Takayama Model T

Takayama Model T

I have been wanting a Takayama Model T for many years, and finally, one was made available. I put an ad out on Craigslist for a traditional single fin noserider, and one respondent offered up his 10 ft. Model T, which of course I jumped at for a more than fair price. Put it this way, I could turn around and sell it for $250-$300 more than I bought it for. This Model T is the old version, not the T2. It was shaped by Donald not off a machine (this is per Donald's nephew Michael, who I grew up surfing with) using a Walker foam blank. It has heavy volan glass, no knee patch but a tail patch, T-band stringer, and boxed fin. It came with a 9-inch Takayama Pivot fin. Other than a snackle on the nose, knee paddle dents, and some rice paper discoloration on the bottom, the board is quite sweet.



How it rides
In a word, beautifully. I was expecting the board to be a bit unwieldy, given the size, but it was actually quite easy to ride. My first outing with it was at Blackies on a rather fast day, not really conducive to noseriding, what the board was made specifically to do. I actually was surprised how the board handled in the punchier surf. Blackies was crowded, as there was a swell in , a swell that wasn't holding very well in other spots. Shortboarders were out en masse and the vibe in the water was typical Huntington beach Pier, meaning the vibe was negative. You had guys turning around in front of you as you paddled for a wave, which is typical of HB pier. I dropped in on several serious waves and had a blast, garnering some decent full round house cutbacks in the process, which was a total surprise. Unlike a high performance board, like my 9'0" Scorpion, you can't really pump the Model T. You really just go with the flow. Turning the board was surprisingly easy, hence the ease of cutbacks. I was able to get a fast noseride going left, but had to back pedal after a while as the wave got too hollow for my liking. It was a leash day, and I wore a leash.
My second go out was at super small Blackies, which was two days after that Thursday. No leash, which is the way to go with this board, was the call. I had a super fun time catching the ankle to knee high runners, and was able to work on the footwork and placement.

The third outing was at a secret spot in OceanSlide with the Takayama brothers, Michael and Larry, and my surf friend Trace from Costa Mesa. This was by far the best day. We were the only surfers out for two hours and we were working with a decent southwest swell that was producing both rights and lefts. I really worked on my noseriding, and even got a super clean layback barrel on this overhead left. Michael and Larry were giving me props on that wave, in addition to Michael's noseriding advice from previous waves. That is one thing I really enjoy about Michael, and that is his constructive criticism that he lays on me as I practice the craft of noseriding. He got his advice direct from the master, Donald Takayama, so I take his advice to heart.

In all the Model T is a keeper. I am super stoked I chanced upon it, and for such a great deal. Thank you Mr. Gordon for the killer deal.



Takayama Model T review