Album Surfboards

sdsrfr

Phil Edwards status
Jul 13, 2020
6,394
12,235
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San Diego
Don't really recall the last twin model??
they’re there but not there at the same time.

 

menobrah

Gerry Lopez status
Feb 28, 2021
1,139
2,351
113
You are not going to see many west coast grovelers (east coast daily drivers) that are thrusters for a good reason..unless you are pretty lightfooted that center fin tends be a bit of an anchor imo...
 
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EastCoastBrah

Nep status
Nov 16, 2020
927
840
93
You are not going to see many west coast grovelers (east coast daily drivers) that are thrusters for a good reason..unless you are pretty lightfooted that center fin tends be a bit of an anchor imo...
always seemed to work fine for me. have had some quads for the crappy surf in the past.. but i just like the seamless transition of always being on a thruster. i feel like there's a small adjustment period for the first part of the session if you hop back and forth between quad and thruster. I offset the anchor with a little extra paddling power - then once you are up and riding it's fine. Feel like the trailer fin as an anchor is possibly a mental thing.
 

sdsrfr

Phil Edwards status
Jul 13, 2020
6,394
12,235
113
San Diego
always seemed to work fine for me. have had some quads for the crappy surf in the past.. but i just like the seamless transition of always being on a thruster. i feel like there's a small adjustment period for the first part of the session if you hop back and forth between quad and thruster. I offset the anchor with a little extra paddling power - then once you are up and riding it's fine. Feel like the trailer fin as an anchor is possibly a mental thing.
Perhaps a gmm2, 5’8 could work…
 

EastCoastBrah

Nep status
Nov 16, 2020
927
840
93
on the other hand, im always trying to find a crappy wave board that i really like. so maybe i need to be more open minded.
 

EastCoastBrah

Nep status
Nov 16, 2020
927
840
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thinking more about it - part of the reason i prefer thruster for a groveler is at the upper end of what i use a groveler for, at punchier spots the quads like to slide on me on a late-ish drop, and also if i try to really crank on a turn sometimes the quad will slide out.
 
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tedshred5

Michael Peterson status
Aug 5, 2015
3,088
7,245
113
if you're willing to pay the Album price point but want a wide tail thruster for groveling, I'd go with a Dark Arts Dad Bod. will also handle punchier

 
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j_mac

Legend (inyourownmind)
Aug 16, 2020
429
1,633
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Last spring, I wanted to dial in my shortboard thruster. Like many of you, I wasn't considering Album for this type of board.

I interacted with Stamps, got a nice mini quiver. He was absolutely great to deal with. The Stamps Flare remains one of the best small wave shortboards (will never get rid of this board). The GrinderX - also good board, very similar to the CI Everyday. The Blindspot also very good board. The Stamps FX didn't care for. I also picked up a custom Arakawa Jackpot - again great experience. I also found deal on CC OP3. I got a local shaper custom - rockered pointy nose, kind of based on the CI Pro but for our waves. Along the way, I grabbed a Freewing and then VBSM.

Stamps board are solid workhorse boards that work - can't go wrong. The Flare is magic.

I would say the VBSM has similar magic to the Flare, especially for everyday waves. A lot volume is integrated into the VBSM, but it is balanced.

Freewing and VSBM, they surf a bit differently to a true standard shortboard, yet I feel they still have good performance, but are relatively easier. Especially for everyday conditions. I felt like these boards also carried more speed. I prefer to surf a shortboard, as love that feel. Many mornings I am first one in the water so I can get away with surfing a shortboard, but as the sun rises, most people are paddling out midlengths, so these type of shortboards allow me to compete easier when it gets crowded.

I believe there are simiarities between the pyzel red tiger and the Freewing, as well as differences. I haven't surfed a red tiger but I have looked at them closely.

Biases - yes, I am Album fanboi and enjoy my relationship with Matt. I think my biases developed from surfing his boards before going down the thruster rabbit hole, inherently enjoyed these boards more. If you like how the Album alternatives feel, you might be surprised by his thruster. While I really enjoy the 5' 10" Freewing, I don't care for the 5' 8" Freewing owing to the tail feeling blocky tail, it feels unbalanced.

For the true high-performance shortboard - it was between Arakawa, OP3 and local shaper. I preferred the local shaper, had the right elements for performance as well as ease that lets my surfing progress more. The OP3 was the most electric, but it needs a good wave, and the sizing was off for me. Arakawa was solid, high performance, but was missing that it factor.

For most days, the VBSM and Freewing work well, and they have been my go-to boards, until recently getting the Disorder. I surfed Freewing this morning and it was awesome.
 

EastCoastBrah

Nep status
Nov 16, 2020
927
840
93
if you're willing to pay the Album price point but want a wide tail thruster for groveling, I'd go with a Dark Arts Dad Bod. will also handle punchier

I like the look of this. DA never appealed to me but the shape looks nice.
 
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