CJ Nelson Outlier vs Mini-log

[cheekobonavista01]

Hi,

Have been interested in getting a CJ Nelson Outlier recently. It's a mid-length single-fin planing-hull. Wondering how the 8'0 would feel different than my current 8'0 2+1 performance mini-log? At the same length the outlier would be wider and thicker than what I'm riding now. Maybe not that much heavier due to the Thunderbolt Red construction?

I'm a lifelong intermediate surfing still trying to jump to the advanced level. I typically ride shorter boards, performance shortboards and fish. So riding a mid-length is generally easy for me. It's something I do to up my wave count and smooth out my style. I surf with a more preformance orientated than cruisey style. At least attempting to do carves, snaps, and cutbacks. Recently I've been working on improving my bottom turn and really learning to lean into my turns to put the board of rail.

I think some of the 70's era surfers that used Outlier like mid-length single-fin planing-hull boards has some great style, and powerful bottom turns. Wondering if the Outlier would help me develop my bottom turning and rail surfing or if I should skip this board and still to more modern mid-lengths with 2+1 set-ups?

Would it be easier to balance on rail with side fins or is there benefit to trying this kind of single-fin board? Advice appreciated.

[waikikikichan]

How about installing a 8" Greenough 4-A single fin on your current 8'0" and see how it goes ?

( another interesting one is the Larry Allison GL Flex )

Would it be easier to balance on rail with side fins or is there benefit to trying this kind of single-fin board? Advice appreciated.

I think it's easier to catch an edge with side fins versus a single.
If:
1) Not enough rider weight / strength / torque
2) you're Over volume
3) you're Over zealous
4) Not rail loading
5) Turning from the front foot/ front part of the board.
6) Not listening to what the wave is telling you to do.

[Alttabel]

Transitioning from a 2+1 fin setup to a single-fin setup like the CJ Nelson Outlier can certainly change the way your board feels in the water.

An 8'0" CJ Nelson Outlier, despite being the same length as your current mini-log, would indeed be wider and thicker. This extra volume could potentially offer more stability and float, which can be advantageous in smaller or mushier waves.

In terms of construction, the Thunderbolt Red technology uses a lightweight EPS core and a mix of fiberglass and carbon fiber, which results in a board that is light yet strong. So, while the Outlier is larger in terms of volume, the weight difference might not be as significant as you'd expect.

As for developing your bottom turns and rail surfing, a single-fin setup can certainly help. Single fins tend to encourage smoother, drawn-out turns and greater reliance on rail-to-rail transitions. Riding a single-fin board can help you refine your style and gain a deeper understanding of how weight distribution affects your turns.

That being said, there are pros and cons to both single-fin and 2+1 setups. 2+1 fin configurations are known for their versatility - they can deliver the stability of a longboard while still offering the maneuverability of a shortboard, which makes them a popular choice for many modern mid-lengths.

In the end, the decision depends on your personal goals. If you're eager to experiment with a new style of surfing and don't mind a potential learning curve, the CJ Nelson Outlier could be an exciting choice. However, if you prefer the familiar feel of your current board and want to continue developing your skills in that context, sticking with a 2+1 setup might be the better option.

[jaffa1949]

Really better way to go and have fun and see whether you can pull performance together.
Don‘t go to a new board single fin yet!
Take out the side bites try the various single fin options, push your surfing harder off the bottom in turns , good bottom turns are the template all the next phases of the responses to the wave built.
Learn to weight and unweight your back foot and use this and forward steps to backward weighting to use as brake and accelerator.
If you cannot generate power to your surfing going to edge will not do it for you.
The previous poster is like a board brochure read, best answer, see if you can get a comparison to ride!