Tomatdaum, Bert, Halcyon, MarkSpindler, Blakestah......

General Discussion
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Tomatdaum, Bert, Halcyon, MarkSpindler, Blakestah, Meercrafty, Tubedog, Sabs, Kokua, Chipfish, Gregloehr and others.

I’m from Auckland, New Zealand and have been reading Sways almost every day since I discovered it by accident about a year ago. I’ve never shaped a board, but thanks to the the fin system I have been able to do the next best thing. Designing and making my own fins!

This is the first time I have written anything to this forum. So over the last year, I’ve been just reading almost every thread on Swaylocks archives about fins.

So thanks to all the above mentioned foil-oligists for sharing your knowledge. Everyone of you guys, with your slightly differing opinions, you have given me a greater understanding of fin design. But the most important thing I’ve gained from you is the motivation to keep trying many fin ideas that may be different from the norm. When I get some successful results I’ll post them.

A forum is only as good as its contributors… Swaylocks Rules.

thanks again, Cameron.

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good on ya Cameron !

And welcome …

I love hearing when people start makinfg fins and boards . And especially how those fins and boards work for them .

I have only really been / am a “tinkerer” [ I don’t consider myself in the same league as the people you listed, THAT’S for sure!] …but it’s been FUN having one or two boards I’ve made that I can try all kinds of different setups with . Making fins is sooo much fun [to me , anyway !]

What fin system do you use on your boards ?

Keep up the good work !

…I’d look forward to seeing ANY of your experiments [you can private message [“p.m.”] me any of your shots any time , if you like !]

ben

p.s. - I like your rodeo avatar !

p.p.s. - just wait till “Wildy” gets back to the coast one day …then we will REALLY see some fin (and board) experiments going on !!

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Howzit cowboy, Welcome to the forum, We are here to help those in need of direction and thanks for the appreciation in your thread. In the days of yore if a board builder was asked where he learned the craft he would give the name of another builder. Who would have ever thought that now they might answer " I learned from the boys on Swaylocks web site". Isn’t modern technology wonderful.Aloha,Kokua

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Hi Chipfish

I’ve got FCS on all my boards. I changed when I wanted to start making fins. So easy because of the straight tabs. No cant to worry about… well not just yet anyway. So for me it’s a great system.

cheers, Cameron

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Cowboy,

   Glad to hear we peaked your interest. There is as much room for advancement of design as our imaginations are able to dream up. But, we're going to have to work on your choice of attachment systems. Sorry Kokoa just yanking your chain.
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Hey Cowboy,

Never be afraid to experiment because we often learn more from our failures than our successes.

Share photos of what you’re up to. I’m sure I’ll be amoung those who are interested in your performance reports.

Good-on-ya, Rich

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Save a horse, ride a cowboy. A popular song here in the wild west.

I’m also interested to see what you get up to.

Try everything.

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Hi Cowboy

Where is your local spot ?

mines maori bay

Mike

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Sabs

I surf mostly Piha (I used to live there) and Kere Kere. I haven’t surfed maori Bay in a couple of years but I pretty much know all the crew from there. What’s your last name?

Tomatdaum / Halcyon / Wildy

I will post some pics soon. Just slowly refining my designs at the moment, and I have had a lot of failures so I guess I’m on the fast track to becoming an expert. It’s winter here at the moment, so its tough making any progress testing fins when you get out only once a week. It’s always onshore and 8 foot.

Cheers

Cameron

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If the lakes here were onshore and 8 foot I’d be laughing!!!

You learn a lot about yourself, your boards and your fins when it’s 8 foot and onshore.

Winter, well, here that’s another story altogether.

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hey cowboy , stoked to see how stoked you are on sways …

i was just as stoked to find sways coz finnally i had like minded people to relate to , so now i could discuss deeper things with crew who got it …

it freed me , because in the past 99% of people i tried to discuss certain topics with didnt get it , so there was always a frustration and me thinking that no one understands …

ive had great conversations with everyone on your intro list , and have also picked up a lot from all of them …

in the last few months ive been reading archival stuff , from before i ever came in here …

theres some clever people who know there stuff …

so absolutly agree , that a good forum is dependant on good quality knowledge …

i find it interesting these days , when i hear general street level design talk , which is way different to some of the misinformation i would hear years back …

so many more of the general surfing public have a way better understanding these days …

sometimes i hear a guy make a comment which is almost word for word with something posted on sways …

so now sways has become the breeding ground of a whole new culture of awareness …

swaylocks has bred the swaylocker , those who participate …

and the swaylurker , those who read and absorb …

my personal belief is , this site will be responsible for bringing more value to surfing and do much in the advancement of equipment and attitudes , than any other person or media source in surfing history to date …

swaylocks really does rule …

gota throw in another thanks to mike for getting the show started in the first place …

regards

BERT

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“swaylurker” …

I LOVE it !!!

[maybe we should have “swaylurker” T-Shirts made available too , eh ?? [“Moonie” …you’re the lurkingest of the lurkers …3 1/2 years !!! You get the special collectors limited edition “head lurker” T-shirt…just don’t wear it near parks at night …okay ?!]

ben

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If you guys want to check out lift from foils, check out this Windows Media Video of a French hydrofoil attempting to set a new Route du Discovery record.

http://www.wetasschronicles.com/Hydroptere.wmv

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That is simply awesome, those guys are flying.

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Hi Bert

Which surf resort will the inaugural Swaylocks convention be held? Let me know and I’ll be there!

Ideas and Beers.

Cameron

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Cowboy,

I’m a maverick.

Swaylocks is an oasis.

You’re gonna love it.

Thanks for the nod.

Mark

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Quote:

‘’… We are here to help those in need of direction …" Aloha,Kokua

I might be the first of your aussie patients / clients , kokua ! (with my sidekick , resin-filled ''Rex", a close second…)

     ben
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Rock on, cowboy, the fun is just starting when you get into making your first fin. There’s lots of room for feedback, be sure to post pics and impressions and have fun out there.

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yeehaw…ride’m brah

Three cowboys are sitting around a campfire, out on the prairie, each with the bravado for which cowboys are famous. A night of tall tales begins.

The first says, “I must be the meanest, toughest cowboy there is. Why, just the other day, a bull got loose in the corral and gored six men before I wrestled it to the ground, by the horns, with my bare hands.”

The second can’t stand to be bested. “Why that’s nothing. I was walking down the trail yesterday and a fifteen foot rattler slid out from under a rock and made a move for me. I grabbed that snake with my bare hands, bit its head off, and sucked the poison down in one gulp. And I’m still here today.”

The third cowboy remained silent, slowly stirring the coals with his penis.