most of the single fins in see today are all retro’d out. sort of clunky i guess, and it seems like most, not all but most, of the people who ride them cant surf very well so the ride those boards to look and feel like a cool surfer who in reality doesn’t really feel the difference between the single fin or a thruster. they just cruise and try to turn, ya know?
well, what would make a modern single fin? im thinking about going around 6’4, 2.5 thick, but keeping the rails thick, putting the wide point in the center, and mellowing out the rocker a little so it will climb and drop and not need to be wiggled. is she gonna work?
i want to keep it simple. thanks for all your help.
so the ride those boards to look and feel like a cool surfer
Like when unatractive women turn “goth” to be "different.
who in reality doesn’t really feel the difference between the single fin or a thruster.
I ride a single fin a lot and can tell you straight up it feels completly different from a thruster. a few other guys i know surf single fins regurly too. some ride them exclusivly.
well, what would make a modern single fin?
1: An older template with modernised rocker and rails.
2: A thruster outline with a single fin.
Well I rarely see others with short single fins in the water besides myself. The guys that do absolutly have the most fun.
I’ve seen another grom at angourie on a red single fin (looked around 1974’) that was just ripping staight over sections.
I don’t ride single fins to get lazy and “Cruise”, but to feel a different glide, (the same reasen people ride fish).
If you are looking for a “performance” single fin then don’t make a single fin. If the complaint about most single fins out now is that they are retro then why the hell do you want to build one? I only surf single fins, always have, always will. I have tried thrusters and fish but they are all too snappy for the way I like to surf. The closest thing you are going to get to a modern single is the MSF (Merrick Single Fin) and MSFG2. I have an MSF and it incorperates many aspects of modern design into what works best for a single fin board (rocker, rails, concaves, spiral v’s etc.). Then you have to ask youself what kind of modern Single: A minimal, semigun, gun, a double ender, thruster style single, swallow tail, etc…etc…
And that comment about most people who ride those boards don’t know how to surf only cruise? Ok, first of all I am sure you don’t surf all places at all times although I understand that the boards are becoming popular for retro/cool reasons. However, it is better for someone to learn on those boards with more float and more speed that some piece o’ crap thruster which will only cause them frustration and lack of stoke. And on the same note what about people on single fin longboards? Can they not surf also? And what the hell is wrong with just cruising and turning. Have you even seen the first ten years of surf films?!
Do all single fin enthusiasts a favor and don’t bother. Or do you wanna be cool to? Oh, and if your mellowing out the rocker (making it flater) your headed twords a traditional single fin anyway.
If you are looking for a “performance” single fin then don’t make a single fin. If the complaint about most single fins out now is that they are retro then why the hell do you want to build one? I only surf single fins, always have, always will. I have tried thrusters and fish but they are all too snappy for the way I like to surf. The closest thing you are going to get to a modern single is the MSF (Merrick Single Fin) and MSFG2. I have an MSF and it incorperates many aspects of modern design into what works best for a single fin board (rocker, rails, concaves, spiral v’s etc.). Then you have to ask youself what kind of modern Single: A minimal, semigun, gun, a double ender, thruster style single, swallow tail, etc…etc…
Do all single fin enthusiasts a favor and don’t bother. Or do you wanna be cool to? Oh, and if your mellowing out the rocker (making it flater) your headed twords a traditional single fin anyway.
One God, One Nation, One Fin
I have been exclusively on singles for about three years now. I still ride thrusters on some longboards and I ride Twinnies sometimes. The comment about the closest thing to a modern single fin being a Merrick single fin (and I am not trying to be rude and I realize it’s all opinion to some degree) is simply in my opinion, not true. It’s a nice eggy outline, but functional? I am sorry it’s the same old late seventies single that used to be ridden and has the same drawbacks. There is nothing really modern about it, though again, I do really like the outline. It reminds of the board Buttons is doing that huge cutback on.
Rob Machado rips on anything, but and honestly I think Donovan looks like he struggle on the singles he rides.
I realize I have spoken alot about Mccoy and his singles and since I sell them along with Cheyne’s stuff, I try and not be too pushy with them here ( I said try LeeDD), but I honestly feel like the Lazor Zap in it’s original narrower tail version (15 - 16’') and modern version are the most functional performance singles out there.
The CI gets the recognition because it’s a Merrick, but I think you put 45 year old Cheyne on a zap today at 10 foot sunset against Machado on his CI single and Cheyne walks away with it. I am a big Machado fan, and his surfing on those singles is beautiful, so it’s not a cut. I would love to see him try a Zapper.
Another shaper who makes really nice more modern singles with cool outlines is Timmy Patterson. He is a natural at it. The Hawks used to make somer really nice ones as well.
most of the single fins in see today are all retro’d out
What do u mean by retro’d out, like mellowing the rocker and making the rails thicker? Most of the single fins being made today, like the Surf RX Single and the CI MSF MSFG2 may have RETROoutlines, shapes, or number of fins (1), but the rails, bottom contour, and rocker are usually more modern. One example is the SpaceCake.
I’ve heard good things about the Moss Research SpaceCake. I have a single on the way or I’d probably look into one of these:
And its a tough to say most of the people who ride singles suck. Because of the lack of rail fins singles are never going to be as high performance (what ever that means) as thruster when it comes to turning. So if somebody riding singles isn’t turning on the dime, maybe its not there fault.
And its a tough to say most of the people who ride singles suck. Because of the lack of rail fins singles are never going to be as high performance (what ever that means) as thruster when it comes to turning. So if somebody riding singles isn’t turning on the dime, maybe its not there fault.
