About a month ago I bought a righteous used Fish from my local shop. It is made by Choice Surfboards in San Diego. I’m not familar with that brand or shaper (I’m in Ventura County), but I really dig the board and want to learn more about it’s origins. The Fish doesn’t have any dimensions written on it, but I think it is about 6’ 2" by 21" x 3". It has a deep swall tail and the fins are marine ply quads, glassed on and very cool. The board has a more nose rocker than my old Brom Fish, but it goes like an absolute demon at the local point break. I’ve never ridden a quad before, but I’m really digging the way it feels loose, but holds to a hollow wall like it’s nailed on. The other interesting thing about it is the full length deck grip, which is kinda inlaid into the deck. Can anyone here tell me who shaped designed and shaped this board, and where I might order another one like it? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks
About a month ago I bought a righteous used Fish from my local shop. It is > made by Choice Surfboards in San Diego. I’m not familar with that brand or > shaper (I’m in Ventura County), but I really dig the board and want to > learn more about it’s origins.>>> The Fish doesn’t have any dimensions written on it, but I think it is > about 6’ 2" by 21" x 3". It has a deep swall tail and the > fins are marine ply quads, glassed on and very cool.>>> The board has a more nose rocker than my old Brom Fish, but it goes like > an absolute demon at the local point break. I’ve never ridden a quad > before, but I’m really digging the way it feels loose, but holds to a > hollow wall like it’s nailed on.>>> The other interesting thing about it is the full length deck grip, which > is kinda inlaid into the deck.>>> Can anyone here tell me who shaped designed and shaped this board, and > where I might order another one like it? Any help would be appreciated.>>> Thanks Choice customs are shaped by the one and only Rich ‘Toby’ Pavel, from Ocean Beach (the san diego one). I’ve got his # at work, and can get you in contact with him if you want to send me an email.
Thanks Tyler - I’ll send ya an email.
Thanks Tyler - I’ll send ya an email. WC- As Tyler said, Toby shaped your board. I think you may have a kneeboard. Several kneeboarders that I know have their deck dished a bit on then lay down that neoprene material for their knees. But that does not mean a thing if you’re digging the board. Isn’t it a difference between the Quad and the trad. keel finned fish?
About a month ago I bought a righteous used Fish from my local shop. It is > made by Choice Surfboards in San Diego. I’m not familar with that brand or > shaper (I’m in Ventura County), but I really dig the board and want to > learn more about it’s origins.>>> The Fish doesn’t have any dimensions written on it, but I think it is > about 6’ 2" by 21" x 3". It has a deep swall tail and the > fins are marine ply quads, glassed on and very cool.>>> The board has a more nose rocker than my old Brom Fish, but it goes like > an absolute demon at the local point break. I’ve never ridden a quad > before, but I’m really digging the way it feels loose, but holds to a > hollow wall like it’s nailed on.>>> The other interesting thing about it is the full length deck grip, which > is kinda inlaid into the deck.>>> Can anyone here tell me who shaped designed and shaped this board, and > where I might order another one like it? Any help would be appreciated.>>> Thanks How old is the Brom Fish? Wave Carver
Your board was shaped by Rich “Toby” Pavel of Ocean Beach in San Diego. I’ve been riding for him for a couple of months now and he makes the best boards i’ve ever seen. and on top of that, he’s the coolest guy around. He’s been shaping for a long time now and REALLY knows his stuff. If you need to contact him, ive got his number and the address of his shop, etc. -steve
Your board was shaped by Rich “Toby” Pavel of Ocean Beach in San > Diego. I’ve been riding for him for a couple of months now and he makes > the best boards i’ve ever seen. and on top of that, he’s the coolest guy > around. He’s been shaping for a long time now and REALLY knows his stuff. > If you need to contact him, ive got his number and the address of his > shop, etc.>>> -steve Toby calls this a CQC (Conard Quad Cutaway). This board design works insane. This model you are refering to is a kneeboard. If you are into kneeboards he makes an insane spoon. I had the honor of learning to shape from this master carver. There is nothing he can’t shape.
Thanks for the good info. I figured people on Swaylocks would know about my board - the thing works too damn well for the shaper to be a secret. Tim - yeah, the quad is very different than the twin, though I can’t really explain how. It’s just a unique and very rad ride. Fast too, I can connect the sections and maintain speed through the flatest of flat spots. The thing just rocks. Magic Man - I bought my Brom fish about 1 1/2 years ago. It’s not really “old” but it’s old to me since I sold it already. I regret it sometimes, but I feel that the Choice Fish is a better board for me and my style. Steve - you’re riding for Toby huh? You’re a lucky son of a gun. Where is his shop located? Ken - the Conard Quad Cutaway? I noticed that the back fins are cut away, I assume that is where the name came from? I dig the way the fins work, the only thing they don’t seem to handle well is kelp, which damn near stops the board dead in the water. Other than that the entire package is brilliant. I’m keen to learn more about the design of the board and the fins, so if anyone knows more, please keep it coming. Cheers
Any chance of posting a picture of this board? Would really like to check out the fin set up.
