hey there. I’m a 25 year old, 175lb, 5’9 & 1/2" male from NJ. I typically surf bigger boards, the smallest being a 7’0" tri-fin, hybrid fish, with single-wing swallow tail. I want to make the jump to a twinzer, but don’t want to go too short. I don’t want to be struggling to catch waves on it, but I don’t want it to be too big either… A lot of people have told me, go 5’11" and others have said 6’6"… I don’t know what to think I may go right down the middle and go 6’2" - 6’4". Any thoughts, recommendations…? Thanks
What???
If you like a 7’0" trifin hybrid fish, why not get
a 7’0" twinzer…the swallow tail will fit right in.
I have a good friend that rides twinzers big, typically close to 8 feet long. They work well. I’ve also ridden 5’10" fish twinzers, the fin system is not so horribly dependent on board length. Of course, the board is designed differently for different lengths, but I wouldn’t feel confined to getting a fish length board just to try a twinzer - they work well at any length, even longboards.
If you want to go down in size…I’m older, 48, very fit @5’11"/170lbs. When I went down from a tanker to a fish I went with a 6’2"x22"x2 1/2". It was a struggle at first. But you are younger and your board transition is less. I LOVE that board now. It just took awhile. Listen to Blakestah on what he says.
Matt,
If you are 1/2 male, what is the other half? Sorry Matt. Just having fun. You can kick me now. Mike
jagshemesh , you misquoted …
white male actually said 1/2" male …
…not like us horse hung men from kazakhstan !
borat
“do you like me ? …I like you . Please watch my show …”
I’d be more conservative, 6’4" - 6’8". Depending on the size of wave you’ll ride with it. Remember: shorter boards need steeper waves to achieve planning speed, even if they’re plenty of flotation and low rockered. Longer boards can glide in mushy waves 'cause of it’s lenght, be wise.
Anyway, try it, satisfact you curiosity, I hate when one tells me what to do.
Joni
I went from a 10’ logalama dingdong to a 5’10 x 23" x 3" twinny this summer and had one day of a learning curve. Its wicked flat between the fins and low rockered. Now I think I should have gone smaller! I ride my girls 5’6 all the time, and try my buddies 5’4 on steep days. Im 6’0 200# and absolutely love the small boards, but am still able to catch waves in crowded south orange county waters. 6’2 youd be fine, beef up the volume if your worried and get a 6’0. theyre wicked fun in the 4-8 ft, sloopy, waves face range…
go with blakestah rec. of keeping it at 7’ if you just want to try the twinzer setup and not go through a hard learning curve. if you are trying to scale down, as others have said you don’t need to scale down to the usual fish length. keep in mind that flatter rocker and higher volume if getting a fish type of twinzer will catch waves easier than your hybrid. i think your gut to go 6’2-6’4 would be okay but it might take some getting used to unless you surf everyday. being from nj as well, i don’t find our waves typically user friendly when they get bigger, ie. this past swell. so if going shorter was a plan to use in those situations your 7’ hybrid would most likely be easier to surf than a twinzer fish, unless it’s big and mushy which you know we get here as well.
I went the other way from most. Getting too old to fight younger and fitter surfers for every wave so I had Stu Kenson make me a 9’ twinzer which does not ride like a longboard at all. Great board, can take steep drops and you can turn instantly. Looks like any length is going to work.
Matt, I’d say go with a post modern version of the traditonal fish, a Hybird is not that same thing… You’d be suprised how small you can go when riding a traditional or slightly pulled in Fish. Add the twinzer set up instead of the twin keels you will be amazed at how fast and stakety twinzers ride,
I made this 5’9" twiner fish for someone that was 6’ tall and 195 lbs. he wanted this as a replacement for his 5’10" of the same shape. the the thickness is 2-5/8
I’d say you would be good with 6’4" fish slightly pulled or traditional shape Fish. You might even find it harder to duck dive the 6’4" fiish than your 7’0" Hybird.
find a shaper that is familiar with twinzers.
Dayum, Shipman!
Put that baby in the resources (so I always know where to find it). Its blowing me away. 
EPS?
Mr. Shipman- sorry to highjack, but I was trying to track you down for a board. Check your e-mail when you get a chance- Many thanks
Gotta love those Shipman Fins!
More photos please
Are you going to post the latest “guppy”?
Might be just the right board for a guy around 6’ tall…too bad the guppy is a tri fin fish thing!
Share the stoke!!!