Does anyone know how this board performs in small, weak, mushy waves?
I have one bonzer. I love it, but it is not a mushy wave board. I think bonzers are pretty well known as excelling in faster waves. IIRC Russ Short used to surf Oxnard Shores, a punchy beach break with some oomph.
For the type of waves you describe, I tend to think Simmons, mini-Simmons, fish, longboard, egg.
- Huck (always glad to share what I know almost nothing about.)
I kind of agree with Huck about bonzers liking hollower waves (not necessarily big), but in reality don’t most (short)boards work better in hollower waves? There are folks who swear by bonzers even in small mush, but usually they’re talking abou the “Bumblebee” type boards.
Russ, short is one of the best surfer’s to come out of California. He has surfed at a level most of you here can only dream of. Aside form that, he has had plenty of time to pick up tips from the bonzer masters Duncan, and Malcolm Campbell, as well as, the late great, better than you ever will be airbrusher, Cliff Collenge. If you can surf, I’d trust Russ, over Huck everyday. I hope he is still married to Marlyn, and you should have seen here face when I pushed her in to her first wave ever. she did one of those tumbleweed type moves, that take a super-human babe, and turns’em into well,…, all the way to the beach.
The voice of inexperience here is deafening.
The right Bonzer works fine in small mushy surf. Just like the right board of any other design.
The “Russ Short” has volume and a full foil. Why wouldn’t it work well in mushy surf?
Not good in big surf? That’s a joke. The urban myths about Bonzer characteristics are laughable.
hahaha - I was making a tongue-in-cheek joke there. I never said the bonzer doesn't work well in small mushy surf. I said I have one bonzer which I like but which is not a mushy wave board. I said bonzers are known for excelling in faster waves. I listed the type of shapes that I think of when surfing small gutless mushy waves - any of which could be made with the bonzer fin setup. Did anyone say the bonzer doesn't work in big surf? Come on.
I read some theory of the bonzer concave/fin set upon on the web site. What i understand is that it utilizes energy and creates more speed that would be wasted with other designs, especially coming out of turns. would this not be advantageous in smaller, weaker surf where speed is crucial?
Basically, i'm trying to replicate the board. I love the 70's style and want something similar. . I have the outline cut and need to decide whether to use the bonzer bottom design or something else that works better in these conditions. Shooting for 6'2", 19-3/4", 2-3/4".
i’ve had one of these boards. i rode it in beach break mostly, lovely board but didn’t wake up until it was at least head high ( though head high and mushy was fine) we get a lot of small weak waves, i sold it cos i just always ended up taking a quad out. the bumblebee might be a better choice if you want a bonzer!
I had a Bonzer (a Bing, I’m guessing shaped by Eaton in collaboration with the Campbells) back in the early 70s. That thing was a stone ROCKET!
Dropknee, is that you? Looks like your taking that board to a Led Zeppelin concert.
Like…wow…Dazed and Confused as charged, man…
Anybody seen my Love beads? Bummer: must’ve left 'em in my other bell bottoms…
Actually, continuous, gainful, employment caused me to fail at being a hippie: “sold out” to “the Man”, doncha know?
You know those images that you mind surfed as a teen? I spent much time mind surfing this photo of Russ Short from the mid 70’s. Note the distinctive bonzer spray.
Did someone say big waves?
http://www.surfysurfy.net/2011/07/55-orange-mango.html
small weak mushy waves…this would be my personal choice
again, for me, the russ short would not be on the small mushy weak list…but thats just me
bumblebee, pod, egg, minimerk, octofish…lots of better options imo
but i live in FL, so weak mushy has different definitions
Nice gun. Outline very similar to an Allan Byrne (great shaper) which I sold many moons ago.
I know little of Bonzers, but my fishes suck in mushy waves. I admit they are handicapped by being built by me and surfed by me, but I am the finest surfer to ever come out of my mother’s womb! Big brother don’t surf. Little brother’s afraid of the ocean. Wahoooo… R. Short ripped(still rips?). Mike
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R. Short ripped(still rips?)
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http://www.surfysurfy.net/2009/09/surf-for-life.html
Top Photo: Russ Short surfing Point Mugu in 1974
Bottom Photo: Russ Short surfing Point Mugu in 2009.
Same boards, same wave, 35 years in between.
Photos courtesy of Ducan Campbell.
Nothing to do with small mushy waves but everything to do with Russ Short
Pretty impressive stuff for the time
Howzit Dropknee, Having a job was the difference between being a surfer and being a Hippy and living on Kauai in the early 70's it was a lot better being a surfer than a Hippy,less chance of getting some cracks from the local boys. Aloha,Kokua
Aloha Dropknee.Had the same exact board,all yellow,Mike Eaton shaped,Bing logo.In the south pacific,1971.Took it to Biarritz,1977.Too much hashish,party…Can’t recall what happened to it.Got another bonzer,a 5 fin,a couple of winters ago.SOOO FUN!!! And not like everyone else in the herd!
“Got another bonzer,a 5 fin,a couple of winters ago.SOOO FUN!!! And not like everyone else in the herd!”
I’ve been taking a hard look at their Egg and Longboard designs…