I saw a Surfers Journal program on Terry Fitzgerald the other night. What stood out in viewing the video of this man surfing was the speed …damn sooooo fast! My question’s for fellow contributers are. # 70’s Boards, seeing how fast Fitz surfed on these shapes. and also catching 5’s while screaming high on a face. What made these shapes work the way they did? His board would most likely be considered a mid-length by todays standards. Beak nose, minimum rocker, single fin, wide template, full rails = speed? # Knowing this design would be soon replaced by more “modern” shapes as our sport progressed. Is there something that has been given up in todays designs that could benefit from some of the features of these "older " shapes? just a thought peter waitkun
I saw a Surfers Journal program on Terry Fitzgerald the other night. What > stood out in viewing the video of this man surfing was the speed …damn > sooooo fast! My question’s for fellow contributers are.>>> # 70’s Boards, seeing how fast Fitz surfed on these shapes. and also > catching 5’s while screaming high on a face. What made these shapes work > the way they did? His board would most likely be considered a mid-length > by todays standards. Beak nose, minimum rocker, single fin, wide template, > full rails = speed? One observation: single fin = trim. Nels
GOOD WAVES. All that footage of j bay, sunset, indo and more all had that in common. I am not 100% sure, but I thought I saw some footage of him recently, and he was not on an old shape. He has moved on. Sure he still makes retro stuff, but are they is primary boards (boards HE rides all the time)? Don’t get me wrong, I love and appreciate all that older stuff, but I think those design elements are the missing pieces to some grand puzzle.
Derek Hynd in The Surfer’s Journal Vol. 11 No. 1… “Is speed still relevant to you today? For me it’s all rooted back in '70 to '73…the romance of youth perhaps, but it was a huge period in design. Not just in shaping but in sanding and glassing and murals. What boards had down pat was paddling speed at the point of entry, something that has vanished in the mulch of performance board fashion today. From takeoff speed comes the ability to lay a bottom drive with meaning that gets onto the high line. It’s so fing basic. And it is so fing forgotten in the mulch of fashion and money. Fitzy should be back on his '70s shapes with zero compromise. The current Narra crew has no idea of what he used to be like out there, him and the rest of the power bunch. That’s a whole other story—the history of the lineup. I get nonplussed seeing old surfing peers drawn and quartered by current equipment. Whatever though, they’re still stoked, but there’s no speed of entry and few of them have any trim and glide left which was so important in their youth at least in the high-line sense. I mean, someone who absolutely has no problem is Mikey Meyer. He rules J’Bay through trim and glide in and around the pocket.”
Derek Hynd in The Surfer’s Journal Vol. 11 No. 1…>>> “Is speed still relevant to you today?>>> For me it’s all rooted back in '70 to '73…the romance of youth perhaps, > but it was a huge period in design. Not just in shaping but in sanding and > glassing and murals. What boards had down pat was paddling speed at the > point of entry, something that has vanished in the mulch of performance > board fashion today.>>> From takeoff speed comes the ability to lay a bottom drive with meaning > that gets onto the high line. It’s so fing basic. And it is so fing > forgotten in the mulch of fashion and money. Fitzy should be back on his > '70s shapes with zero compromise. The current Narra crew has no idea of > what he used to be like out there, him and the rest of the power bunch. > That’s a whole other storythe history of the lineup.>>> I get nonplussed seeing old surfing peers drawn and quartered by current > equipment. Whatever though, they’re still stoked, but there’s no speed of > entry and few of them have any trim and glide left which was so important > in their youth at least in the high-line sense. I mean, someone who > absolutely has no problem is Mikey Meyer. He rules J’Bay through trim and > glide in and around the pocket.” Hello?? Max speed on waves comes from slash and burn, search and destroy, pump and jump, gettin hella airs. Now is 2002, not retro cruisin 1970. Thats real backwards. Flunked the debate team, but I`ll watch for further comments.
