And vice versa for that matter. I’m torn between getting a single fin this time , “just for the fact that they supposedly are initially faster on takeoff and paddle so well because of the volume pushed foreward”. I guess I’m getting a board shaped around catching the wave first over maneuvering . I can stand to hop on the wave less as well. Anyone wanting to talk me out of it feel free.
Hey Ekim,
The singles I do work best in down-the-line surf with more open faces. Typical beachbreaks
closing out present more challenge. Ideally a hollow wave that is super long is a sure bet
(how could it NOT! ha!) We've taken singles to parts of Indo and they worked, but I have to
admit the deepest barrels seem to still be had on a good thruster. The thruster works well
in a broader range, from tiny point surf to macking Teahupoo. Singles have more glide speed
so you can wander out onto the open face and do a full-bodied cutback further away from the
power of the wave.
What kind of waves to you plan to ride the board in?
George
well you cant really put all singlefins in the same category...what kind of singlefins are you looking at size/shape etc? im picturing the morning of the earth bali board (which i really want). and yes as with all boards what kind of waves are you riding?
i made a 5'10" single fin egg and that gets into every little ripple and goes well in up to chest high (never had it out in anything bigger)
just to open the can of worms a little more...what about a quad performance fish...you get the volume a little further up and really good manuverability
I’m surfing all medium to larger size beach break in Oregon. Mostly those kind of waves that are really hard to catch at first and then wall up quickly which you connect on a shortboard by pumping and hoping down the line.
I’m interested in the channel Islands Msf 7’0" .Or the 6’6" JT Good Karma that’s for sale here on Swaylocks.
Hey Ekim,
Your single should work, be sure to have the widepoint 3" to 5" forward of center, tail kinda
narrow and you should be good. The only thing I do differently from the singles I did in the
early-mid 70's is a very slight double con right at the fin, very gradual about 1/16 to 1/8" max.
Let us know how it all works out!
George
you have expensive taste i see...why not build your own? then you can make it a 2 + 1 and surf it as a single fin or a thruster
about how much would it cost me to make my own?
they dont go better than tri fins....they go different and different can be good....
…hello +1
long time,
well, I tell ya that Bonzers are like single fins with muscles or so and they really spot on toobs
I surfed single inline (trailer same line) fins BUT with contemporary shortboard shapes up to 6 3
in mid 90 s to late 90 s
far better than thrusters in recovery after floaters or reentries slashbacks
but this fella here wants other type of board that like Pridmore say is not better than thrusters but different ride they will provide
I saw a youtube video a while back of a surf contest in Brazil (I’ll try to find it). All the surfers were required to ride short single fin boards. You could tell that they were all good surfers, but it was funny to see how their experience with thrusters did not help them. They were trying to do all the hurky jirky moves that they normally did, but ended up just losing speed and bogging on the waves. The point is that riding a single fin is completely different than riding a thruster. In my opinion it is more gracefull, and encourages more powerful sweeping turns. Single fins probably aren’t good for doing airs either. Some may disagree, but I think that airs are boaring to watch (I can’t do them). That kind of surfing, although impressive, just seems to be a poor imitation of skate boarding.
[quote="$1"]
... just seems to be a poor imitation of skate boarding.
[/quote]
That's the best description I've ever read!
If you got a big open face or a slow hollow grinding barrel I love my single. I feel like it puts me in a nicer spot in the pocket whithout as much effort.
[quote=“$1”]
Hey Ekim,
The singles I do work best in down-the-line surf with more open faces. Singles have more glide speed
so you can wander out onto the open face and do a full-bodied cutback further away from the
power of the wave.
(mike wrote)
Ok, I have to get one. I love doing this move on a tri-fin. Sounds like everybody needs at least one good single fin in their quiver.
What do you think for a 6’0" 180 LBS. 40 year old guy with out of shape arms ,but with soul & prowess still intact. Maybe 7’0" x 21" x 3" pintail?
Q: What kind of waves do single fins excel over?
A: None; Watch some older pre-1980 surf films and watch pro’s not make waves that
any of todays intermediate skilled thruster riders could have made mince meat of.
Singles need cleaner more makeable waves , they dont have the acceleration
and speed of a thruster and this will make a significant difference in your choice of waves
ridden, how far back you take off, and your ability to complete waves that have imperfections, warbles, cascading foam
obstructions.,etc. Explicitly and definetively , a big step backwards.
I can see the retro thing for ‘twins’, but this ‘single fin love’ is near moronic in my opinion.
Learned on shortboard singles(early 70’s) and it was a blessing to get away from those through surfboard advancement.
Longboards with single fins excepted (longer rail lines need less fin,…to wit: Velzy-Jacobs butterfly fin).
However, if you are regularly blessed with clean open faced waves (most are not) and have trouble finding things to spend
your money on, then I suppose it wouldnt be a total throwaway of money.
Sometimes it seems that if Rob Machado was put on a molded foam coolite, shown in a film,
and sold them for $99. The marketers would get their return $$.
[quote="$1"]
What do you think for a 6'0" 180 LBS. 40 year old guy with out of shape arms ,but with soul & prowess still intact. Maybe 7'0" x 21" x 3" pintail?
[/quote]
I think you'll have a good time on the above described board. I made a similar board for a fellow in Hawaii, in 1971. He loved it. The board was 7'0'' x 23'', 3 1/2 '' thick. So, go for it.
…Otis,
please read my previous comment before state whatsoever
Hi Ekim,
I'd tweak those numbers a little bit. Maybe 6'10" x 20-3/4" x 3" That should be fun to try.
Have you ridden many single fins in the past? If I may, I would also suggest a template
with a tail block if cutties are your thing. Straighter rail line carries your momentum whilst
on edge for a bit longer. I'd say a diamond tail about 5" across(?) Not much tail rocker,
not nearly as much as we do in our thrusters.
BTW, Reverb, I really like the comment of bonzers being single fins with muscles, ha!!!
George
I did a 6'6"x22x2-7/8 that has kind of an eggy shape, similar to the CI, a few years ago and the board has become my go-to ride.... one shaper I spoke to told me that riding a single fin will really "mellow out" your style (coming off thrusters my whole time surfing) he was spot on... I have had mine in knee high to slightly overhead beachbreak and reef and it goes really good in both.... my first single fin has turned me into a AB3 guy and I haven't been on a thruster in probably 4 years.
…hello DS, you re right about those single fins
but shape yourself a contemporary board, with no single fins ideas in mind
think in thruster, then put a single fin (6 1/2 to a 6 3) with an stabilizer behind, inline
you ll surprise the speed and looseness and recovery after re entries
very similar to bonzer feeling