Got a single fin, seeking opinions.....

[craigj532]

My surfing on thrusters improved immensely once I started surfing a single fin on a regular basis. You can learn so much about creating drive using the rails and the proper way to make a turn surfing one that it's ridiculous. Timing, flow, creating speed, and actually being able to bury a rail - pretty much what's missing from many thruster-raised surfers' set of tricks.

Are they the be-all and end-all of performance surfing? Of course not.

But, they're a hell of a lot of fun, and spending some time on one will almost definitely make you a better surfer. And I also find that the almost friction-free feeling they have on tubey waves is out of this world. It's more fun than popsicles.

<img src="/forum/images/graemlins/socrazy.gif" alt="" />

 

[craigj532]

And the board I ride isn't a retro-design.

It's a modern design with a different number of fins.

That's why I didn't just buy a POS '70s single.

<img src="/forum/images/graemlins/socrazy.gif" alt="" />

 

[surfdud]

I agree with you for the most part. If I had to choose 1 board to ride all the time it most definitely wouldn't be a single fin. However I believe I'll obviously learn more and have fun riding a single fin, if not this one, maybe another. I can honestly say I enjoy riding boards with different feel. I'm in no rush to master my thruster or boost mad air etc. Different mentality calls for different boards. Some days I wanna tank it, other times I wanna rip, and then other times I wanna glide/trim. Regarding retro this and retro that, thank god!!! I'd hate for all of us to be riding CI thrusters all the time. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

 

[highline rider]

i think riding singles helps any level of surfer. look at donavan, his style has improved a whole lot since he started surfing them. his style is so smooth, he doesnt even pump to get speed, i think thats the single's influence. rob machado and the malloy's seem to have suffered the same too.

 

[000]

people will cray at me but ive never found a wave in my life where i wished i was on a single fin. i can MAKE em work, but why? when a modern board works so much better...

 

[LeeD]

I think for any fast, scary, big wave, a single fin is a confidence builder, an ego stroker, and can save your life.
Boring to ride in most slow waves, you can always widen it like Cheyne/McCoy, move the wide point back, throw in some wings for pivot point, and adjust fin shape for performance criteria.
Yeah, tell me you'd not want a single fin for Wiamea, Pipe, Sunset, Hanalei, Cannons.
I'd NOT want a single fin in typical Southern California with no swell, and of course, any NorCal with no swell <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />