Is it easy to adapt your surfing between a Quad and Tri?

Aaron Potter · Post by **Aaron Potter** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 12:46 am

I'm looking at purchasing a new board, presently riding Parkes Quads, from a 6' 24' to a 6 23 1/4 and a 6'2 22 1/2 all swallow tails. I have found riding the different boards in different size and conditions has really improved my surfing, from owning one board shaped by a local shaper who only dabbled in KB's.

With my new board I was thinking about trying a tri fin design, previously I have not been happy riding these, probably because the centre was set too far back among other things(ie the boards were not shaped by well known KB shapers) often felt extremely stiff and I usually removed the centre and surfed them as twins.

My question is, now that my style has obviously become very adapted to riding a Quad, will I have difficulty adjusting between a Quad and Tri, or will this adaption help my surfing further. I see that a lot of people tend to have both in their quivers however in reading the forums it sounds like they get used to one type of board(quads or Tris), this then tends to become their preferred ride.

Or should I order another Quad?

john - · Post by **john -** » Thu Jul 01, 2004 4:08 am

hi Aaron

the most interesting comment about 4 v 3 was made by Steenos (my opinion) about so few punters being able to truly go vertical - if so and your on a parkes board his quads are quite loose - i cant tell the difference between my quad and my old tri except the quad holds better on the drop

anyway - why get hung up on fins? From listening to hart et al there seem to be other features to consider that are more important to surfers other than the fins. If you think you will become a vertical surfer go a tri because you probably have to, otherwise look to surfers you like and what waves and find out about their goods

there is a great picture from todays worlds heats of parkesy - inspiring if your on one of his boards and i think hed be on a quad in that size wave

in short after some waffle - i went from tri to parkes quad without a hitch in terms of fins - it was other factors that took some getting used to - going back the other way could be the same deal - not the fins but other design factors - i only ride waves to about the 6 foot mark and only ever have one board ... in working order anyway

good luk - post your thoughts as they develop with replies

cheers

dorje

neilo · Post by **neilo** » Fri Jul 02, 2004 3:56 am

Aaron,Dorje
I've a Parkes quad, Friar Tuck quad and a Byrne Tri. By far the best board at taking a steep drop is the tri. I think (but dont't really know) its nothing to do with the fins but the shape of the board.

scoop · Post by **scoop** » Fri Jul 02, 2004 4:26 am

neilo

I have riden flashpoint thrusters (tri) and parkes quads and can adapt to both rather easily....tri's need more rail in there turn as quads twist around quickly.... maybe I ride quads more on the rail...I'm not a technical person...just get out there and do it
At the moment I am having shitloads of fun on a special Flashpoint 5 fin (pics in the board section)...it's a blast
I went for the quads cause they seemed to do something fore me at the time ...but so did the last tri I got and now the 5 fin....maybe I just like new toys....(as I said I am not technical)

Tony

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Fri Jul 02, 2004 3:30 pm

I think it's an easy switch if the quad and the tri-fin are by the same shaper with a similar basic design. I have a both types in Blast boards and the it takes only a few waves to make the adjustment back and forth.