Hello?? Max speed on waves comes from slash and burn, search and destroy, > pump and jump, gettin hella airs. Now is 2002, not retro cruisin 1970. > Thats real backwards. Flunked the debate team, but I`ll watch for further > comments. …Read Mike d.'s comment on speed …see his latest Board posted at the top of the page.Herb
those things look like gimmicks to me…the most important thing to todays crew isn’t glide. to some it is and they’re pissed about it, oh well, STOP LIVING IN THE PAST! things change, some good, some bad, its all about compromise. i ride performance boards and i’m about 155, but none of my boards are under 19 inches, except some semi gun tube shooters. this allows me to surf with a great deal of glide and speed but with the improvments of modern design- forgivness in the rails being one of them. try it out, moderation is key…
those things look like gimmicks to me…the most important thing to todays > crew isn’t glide. to some it is and they’re pissed about it, oh well, STOP > LIVING IN THE PAST! things change, some good, some bad, its all about > compromise. i ride performance boards and i’m about 155, but none of my > boards are under 19 inches, except some semi gun tube shooters. this > allows me to surf with a great deal of glide and speed but with the > improvments of modern design- forgivness in the rails being one of them. > try it out, moderation is key… Dave, Some of the old mixed with some of the new can make a fine combination! To isolate the single most important element is easy. It’s the surfer. Every element in board and fin configuration affects performance and though some may be remiss to admit it every element is a compromise. As to Superchargers, what they look like and how they perform are two different matters entirely! The only way one can know for sure is to set up a board with them and surf it in nearly identical condition with and without. Then the answer will be pretty obvious. Cliche’ I know but looks can be deceiving as we all know. My take is that if they are of the right configuration that they will offer very little drag and if they somehow reduce turbulence around the fin the be exactly what they are called,“Supercharges” Until one has experience with something it is best to withhold judgment I have found. I christened my 7’9" yesterday. The thing looks like a weapon but I am amazed at how it feels so quiet in the water. It’s like being part of the wave and very relaxing! I’m amazed. I have a couple of old single fins that are that way but still feel more on the topside than this one. Some configurations are quicker, some lighter, some skatey, some drivey, some crank, some glide. Take your pick. We all have our styles. What is a dog to me is a cat to someone else, but after all is said and done I must agree “moderation is the key.” Gone Surfin’, Rich
I had done several C5 setups (which are way different, by the way) and was very unsatisfied with the whole canard concept. I think your point of “moderation is the key” is EXACTLY why these things DO WORK. You are not modifing your thruster setup (unlike the c5) and the template/foil on the superchargers is not enough to cause adverse drag at lower speeds (like C5s do). They are just enough to increase/smooth flow through the fins. That all, no bells or whistles. Don’t let asthetics cause you to not to give 'em a try. For Me, They Work.
…There are several Swayloholics here that have given the Superchargers a honest try,(as well as others that have tried them)and WE all come up with the same conclusions.They work. …I am putting together a infomational website to answer questions about the Superchargers.I got most of the material gathered,and it will consist of a history,R&D,manufacturing,installation,and use.This site should help answer questions to those who ask. Thanks to Tom Sterne for the inspiration,and help on this lengthly project.Herb
…the most important thing to todays > crew isn’t glide. What if it is for Tomorrows Crew? to some it is and they’re pissed about it, oh well, STOP > LIVING IN THE PAST! Today is tomorrows past! Oh, oh… things change, some good, some bad, its all about > compromise. Well, yes and no. There can be such a thing as valid differences. Moderation is a good thing, however. Nels
YES!! Superchargers work! So does Herbs Q-4 set up. Thanks Herb, you have been a huge help to me. Scott
…yeah Mike, nice stick!
