Board talk (posted by expat)

[surf patrol]

Posted by expat

Hi guys

Its my first posting so I'll introduce myself and then if anyone would be kind enough to answer my question i'd be really grateful.

I have been surfing for about 5 years. From the first time I managed to stand up on a foamy in the canaries I knew that surfing was about to take over my life and since then I have dragged my long suffering girlfriend all over the place looking for the right wave. I now surf 1-2 days a week and most holidays are dedicated to surfing.

I'm a Yorkshireman living in Rome and contrary to what you might think (I was really surprised) we get good surf on the west coast about 120-150 days a year (which unfortunately for my mates is more than Cayton Bay or Saltburn in the N.E of England). The surf is drummed up by local trade winds and usually lasts 2-3 days at a time. The best place is Sardinia http://surfcorner.it/video/index.php?doc=1881 but quite a few spots 40 mins from Rome work really well and the standard of surfing over here is pretty high

Anyway I have surfed a fantastic Adrian Philips (Fluid Juice in Devon) hybrid 7,8 for years and have gradually built up my technique - frontside bottom turns, pumping, off the lip but last year decided that I wanted some short(er) board experience and went with a Fluid Juice 6,4 twin fin fish. I decided on the fish because whilst the med waves can be good (and they can get pretty big when the wind is up) they are generally a good size for a fish - and I was also attracted by the buoyancy and potential to learn tricks on a smaller board.

However, to be honest my experience has been pretty disappointing. The fish is fast down the line but extremely lively and in bigger (but not big) surf I find myself pearling often . Also duck diving is very difficult as the bugger is extremely buoyant.

So my question is:

Did I make a mistake - should I have gone for a similar sized thruster with the three fin set up and less buoyancy?

cheers guys

[kitesurfer]

Hey there.

Couple of things. Not heard of people buying twin fishes before as there considered good for tricks although i may be wrong on this point and 2 6ft 4 is very big for a twin fin fish, hence the large volume.
I ride a twin fish and its 5ft 10 by 2 3/4 think and i weigh in at 77kg and just about 6ft tall.
How does that compare with your dimensions?
I have no problems duck diving my fish. Twin fishes can be great in sizeable surf say 10ft faces but are hard to ride in steep surf due to the lack of drive from the fin set-up.
I would have thought a fish would be good in the mediterranean they seem to work most places.

KS

[expat]

Thanks KS

I'm 6ft and about 82 kilos - i think that maybe the volume is making the duck dive tougher.

I think you are right about the style of wave. If the wave is slipping I have fewer problems.

[Johnny B]

Also duck diving is very difficult as the bugger is extremely buoyant.

Ah ha! I thought I was the only person who found it hard to duck dive a fish! Mine is near impossible to duck dive well! I thought it might be my technique but it is probably a combination of the greater bouyancy of the board an my measly 10stones (less at the mo I think!)

[expat]

guess i'm just going to have to keep doing those press ups


So what about a three fin thruster with less buoyancy. Any comments?