Takayama In The Pink

We have been carrying Takayama Surfboards at the shop since the 1980's. In all of that time, our best selling model has always been the In The Pink, followed closely by the Model T and Opihi. The Takayama In the Pink is one of the greatest performance noserider surfboards on the planet. What makes the In the Pink so unique and easy to noseride?

Let's break it down…

Outline

2/3 Noserider….1/3 Performance Longboard

The first thing you'll notice when you take a look at the In the Pink is the big ol' nose outline. This thing offers enough surface area and lift to have a dance party on the nose.

The wide nose also offers incredible paddling, which is why you folks riding the In The Pink get into waves way earlier than you and everyone else. Flat entry rocker also helps with the paddle power and glide down the line - making this board catch waves and get up and go with ease. (See rocker photo below).

The wide (and parallel) outline continues through the top two-thirds of the board. That straight rail line is what allows this board to trim so well, and hold onto the face of the wave. That gives you stability and makes the In the Pink an excellent noserider.

The wide outline continues all the way thru the bottom third of the board, where it pulls in to a narrow square tail. Where that transition from wide to narrow occurs a pivot point is created on the board.

At this pivot point is also where the tail rocker becomes more exaggerated and aggressive. This gets the nose of the board out of the water while your back on the tail to allow you to turn and pivot the board easily.

These features (tail rocker, pulled in tail, and pivot point along rail) are what gives the ITP superior performance and hold, allowing you to push it into better surf and perform tighter and more responsive turns.

Waves

Thanks to the wide nose and pulled in tail, the In The Pink will surf well in anything from weak onshore slop to head high and lined up surf.

When the surf starts pumping, it tends to go better in a soft, Point Judith style point break, rather than a punchy wave. When the wave gets big and steep, the flat entry rocker makes it tricky to drop in late - so you need to get in early.

Bottom + Fins

With any noserider style longboard, the bottom contours will make a huge difference in your experience.

The In the Pink has a subtle single concave through the nose which, coupled with the width, gives it even more lift for nose riding. Single concave splits into rolled bottom concave right behind the nose and through the tail.

That rolled bottom helps the board transition rail to rail easily, combining with the pulled in tail to give you that performance maneuverability you don't typically feel in a noserider.

The rails are pretty soft throughout the board, but there is a bit of an edge or "hard rail" along the bottom just before the fins -running through the tail. This gives the tail of the board some "bite" and hold for when your pushing through a turn.

Donald Takayama designed the In the Pink with 3 finboxes, allowing the versatility to ride as 2+1 or a single fin. I you want a bit more maneuverability, added response, and quicker turns, than you may want to try it as a 2+1 setup. For this setup, use a smaller center fin and pair it with two side bites.

However, if you're into the loose and cruisey feel of a Single, then have at it! The single fin option will give you smoother and more drawn out turns. If you ride this board as a single fin, you will want a bigger fin that will reach deeper into the water to hold the tail down while your perched at the nose.

The Down Low

We recommend this board to anyone who is looking to improve their noseriding, with out sacrificing performance in turning.

Whether you're new to noseriding and looking to learn the ropes - or you're an intermediate or advanced surfer and looking to take your noseriding to the next level, the In The Pink is for sure worth the consideration.

If you want one board that can surf most conditions the east coast will throw at you - from 1-foot and mushy to clean head high, then the In The Pink is for you.

Shaper Notes: Takayama

"Ultimate high performance noserider! This is definitely the most loved and sought after model in Donalds range. Able to surf anything from one foot slop to overhead barrels, the In The Pink is definitely THE one longboard you must own. Perfect for the rider looking to own one longboard, or someone who is looking to become more accustomed to the nose, the In The Pink will have you loving your surfing again."

Standard Dimensions

9'0" x 22 7/8" x 3"

9'2" x 23" x 3"

9'4" x 23" x 3"

9'6" x 23 1/8" x 3 3/16"

9'8" x 23 1/4" x 3 3/16"

Notes about Takayama Surfboards

Takayama Surfboards on the East Coast have been being shaped and glassed by Ricky Carroll since the early 90's. Ricky is one of the best and most well rounded surfboard shapers in the world, which is why he was chosen as a "the guy" for Takayama Surfboards on the east coast. His quality craftsmanship and attention to detail continue to live up to Donald Takayama's high standard. Donald Takayama passed away in October 2012 because of complications during heart surgery.

Come down to the shop and get one of these under your arm. Want to get a custom in the works? We can do that too!