those things look like gimmicks to me…the most important thing to todays > crew isn’t glide. to some it is and they’re pissed about it, oh well, STOP > LIVING IN THE PAST! things change, some good, some bad, its all about > compromise. i ride performance boards and i’m about 155, but none of my > boards are under 19 inches, except some semi gun tube shooters. this > allows me to surf with a great deal of glide and speed but with the > improvments of modern design- forgivness in the rails being one of them. > try it out, moderation is key… Dave, I think you need to actually give the 'Chargers a try prior to forming an opinion. Herb is such a good guy he will probably give you a set. Of course it helps if you can actually drop in the FCS plugs yourself… Sometimes people need a slick marketing campaign in order to take something seriously. If you would like to see a similar product being touted by an industry player then go to Rusty’s site and read up on the C5 fin. Funny thing about marketing is that when done properly it can cause some amazing practices = like cause an entire age group to do something like wear shorts halfway down their ass and think that it is cool. Regardless of the fact that they have to continuosly hitch up their shorts after every other step. Heres another fun fact on a great marketing scheme: During the heyday of Pulpfiction one of the genre’s most prolific authors wrote a non-fiction essay that addressed wealth in North America. He went on to hypothesize that if a person wanted to be truly wealthy then the easiest and best way to accomplish it would be to start a religion. The bulb went on and he proceded to do just that less than two decades later. He became obscenely wealthy and his estate continues to grow in wealth even though he has left this plane (according to his ‘gospel’) during the 80’s. Trippy, huh??? Ever read Dianetics…? ------*- There are way too many different viewpoints out there to just focus on one form of riding the waves. To be a true waterman is to be able to ride everything – if you are lucky, you might even be able to ride several different types of watercraft well. When you see a guy like Steve hanging heels at Blackies (19 years old) on a longboard he made himself, then you see someone like Ray (early 40’s?) blasting off the top on his brothers designed fish, you know that the sport of kings is alive and well. I hope you install a set of Superchargers Dave and then post your findings. You may open a new door to the ocean that you didn’t realize was there. Good Surfing (to quote Rich), Magoo
Dave,>>> I think you need to actually give the 'Chargers a try prior to forming an > opinion. Herb is such a good guy he will probably give you a set. Of > course it helps if you can actually drop in the FCS plugs yourself…>>> Sometimes people need a slick marketing campaign in order to take > something seriously. If you would like to see a similar product being > touted by an industry player then go to Rusty’s site and read up on the C5 > fin. Funny thing about marketing is that when done properly it can cause > some amazing practices = like cause an entire age group to do something > like wear shorts halfway down their ass and think that it is cool. > Regardless of the fact that they have to continuosly hitch up their shorts > after every other step.>>> Heres another fun fact on a great marketing scheme: During the heyday of > Pulpfiction one of the genre’s most prolific authors wrote a non-fiction > essay that addressed wealth in North America. He went on to hypothesize > that if a person wanted to be truly wealthy then the easiest and best way > to accomplish it would be to start a religion. The bulb went on and he > proceded to do just that less than two decades later. He became obscenely > wealthy and his estate continues to grow in wealth even though he has left > this plane (according to his ‘gospel’) during the 80’s. Trippy, huh???>>> Ever read Dianetics…?>>> ------*->>> There are way too many different viewpoints out there to just focus on one > form of riding the waves. To be a true waterman is to be able to ride > everything – if you are lucky, you might even be able to ride several > different types of watercraft well. When you see a guy like Steve hanging > heels at Blackies (19 years old) on a longboard he made himself, then you > see someone like Ray (early 40’s?) blasting off the top on his brothers > designed fish, you know that the sport of kings is alive and well.>>> I hope you install a set of Superchargers Dave and then post your > findings. You may open a new door to the ocean that you didn’t realize was > there.>>> Good Surfing (to quote Rich),>>> Magoo I see alot of discussion with the superchargers and what seems to be a mostly negative view of the C-5 system. I also have observed that the superchargers in most cases have been retrofits. Doesn’t anyone think that the rusty shapes have a design that benefits from the C-5 set up? Or do you think that it is all a marketing scheme, which it seems the popular opinion here? Ken
i’ve tried the c-5s and thought they were not very good…bogged turns, decrease in speed, no drive out of cutbacks…so i thought that the superchargers wouldn’t be very helpful…but i should try them, i was just stating my opinion. i think rusty goes too far overboard- they sell boards at disney and universal studios. i get my boards from a small, one man deal, where everything is dialed perfectly, and that’s more important than any fin system, style of board or looks. if your board is for you, and fits you, and you enjoy, what more can one ask for?
