FLASHPOINT

[hart]

Hey The_Green_Room..

You should try to get to one of the Newcastle Club Contests..suss out Headwax and he can keep you posted.

As your only beginning (which is unreal, actually..good on you) stick with a second handy for the time being.

And the best way to expose yourself to second-hand kneeboards would be thru the other members of a Club..all the Newcastle guys would have old ones lying around and I'm sure they would be stoked to help you out.And you could get to surf it first to see if you liked it.

And that way you'd only be shelling out two or three hundred bucks..much more economical (for the time being) than spending over six hunge on a newy.

Take care mate and keep surfing.

Bruce.

[kneemor]

Do any of you surf a Flashpoint Tri fish? How does it differ from a rounded pin.

I currently surf Parkes and Blast tris and comtemplating getting a Flashpoint Fish.

Mr. Hart how much to buy and ship one to California?

[hart]

The main difference between a Swallow outline and one for a Pintail really occurs in the last 12-13" of your tail.

A Swallow (or even more exaggerated, a fish) has a much straighter outline..and a pod. A pod is tail width..like something a Pinny doesn't have..like a Pintail has zero pod.

A pod will generally project more in turns and at times it can be used to allow more rail in the water to suit the conditions.

Some time ago, someone posted pics of Gavin Colman surfing Peurto..big waves and big turns. He was surfing swallows..purely to allow him to have more rail in the water..for control, for drive and for confidence..it was the first time that he surfed there.

Swallows can make great allround boards..they can cover a lot of varied ground.

You've got to like rails though..coz if you don't..they will stay flat and your bottoms will start to dictate what type of turns (or lack of) that you do.

hart.

[kripchik]

Yeah I like the feel of my swallow tail, it can handle different conditions!

Cheers
Sophia

[hart]

Hi Sophia,

You're right, Swallowtails are great allround boards..they will let you have one board that will cover a wide variety of wave types and conditions.

Did you ever make it to Sydney after your trip to Bendalong?

Regards,

Bruce

[kripchik]

Hi Bruce

No I haven't had a chance to get up to Sydney. I have been flat out lately, and I have been spending a fair bit of time just concentrating on my training (as well as a bit of study). I probably won't get a chance to head up that way until June.

Cheers
Sophia

[hart]

I'm hoping that some of the surfers that have contributed to this thread have seen, heard or maybe even tried the (US based) OAM Fin System.

It has the advantage of incremental adjustment on all 3 fins (made for Standup Thrusters) as well as the ability of altering the angle of your rail fins to the bottom of your board.

If there are adequate fin sizes (for Kneeboards..but I'm sure they have an Al Merrick template) I am considering introducing them into my equipment.

I'm not good at searching the net and stuff..this site is virtually the only place that I go..perhaps one of us has seen them??

Thanks,

hart

[hart]

Aloha Wax,

Well, as usual you are on the bloody pulse, mate..

But..it would seem that the system I've spotted briefly is the one the OAM Site tells us is coming soon and to check back later.

Like, I still can't get to have a good look..still none the wiser!!

It certainly does seem to have advantages over FCS..but for kneeboards, it will all come down to available fin size and shape.

If you (or anyone else) spot any other info..please send it on.

Thanks, Bruce.

[hart]

headwax..

Haven't gone there yet..but "a guy called Greg Webber"..??

For a man so into the conc..I can't imagine that you introduce him so.

Regards,

Me.

[hart]

Headwax,

Wanted to reply to you about something on another thread..but this one will do..coz its sorta about Greg Webber et all.

I used an observation about Professional Surfers (standups) and you commented that I was looking to closely as 'Surboards' and perhaps ignoring our intrinsic differences as a result.

Greg Webber is a good example..of an unbeleivably talented shaper..that we can all learn from..irrepective of what we ride..he did, after all, bring the concave to the modern shortboard..and we all have benefitted from that for the past decade and a half.

I look closely at 'standups' for many reasons..many more of them to start with..and much more money getting thrown their way..so (arguably) their stakes are much higher, in a professional sense, than ours.

Guys like Sam Egan, regarded as the Godfather of OZ shaping, has shaped over 25,000 boards..despite whatever numbers we kneeboard shapers have done..they pale into insignificance when compared to this.

So while we have our opinions about shapes..Sam has (potentially) a much more qualified and experienced one. Inarguable in that sense.

We must look and learn from all we see..and take what we can..and turn our backs on the rest.

I remember a bloke a while ago that always got standup shapers to do their boards..he chose a kneeboarder recently for a change..and hasn't stopped raving since.

Sounds like he was looking and listening.

[Marky V]

If anyone is interested, during the late 80's I made fins under the 'No Rules fin Co' name. Foiled hundreds of windsurf fins, many for the top wave and race guys at the time, Learned the trade making surfboard fins at Wave Graffitti in Swansea, Wales. Made some kneeboard fins for some mates, and recently made some for my Diplock board. They were for FCS to the Simon Anderson template and Tom Caroll template. I have boxed centre fin so made a couple of those too. I don't do this for a living anymore, but if anyone has a real problem getting box fins and have templates, I could probably help them out. Could make a panel in any colour poly or epoxy, in the name of international kneelo friendship!!
Anyone interested?
Marky