Nah, the point I got was surfing trumps arguing anyday. Could I say my mind was “changed”, since I’ve always been favorable toward unorthodox shapes for the sake of testing a theory, but now I understand the concepts and even the history behind asyms better, and am probably a lot closer to building one of my own, as a result of this thread. And specifically, of playing around with asymetric fin placement, based on Bill’s comments. So IMO anytime you learn something new, or gain a desire to try something new, in a way your mind is “changed”. I don’t know very much about surfboards, but every once in awhile I learn a little more. Which is why I come here.
Greg, depending on what part of the island you live, it could be flat or onshore. If you don’t mind driving around you can find waves. Lots of us are spoiled and don’t like having to go to the other side of the island for waves. Bernie and I are that way. Yesterday I rode onshore peaks with 2 foot faces, not much of a wall to enjoy, but I did get wet. Rode Bernie’s old 6-2 Grif 5fin and got a good workout. I’m pretty sore today, only my second surf in the last 6 months. Got a ways to go, but there’s a lot of time before “my” breaks start getting big.
I must say that my criteria for a good board is one that takes off when you put it on rail, doesn’t bog when you come out of a turn and turns so easily. You don’t have to put a lot of effort in to do what you want. The Griffin does just that, and I recall from surfing the Plus One asymm that it did the same. Really solid and power off my frontside into a smooth and easy cutback. The backside turns felt so nice and easy, and being a bit larger than my normal short board it paddled so good. I haven’t tried Bernie’s reverse asymm except for paddling it in and switching, but that one is big at 8 feet. I may end up taking that away from Bernie one day.
hey I want my Griffen back before you break it 
…naw just kidding
I’m due for a replacement anyway
but if you are progressing back to paddling a 6’2" already
are you saying that 10’ surflight I bought for your recovery was a waste of $$ ?
No I want to use it, but Mom said no come over, you not supposed to go beach, you supposed to clean the yard. She said she didn’t want me to bother you. I wanted to take something small and light, but would work in crap waves.
Fins are only a crutch
Rabbitsfoot + Ryan Burch Section - Almost Cut My Hair from Ryan Lovelace on Vimeo.
I’ve been shaping and surfing asyms for about 4 years now.
I will tell you 3 things:
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It made surfing and shaping fun again for me.
-
True Asymmetrical design starts with the surfer’s stance, and it’s not just 2 different templates smacked together.
-
Asyms are much more relevant for longboards than shortboards
~Brian
187 RT 71 | Manasquan | NJ | 08736
Hey Brian love to see some pics of your asyms - any chance you could put some up?
Greenlight—
My favorite longboard spot is thick with bodies and my longboard thick with dust. My longest asymmetrical is 6’8’', for no particular reason.
I’m curious about your comment #3. I would think the opposite. Seems that when you have a long surfboard, rail length and planing area would have more influence on the ride than planshape or rocker (frontside vs.backside.)
You can only go so wide, one side vs. the other, and you’re limited as to how much the rocker can be asymmetrical one side vs.the other.
This seems like a case where skeg size and arrangement might make the most difference.
JW
I love shaping them not only for the ride.
And the never-ending search for perfection.
And all the questions down at the beach.
I shape them because I can.
I love the challenge to shape ALL types of surfcraft.
This year I shaped a 4’ 2" shortboard to an 11" Jose Angel replica.
And everything in between.
I just want to be the most deverse Shaper/Boardbuilder I can be.
And if it helps further surf design, bonus!
Hi Barry—
That only a range of 39"!!!
why is this all about the outline and fin placement ?/ what about having more rail thickness on your bankhand. I had 1 board go real good backhand a while back on closer inspection about 2/8 thicker on the back hand rail.
Also heard josh kerr and Rusty using something similar in the Tahati contest this year.
Hey Huck
I uploaded a short video of one of my favorite Asyms from a few years ago. 8’0" x 22" (not 11"/11" from the centerline of course) x 2 3/4" . Stringerless EPS / S-glass / RR Quik Kick, vac bagged with Balinese Batik fabric.
2 + 1 fin setup, single concave running only into toe side concave, heel side is a panel Vee which increases the heel side tail rocker for obvious reasons. Centerfin used with this board is an 8" volan pivot flex from Larry Allison, toe side fin is a bamboo fin I made morphing a sidebite, keel, and standard tri fin template placed I think 10" up… heel fin is a bamboo sidebite placed 15" -16" up. Wish I had more pics, gave the board away…
http://youtu.be/qU1a_guHVus
Quazi - Shortboards are already loose compared to longboards. Asym design of a longboard really opens up the performance while adding the benefit of early entry and easy paddling.
~Brian
187 Rt 71 | Manasquan | NJ | 08736
I personally don’t agree that assymetrical design is more relevant in regard to longer boards.
Actually I think it’s the opposite, you can make a real short and wide board with lots of float but improve (a lot!) on backside surfing. At least, that what it means to me and that’s the nice thing, there are no conventions. You just try to figure out what works for yourself along the way. Must be pretty difficult to build an assym for someone else or as a “stock” board. As someone said, you have to break it down to step 1: how do you surf and what is your stance …
This is my first (goofy) assym and favourite board now. It can really dig in on backside turns, unlike similar volume widetailed boards I have made and surfed. I exchanged it in the surf with a friend and we had a long 10 minute laugh about how he thought the nose looked like shit and we switched again … some people just don’t get it!
2/8"?
(sorry, can't get photo to post, but here's the link)A photo posted by @rustypreisendorfer on Aug 12, 2016 at 6:34pm PDT
does this work?
Better late than never.