From my expirences surfing single fins. the only thing the don’t do as well is backhand re-entrys and cutbacks due to th elack of rail fins.
everything else you do on a single fin i like better than a thruster.
DO you have one? Have you ridden one, have you looked at the subtle concave in the tail, the shape of the rails etc. Well, I do own/surf one, and several other single fins. I did not mean that AM is the only guy making a modern single. I have owned several old singles, a Bing, a jacobs, etc. The fact of the mater is this board is way more advanced than those boards. Seriously take a closer look, the MSF is a little more eggy, but check the MSFG. But again…who really cares. Its just the backlash against “retro” boards that gets me pissed. People get all snobby and say crap like “well you know I am not into the retro thing” whatever that means. Last time I checked they have been making single fins consistantly since the begining. Its just narrow minded thruster heads and the eighties surf explosion pushed the singlefin into “retro” status. This “retro this retro that” crap just chaffes my nuts. If people don’t want a proper glass job w/ a nice resin tint thats cool by me, more boards for me to fix I say. They can keep buying those 6+4 jobs all they want cuz I can use the repair money to buy me another or make me another 8oz Volan single fin god rocket.
modern single fin? and why are we still fighting about this? who cares if it looks retro or not, if it works for what you want to do? i hate that, man ride what you like, and don’t worry about what other people say.
i love singles, logs, eggs, whatever. grew up with thrusters, and ho hum, been there done that. the fastest board i own - 10’6" velzy log with a 10" pivot style fin. second 6’3" egg(enclosed before polishing) that looks retro to some, but aint.
every design has it’s draw backs, if you’re making it, do what you want. if it sucks, then you’ll know what to change.
sorry, josh, not directed at you… like the board you got there, especially the spray job. rock on.
Involving, relating to, or reminiscent of things past; retrospective: “
If this is the case, wouldn’t the thruster being built today be related to the thruster design the began around say the 1980s, making them retro. Thrusters aren’t considered retro because their design has evolved as has the design of the singles and twins made today.
Quote:
Its just the backlash against “retro” boards that gets me pissed. People get all snobby and say crap like “well you know I am not into the retro thing” whatever that means. Last time I checked they have been making single fins consistantly since the begining.
DO you have one? Have you ridden one, have you looked at the subtle concave in the tail, the shape of the rails etc. Well, I do own/surf one, and several other single fins. I did not mean that AM is the only guy making a modern single. I have owned several old singles, a Bing, a jacobs, etc. The fact of the mater is this board is way more advanced than those boards. Seriously take a closer look, the MSF is a little more eggy, but check the MSFG. But again…who really cares. Its just the backlash against “retro” boards that gets me pissed. People get all snobby and say crap like “well you know I am not into the retro thing” whatever that means. Last time I checked they have been making single fins consistantly since the begining. Its just narrow minded thruster heads and the eighties surf explosion pushed the singlefin into “retro” status. This “retro this retro that” crap just chaffes my nuts. If people don’t want a proper glass job w/ a nice resin tint thats cool by me, more boards for me to fix I say. They can keep buying those 6+4 jobs all they want cuz I can use the repair money to buy me another or make me another 8oz Volan single fin god rocket.
I like this post. You will not get much disagreement out of me on the thruster thing and raging against Retro. I like the retro phase, because shapers and surfers are considering almost anything now and there is experimenting going on again. There has never been a more stagnet time in surfing than that of the Thruster eras. Bam Bam Bam, cutty, Air. Not as much style, positioning and over all personal form. Almost everyone that rides thrusters surfs exactly the same.
To answer your question on the CI. Yes, I have seen one and ridden a board almost exactly the same shape. My only problem with the retro and your post was that you said the CI was the most modern of todays single fins and Having started on single fins and pretty much always had one in my personal quiver, I see nothing really modern about it. I see a clean little late eighties style single fin, with a early seventies style fin stuck on the bottom. I see the same drawbacks that most of that type single has prior to the zaps. I do think the later zaps lacked in the down the line speed department though, more of a pocket rider. Those little CI looking boards had great glide and speed, but lacked in going vert more than a few places on a wave and most early singles spun out. I still think surfers should begin on singles because once you master a single you will ride almost every other board better. To me the little CI has the same boxy rails and mini vee as old school singles.
None of this is like exact science, alot of surfing is voodoo. Some folks like the feel of the older down rail type singles and if thats the case they should ride them. I was glad to move on when the right replacements showed up. I have had a few good thrusters, but over all, it’s one type of surfing and I have always thought them sticky. I think singles flow so much better and have so much more speed. I have been enjoying my nuggets the last three years and have a new Zap Retro waiting in Mccoy’s factory. We will have to see if my big old arse can ride a 6’4’‘. I have been on 6’8’’ and 7’2’'.
From my expirences surfing single fins. the only thing the don’t do as well is backhand re-entrys and cutbacks due to th elack of rail fins.
everything else you do on a single fin i like better than a thruster.
Hi Josh. When you say they can’t do backhand reos as good as a thruster do you mean when you set up the reo with your backside bottom hand turn or do you mean when you come off the top?
I’m looking at getting into this single fin thing not to be “retro” but just out of curiousity and to exprience glide
rather than drive. Ohh yeah and where I surf I think I’ll catch more waves that way.
I had sort of the same idea last year and came up with this…7’0", lil over 20" wide about 2 1/2" thick. I find I enjoy riding it when the waves are cleaner and more tubular. I really like it when you can just position yourself in the pocket, drag your hand and just sit in the zone. I have a shorter version cut out waiting to be finished when I can get myself motivated…With that one, I may shape in some bonzer type concaves and fittings to put those shallow long based runners.
