided to definitely try it. I'm not a great surfer, I'm just learning, but I realize now that I still have a long way to go :)
If you're a total beginner i wouldnt start with a DS personally i would start with something like an epoxy mini mal or bigger size fish- quad or twinny doesnt matter too much.
Depending on where you surf and your body size/fitness level.
Then when you start getting into waves easy on that, start riding a mid length to step up and work your way down to a shortboard. Thats what i would do if learning all over again. get at least 5 extra litres in volume than a shaper/retailer recomends for your body size and try to find some easy rolling waves somewhere, not barreling or throwing too much..even start off in whitewash going straight if you cant find your feet.
I recently had a few months away from surfing and it felt like i had to start all over again as i tried on a few boards and couldnt find my feet. Went to a oversize fish(34 litres im 75 kilos) and surfed ok.
Glassed light which makes it easier to catch waves.Still a lot of work to do to get into sucky waves or paddle against rips etc but surfing ok.
if you work out your needed volume, go by your board volume, minus your weight off of it and it should be -40 negative float, to paddle well and catch plenty of waves.
if you're 65 kilos, then that means your needed board would be 35 litres for good learning paddle power.even another 5 litres.
If you can trim, get into waves and everything then its up to you to decide but imo a desert storm isnt an easy board to surf and they are heavier than a learner needs imo. Made for serious waves and choppy conditions.
Udo or Brutus would know more about that.
By the way what i meant by 40 negative float would be for a step up or shortboard that needs paddle power, not a mini mal which would be much less than 40 negative float.
Nice board and good price. Slimmed down version from the stock dims by the looks of it.
groundswell wrote:
G'day Whitey, what's the diff in performance between the wacko and DS?
The Wacko is definitely more of a standard shortboard feel but with a bit more hold from the pulled in round tail and a little more foam under your chest. A lot more refined and quicker rail to rail. The wacko paddles a bit better than a standard shortboard but not by much, where the desert storm is a way better paddler IMO. The weight and momentum, smoothness and glide from the DS really set it apart.
You told me so cool about the board that I decided to definitely try it. I'm not a great surfer, I'm just learning, but I realize now that I still have a long way to go :)
If you're a total beginner i wouldnt start with a DS personally i would start with something like an epoxy mini mal or bigger size fish- quad or twinny doesnt matter too much.
Depending on where you surf and your body size/fitness level.
Then when you start getting into waves easy on that, start riding a mid length to step up and work your way down to a shortboard. Thats what i would do if learning all over again. get at least 5 extra litres in volume than a shaper/retailer recomends for your body size and try to find some easy rolling waves somewhere, not barreling or throwing too much..even start off in whitewash going straight if you cant find your feet.
I recently had a few months away from surfing and it felt like i had to start all over again as i tried on a few boards and couldnt find my feet. Went to a oversize fish(34 litres im 75 kilos) and surfed ok.
Glassed light which makes it easier to catch waves.Still a lot of work to do to get into sucky waves or paddle against rips etc but surfing ok.
if you work out your needed volume, go by your board volume, minus your weight off of it and it should be -40 negative float, to paddle well and catch plenty of waves.
if you're 65 kilos, then that means your needed board would be 35 litres for good learning paddle power.even another 5 litres.If you can trim, get into waves and everything then its up to you to decide but imo a desert storm isnt an easy board to surf and they are heavier than a learner needs imo. Made for serious waves and choppy conditions.
Thanks for your reply!
Discussion about the
"Desert Storm" shaped by Wayne Webster
Ridden and designed by the "Camel"