Surfing Waves

I always want to maximize my surfing experience though my equipment (cause God knows I'm not getting better at surfing). However, my perfect small board for small days eludes me, thus this post.

I have a 6'8" finless board that catches waves just as easily as my longboard but I'm just not getting into it. I also have a 6'10" fish which is good for smaller and big mushy days (sunset, tourmo, sano-o...) days but still not perfect for tiny days. I am going to sell the finless this summer, and maybe the 6'10 fish, but need to figure out what to get for a small wave board.

I owned a 6'1 x 20 3/4 x 2 7/8 retro twin keel and it caught waves great, but still not tiny ones, was good about waist high and up, I want knee to ankle high short action.

So, here are my two choices:

1) A Short fat fish, say 6'3" x 3" x 22" with a quad setup with keel fins (available through FCS) but that I can switch out if it's bigger. Wider tail than my other fishes, fat to the rails, with a single concave in case I get a good sized one.

2) A mini simmons, about the same size with a quad setup too. I don't like how they look, not sure why, but I know they have the reputation as wave catchers and all around fun boards.

Either will be custom epoxy, I like how much easier it is to throw around a lighter board.

What do you guys think? I'll take other suggestions, but the above are what I am down to considering.

Oh, by the way, I'm 200lbs, so no go on the CI Pod or Rusty Dwart, which would work in waist to shoulder high surf but I'm looking for a knee to ankle size surf

This wasnt one of your options and it's kind of random but... I like an alia whenever the surf is small enough that it breaks in chest deep watter. It's crazy fun to ride but I suck at paddling it into waves so these days i only bother with it in ankle-slappers which works out suprisingly well. it has become my favorite small wave ride. If you get small peelers where you surf jumping into them on the wood board is all kinds of awesome.

themathteacher wrote:1) A Short fat fish, say 6'3" x 3" x 22" with a quad setup

Ive got a board of almost those dimensions and it just doesnt work as a quad. Its much too skatey, and you cant immediately lock into a green face - you need to take the drop to get some speed... but there isnt a drop to take on really small days

Its great for catching waves, and kinda fun in a skatey fally offy kinda way, but as soon as I get round to it, its getting a thruster (with very small or possibly trailer middle fin) set up.

Good point! I intend to use it as a twin in small waves, but as a quad if it's bigger

So I went with the 6'3" fish, but got it in extra light epoxy, it's actually super light for the size it is.

themathteacher wrote:So I went with the 6'3" fish, but got it in extra light epoxy, it's actually super light for the size it is.

Looks nice, have fun with it. That is one hella-wide tail!

Yup, it's not a performance board, strickly to paddle along with longboards

Resurrecting this thread:

The board is great, whenever it's small, mushy or I just feel lazy this is my go-to board. I still shortboard when the waves are steep and hollow and fun, but now I don't pass up on almost any surfing conditions.

Reason I bring back this old post is that I also ordered a 5'10 mini simmons, I just need to try it. Will post up when it's finished.

How does that twin go backside? I have one and I just keep sliding out or I will need to kinda "nudge" it around, I have a love hate relation ship with it. its a bit smaller 5'11 21,1/2 2 5/11 veebottom. And i need a board for exacly same conditions plus windslop segemented waves and onshore . So I've been contemplating the CI fishcuit (have a biscuit but it just wont go in anything without a bit of push) or something custom. Maybe its just i who suck at going backside on a fish, most likely.
Ive also been thinking about a mini Simmons, very interested to know how it works out.
Cheers,
Dan

Danjael wrote:How does that twin go backside? I have one and I just keep sliding out or I will need to kinda "nudge" it around,
Dan

That's why I got a quad, I had a twin before. When it's bigger or steeper I go back to the quad set up, no problems with hold, only use the twin in big mushy or in small surf.

I expect the simmons to slide more, but I don't intend on using it when the surf is steep, there are a couple of slow surf sopts in the area. Can't wait to try it on a double overhead day at tourmaline for example.

Shaped:

ok, bring on the small waves, it's here:

Final post: Took out the new simmons to OB today, probably waist high on the best waves. At 5'10" it caught waves probably as good as my 6'3 fish. More fun in the quiver, super stoked.

As an experiment to finding a longboard replacement, I had an 8ft funboard before and the fish and simmons are way easier to catch waves on, but not as easy as my 9'6 log.

End of story, till the next board...

Very inspiring thread.

What sort of cash they set you back mathteacher? Was looking at a small wave board this summer but lack of funds (got married, followed by my 2 best mates doing the same thing, then my sister) prevented it. Was on the lookout for a cheap McCoy Nugget but they are rare as hens teeth, and they cheapest ones ran at €700+. Had a go on a mates one, and it was epic in small stuff. And by small, I mean really small, ankle slappers.

That's the beauty of custom boards, it's financed!

I paid $200 a month and a half ago, $240 when delivered, to me it's easier on the wallet than forking over $440 in one chunk.

Locally made boards start about $400 plain, bit more with paint, but have seen shop boards (the are called "shop boards" by the way) as low as $360 in the off season, when shapers have left over blanks and need to get money going. Perfect time to buy is February and March, shapers have less order because people are bussy paying taxes and the weather is not warm enough to spur enthusiasm to buy a board.

Never thought about a best time of year to order a board, will bear it in mind. Top tip, cheers. Never been into paint jobs on boards as the only bit I'll see is covered in wax. Always seemed a waste.

Ok, the simmons is up for sale.

Use her on overhead bombs at OB south of the pier and was a blast.

However, both the fish and the simmons perform about the same, but since I like quads (personal preference) I am keeping the fish.

Let me know if interested in buying her.

I always find it interesting about retro designs as I started surfing in 1958 with a Balsa long board, went down through the short board evolution, ever decreasing in size saw Simmons shapes and planing hull come and go radical vee bottoms a channel concaves etc, the thing that I am aware of is that now there is nothing a surfer won't try to do on a wave, before you were limited by lack of leash, fail and you swam. Even I do things now that were not invented way back then
So there was a streak of conservatism in what you did, many of the retro designs failed then and probably will be found wanting again, just wonder why a style has come back is it an advancement or a sales point you are being sold?

BTW a great rider can make an ironing board charge, Alaia surfing proves that and they are great fun, but beyond me