Surfing Waves

Ok I'm on the hunt for a board for rubbish small waves.

I've had a fish before(below) and didn't really like it - 6'0"x18?x2?.



So what is the best shape to get the most from small weak waves - s'pose up to about 2-3ft?
Fish?
Quad?
Hybrid fish?
Thruster with more volume and wide tail?

I've got a board for average waves - 6'2" X 18 1/2" X 2 1/4" squashtail. I just need something for tiny surf now. I can surf my 6'2" in pretty much anything but I'd like something that can do it better in the small stuff.

Any ideas guys and gals would be much appreciated.

Ahhh the 6 million dollar question. Depends i think on your style and how you want to ride as to which board will make you think your making the most of the small weaker waves.
For me it would defo be a short retro twin fin with plenty of volume. At least 2.75 think and nice sharp rails.
Was that fish picture really only 2 inches thick?
For you Broosta its not so easy to judge without seeing you surf but if i was to guess from previous posts you've made then possibily the shortboard with extra volume. Do you like to throw the board around alot? If not the extra volume can be left all over the board rather than just having it thicker in the middle but if you like a light nose then more volume in the middle which might mean a thicker board. Maybe flatten the rocker out a little and add a little extra width, not much though.
So 6ft2 need to change there x 18.75 x 2.35 with extra volume in the rails not in the middle and a rounded pin. Sharper than normal rails too to compensate for the extra volume in the rails. Also slightly less rocker than what your current 6ft2 has already.
All this is based on assuming your a pretty good surfer already and don't want to alter the way in which you surf but just want a board that will perform better in weak surf.

KS

For small and clean I suggest quite flat rocker and hard rails. And extra volume (longer and wider than you usually ride).

-doug
Compsand.com - The Composite Surfboard Cooperative!

I agree with the flat rocker and extra volume although maybe not necessarily a longer board. What I like about fish is that you can go much shorter than your all around shortboard. Sometimes fits better in smaller waves. Remember, when you surf tiny waves you need to surf quick and light. What didn't you like about the 6'0 fish?

This is a 5'2

Cool cheers for the responses .

Was that fish picture really only 2 inches thick?

No I can't make out the dimentions from the photo and I sold the board ages ago, but I can see it was 2" plus something.

Do you like to throw the board around alot?

Yeah normally thats how I try to surf - probs more on smaller waves cos on bigger stuff all you gotta do is the basic moves and thats exciting enough. But smaller stuff gets me going for speed and trying 360s and airs.

All this is based on assuming your a pretty good surfer already and don't want to alter the way in which you surf but just want a board that will perform better in weak surf.

Well I can surf ok but just not sure its possible to surf like I normally like to on smaller waves. I'm willing to compromise by having a board I'd have to surf differently if it meant it would generate more power and speed from the wave than my usual shape.

What didn't you like about the 6'0 fish?

Well when I had that board I was trying to surf it in small to medium waves and thinking I could do same stuff as I do with my thruster - big long drawn out bottom turns. The fish wouldn't bite in and kept skipping about and then after the bottom turn when I was aiming for the lip it didn't like just going straight up, it seemed really unstable unless turning or half way up the wall on the face.
But now I wouldn't use it if the waves were good so I wouldn't have the bottom turn problem and on smaller waves there is less space to go straight anywhere for too long and its all tight arc turns.

So what are quads all about then?

I've only ridden a quad fin hybrid fish a couple of time as a loaner board from a shaper. I didn't really like it enough to order one for myself. It was quick and loose in the turns, lots of drive down the line, and kind of out of control. Maybe I'm just used to the thruster fin setup or maybe I just needed to get used to surfing that type of board. I have a 5'2 fish that's narrower and less full in the rails than the one pictured above. This is the board I take out when the surf is so small that it's nearly unsurfable.

Broosta wrote:So what are quads all about then?

Speaking from very limited experience (having got the quad a couple of weeks ago, and not seen much of a wave since) - they do seem like a good compromise for smaller waves. Mine is much faster than anything else Ive ridden (including shortboards), and needs a bit of oomph before it will get going, but it still flies on smaller waves.

It doesnt suffer from the skipping like a traditional twinny either. I get the feeling, but as yet unconfirmed, that it turns exceptionally easily... but having only ridden rubbishy close outs on it, its a bit hard to tell

drowningbitbybit wrote:... but having only ridden rubbishy close outs on it, its a bit hard to tell

Good to see you haven't brokewn that habit yet then matt even wiothout myself or phil top call you inti them.

KS

smallwavegrovellerchick wrote:I agree with the flat rocker and extra volume although maybe not necessarily a longer board. What I like about fish is that you can go much shorter than your all around shortboard. Sometimes fits better in smaller waves. Remember, when you surf tiny waves you need to surf quick and light. What didn't you like about the 6'0 fish?

This is a 5'2

Agreed. My point was more volume, people seem to achieve that most of the time by extending all 3 dimensions. But it can be done other ways too.

One of the advantages to longer and wider with a flatter rocker is just the greater planing area. Which can help in small clean waves. Thicker can work just as well.

-doug
Compsand.com - The Composite Surfboard Cooperative!

Semi Fish...
Single thru to Double concave. Pleanty of foam thru the rails with a good hard edge off the tail.
Water skate by Miller, Afterburner, Stretch quad, all simmilar concept.
More foam about 3/4 of the way thru the board, closer to the nose rather then middle of the board.

i love my quad that ks made it rocks and it is really good in small waves but can not say the same as mate as i have been in good clean waves on it al the time since i have had it

Get a zippi fish twin. Awesome boards in all types of conditions. check out his website www.zippifish.com. all he makes are fish and has been doing it for 20-30 years.

I'm quite a big bloke (6'1, 13.5st) and have a 7'8 fatboy flyer (really thick; a mix between a shortboard and a minimal) and it goes great in the smaller, sloppy stuff. I've ridden it in 2 / 3 foot waves and it still a great ride.

From the looks of your photos I wouldn't say that's a fish. Your board doesn't appear to have a lot of forward foil, nose volume and it seems to still have a lot of nose rocker. Plus the width is not really anywhere near a fish's size. I'd call your board a short board.

I would go with something at least 20 & 1/2 wide less rocker and a wider nose shape.

I've got me one of these:



It's pretty good paddler I need to work it on the slow sections but it goes.

Even those made in Thailand 7S Super Fish pop outs aren't really that bad although the image that goes with it isn't the best but they really do go very well in junk.