Ken,>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Let me start by asking you a few questions first; 1)Have you every owned/ridden a Rusty C-5,or any other C-5s built by someone else? 2)Are you a affiliate or anyway connected to Rusty’s company.Either in a manufacturing or a business roll? …As for Rusty and his C-5 boards go,to me personally,I think he deserves much credit on his design.It was definitely a step in the right direction.Do I think he uses slick marketing tactics,SURE HE DOES,but it doesn’t make the board work better,it just makes it looks more appealing. …The C-5 IS A GREAT DESIGN,but (IN MY OPINION !!!) it lacks alot of fine tuning,partly because he has a lot of big money in ad campaigns,boards,CNC made Canards(I know he has,or FCS has made molded ones/Canards for his boards only,and why they are not availible to others puzzles me),and when you get all that going in one direction I’m sure it’s harder to change up things without taking a set back.For the most part, the C-5 works ,they’re faster than a standard tri,but if the surf is small or weak they tend to slow the board down.Also because of there(carnards) large size they require different fin positioning than a standard thruster set-up,which requires the board to be built around the carnards,rather than the carnards to be,simply added on. In riding a C-5; They have a weird stiffness unlike I have ever felt before(this is due to the “again” larger size of Rusty’s canards and the positioning of them,they’re to far forward) . The design requires you to chop or Huntington hop your board as you turn.Also the arc of the turn is great increased(there’s a weird angular radius to it’s turning).I have just recently purchased ,“Where’s Waldo” a video about Chris Ward, in the vid it shows him riding several different boards,some which are C-5s.On close inspection (still framing)I noticed that the carnards are removed from all his C-5 BOARDS!!! if you can’t get your top riders to use them ,then there’s definitely something wrong.AGREE? …Superchargers: were not patterned from the C-5(I can remember my older brother calling them gay little fins,long before I knew of the exsistence of the C-5 DESIGN).Simply put they’re tighter to the main side fin,they can be retro fitted to any outboard fin with toe n cant or outboard fins with flat inner sides.The Superchargers are much smaller,and they’re toed,and canted LESS than the main outboard fins ,(unlike the C-5 canards which have more toe and cant than the main outboard fins).Plus the Superchargers are designed differently than any other fin out there.The Superchargers are minus rake or tipped forward template, with a soft foiled,inner, front edge and tip of the charger into a flat inner-side.I spent countless days/hours working/refining these little shark’s teeth to get it where it is,and in the latter 90s had the perfect playground to test,and refine them.The Supercharger squeezes the optium amount of use out of you side fins,with little or no adverse reactions. I’m always looking for something better,ALWAYS.But until that comes along,I will stick with my Superchargers. Oh by the way if say,Tom sterne came on and say he invented the superchargers,and wanted to call them Sterne’s Superchargers …that’s okay with me…In order to claim something as yours,TRULY…you must first give it away FREELY !!!Herb.
i’ve tried the c-5s and thought they were not very good…bogged turns, > decrease in speed, no drive out of cutbacks…so i thought that the > superchargers wouldn’t be very helpful…but i should try them, i was just > stating my opinion. i think rusty goes too far overboard- they sell boards > at disney and universal studios. i get my boards from a small, one man > deal, where everything is dialed perfectly, and that’s more important than > any fin system, style of board or looks. if your board is for you, and > fits you, and you enjoy, what more can one ask for? …Dave ,I can take your favorite board(if it is a tri-fin,and make it even better,faster,looser,more positive,all in one shot! killing two birds with one stone is something,KILLING 3 WITH ONE STONE IS ON A GRAND SCALE!Herb.