Your board was shaped by Rich “Toby” Pavel of Ocean Beach in San > Diego. I’ve been riding for him for a couple of months now and he makes > the best boards i’ve ever seen. and on top of that, he’s the coolest guy > around. He’s been shaping for a long time now and REALLY knows his stuff. > If you need to contact him, ive got his number and the address of his > shop, etc.>>> -steve Well Steve I hate to burst your bubble again, but like the Ohana’s that you’ve seen at Blackies, it’s me again, this time its Rich’s boards being “ghosted”. Jim
I bet several people on this site would like any specifics you might provide on fin dimensions and layout - Thanks!
hey jim, you mean to say you are shaping under rich’s name? -steve
His shop is in Ocean Beach, Ca, (just south of mission beach in san diego). The address is 1963 Abbott Street. basically, if you go down the main street in ocean beach, when you hit the pier, make a right, his shop will be on the right side of the road just a few blocks down. It’s called THE GREEN ROOM, and there’s lots of boards hanging in the windows and stuff. COOLEST SHOP IVE EVER BEEN TO. but keep your eyes peeled, its easy to drive right by it. -steve>>> Steve - you’re riding for Toby huh? You’re a lucky son of a gun. Where is > his shop located?
Well Steve I hate to burst your bubble again, but like the Ohana’s that > you’ve seen at Blackies, it’s me again, this time its Rich’s boards being > “ghosted”. Jim …you blow me away Jim! Your length and breadth of experience and knowledge is inspiring. Magoo
Tuna - I’m not sure how to post photos here but I’ll be happy to email you some photos of the quad fins. John, same goes for you. Email me at and I’ll send ya back some pictures. (It may take me a day or two before I send them to you, as I’ve got family visiting). Steve - thanks for the directions to Toby’s shop. I know that area but I’ve never seen his shop. I’ll check it out next time I’m in San Diego. As a team rider are you riding thrusters, or more unconventional fin arrays? Cheers - WC
Wave Craver: I’ve also got a Choice Fish. I believe mine was built as a knee board too. This board was found in a pawn shop in Corpus Christi,TX. about 12 years ago. A friend of mine bought it for his wife to kneeboard on. He kept it stored for years after she quit riding it. I stumbled on it about 4-5 years ago. This was a re-entry for me, back to a design I rode for 10+ years from 1971-1981. In fact it was this board that led me to Swaylock’s. I wanted to find out what had happend to the Fish in the last 10 years. I found this board to be extremely fast and very easy to connect sections on but the fin layout felt like it could be tuned a little differently. I started scouring the WWW and landed at Swaylocks’s to get input on fin layout options and ended up staying around long enough to eventually make one of my own. Here is a link to some pics of this board. The fins eventually came off, I ground them off and put in a series of 3 plugs for fin changes, different templates and some movement. This has been a great board, I’m stoked to get the full story on the label. All I knew was that a “Toby” might have shaped it. There is some interesting pencil line art, wings/heart on the deck and a breaking wave on the bottom, but no signature. Sounds like you got the whole story on your board too. TS>>> About a month ago I bought a righteous used Fish from my local shop. It is > made by Choice Surfboards in San Diego. I’m not familar with that brand or > shaper (I’m in Ventura County), but I really dig the board and want to > learn more about it’s origins.>>> The Fish doesn’t have any dimensions written on it, but I think it is > about 6’ 2" by 21" x 3". It has a deep swall tail and the > fins are marine ply quads, glassed on and very cool.>>> The board has a more nose rocker than my old Brom Fish, but it goes like > an absolute demon at the local point break. I’ve never ridden a quad > before, but I’m really digging the way it feels loose, but holds to a > hollow wall like it’s nailed on.>>> The other interesting thing about it is the full length deck grip, which > is kinda inlaid into the deck.>>> Can anyone here tell me who shaped designed and shaped this board, and > where I might order another one like it? Any help would be appreciated.>>> Thanks 
well, like i said i’ve only been riding for him for about a month or so now, so i haven’t played around with all of his boards yet (but if i had the $$$, i would buy everything he makes). anyhoo, right now i’m riding a 9’0 Type O+ and i absolutely love it. my type-o has a 9inch greenough flex fin, it makes an unusual but very cool ride. i also have a 9’4 heavy noserider coming, and i’d like to order a twin fish or a bonzer shortie for my next board. its so hard to decide… i want to try them all! -steve>>> Steve - thanks for the directions to Toby’s shop. I know that area but > I’ve never seen his shop. I’ll check it out next time I’m in San Diego. As > a team rider are you riding thrusters, or more unconventional fin arrays?
Tom, that board looks flat as a pancake! I bet it rips. Are the fins in line with each other? Cheers, Scott
well, like i said i’ve only been riding for him for about a month or so now, so i haven’t played around with all of his boards yet (but if i had the $$$, i would buy everything he makes). anyhoo, right now i’m riding a 9’0 Type O+ and i absolutely love it. my type-o has a 9inch greenough flex fin, it makes an unusual but very cool ride. i also have a 9’4 heavy noserider coming, and i’d like to order a twin fish or a bonzer shortie for my next board. its so hard to decide… i want to try them all! -steve>>> Steve - thanks for the directions to Toby’s shop. I know that area but > I’ve never seen his shop. I’ll check it out next time I’m in San Diego. As > a team rider are you riding thrusters, or more unconventional fin arrays?
Tom - Thanks for the pics. It looks as if the rear fin is foiled on both sides. Is this correct? How about the front fins?