When it comes to assessing boards with more bulk than your standard shortboard, few do it better than Devon Howard. And it’s not just lip service. Yes, he’s articulate, but he speaks from decades of experience. Whether it’s trimming longboards in Malibu and carving mid-lengths in Mexico, Devon does it with grace, speed, and high-level nuance.
Here, Devon breaks down two of his go-to boards at the moment. Both are Channel Islands models (he is their head of marketing, after all): The CI Mid Twin and the CI Noserider. My main takeaway from this insight is that not all boards are built and ride the same. It’s worth studying the differences the next time you’re standing in front of a rack. Regarding the twin, Devon found the two-keeled approach was a fun, easy choice for one key reason.
“The reason I chose this as one of the two (boards) is because I want to go fast,” he said. “It’s that easy. If I have to make a decision at the end of the day, it’s going to be going as fast as I can.”
Devon also brought up an understated point on mid-lengths: Bigger isn’t always better. As he explained verbally and visually, these boards deserve to be surfed on rail to fully maximize their speed and glide, not off the tail and fins like a shortboard. That requires a clean foil with appropriate rails.
“If you look at a bottom turn, you’ll see a lot of times that three-quarters of the rail is buried,” he said. “And for the design to work well with that, you need a rail to have a rail that’s not too thick. It doesn’t feel like a big boat.”
Speaking of big, Devon’s other quiver stable is a 9’8” noserider. But even in this long piece of foam, there’s still room for nuance. Devon explained how longboards can float and flex differently depending on shape and construction. Those are key factors when noseriding and trimming. Thanks to the steady hands and keen eye of longtime board builder Wayne Rich, Devon found his prefered log.
“I’ve learned over time that that rocker can be your friend,” Devon said. “I used to be really focused on super duper low rocker because they go fast. I also find that as I get older and more clumsy, I’m not as quick. Having a little more rocker, I think, allows for a greater sweet spot on the board. If I make a mistake or I pick the wrong line, having the extra rocker if it’s really cupped up or bowling out, I’ve gotten out of some sketchy situations by just having a bit of extra rocker.”
So the next time you’re about to pull out the credit card for board, consider the finer details like Devon shares above. Even better, ask a shaper or expert board builder. Get in the nitty gritty.
Related: How to Master the Art of Noseriding With 3x World Champ Soleil Errico