fish for both stand-up and KB

[monkey boy]

I'm primarily a stand-up surfer (don't throw me out the forum!!!) - shortboards and longboards - and also ride a boogie from time to time.

Always been v impressed by kneeboarding (tubes and getting deep!). Watching GG in Crystal Voyager is amazing (a mat is also on my "to get" list).

Looking to get a fish. Can a quad fish work for both stand-up and kb?? It looks like the dimensions for a stand-up quad fish means that it could also work as a "point and shoot" down the line kb when it gets more critical??

Cheers!

[PaulN]

I'm primarily a stand-up surfer (don't throw me out the forum!!!) - shortboards and longboards - and also ride a boogie from time to time.

Always been v impressed by kneeboarding (tubes and getting deep!). Watching GG in Crystal Voyager is amazing (a mat is also on my "to get" list).

Looking to get a fish. Can a quad fish work for both stand-up and kb?? It looks like the dimensions for a stand-up quad fish means that it could also work as a "point and shoot" down the line kb when it gets more critical??

Cheers!

I have ridden both and would say yes, as long as the dims are right. How tall are you and what is your weight? Are you a very strong paddler?

[KenM]

Monkey Boy, your definately on the right track. I've tried a few stand up fish as kneeboards and would say that Smells has it exactly right. The stand up boards are stiffer but I knee rode a Pavel Speed Dialer stand up in some throaty waves and it worked great. Key might be fin boxes so you can adjust to taste.

[monkey boy]

Thanks guys.

I've been considering - Hynson, KG/ Kenson, Mandala, John Mel/freeline. I'm open to suggestions..... I' guess I'm doing a bit of a fishing exercise (I'm sorry bad bad pun!!!).

I'm 33 5'10 160lbs but don't get out as much as I'd like (or used to) so would appreciate upping the wave count too. Would give up some performance for a board that is easier to get into waves - guess that means my paddling is not as strong as I'd like !! Also surf cold water (6/4 in winter and 5/3 wetttie in summer). Don't mind if the board is a little stiff if it planes early.

Cheers for all/any advice.

[SFKneelo]

Regarding that list, I KNOW John Mel knows both sides of the coin... kneelo and stand-up.

I'm guessing the others mentioned on your list don't know the kneelo side (that's a guess.)

Also on my recommended list:

Dave Parkes in Byron Bay (contact Don Harris here.)

The Shoelkolf (spelling?) shapes LOOK like good cross-over boards from the templates I've seen. Lots of folks here can comment.

Bruce Hart may want to chime in on this one as well...

Dean Cleary... Tom Balestar... Huntington Beach area.

Lots of others... but if that's your goal, talk to a shaper that knows both sides.

Are you up here? Further North?

[SFKneelo]

Agree. Can't go wrong with either of those two.

[KneeBumps]

MB,
I too go "both ways"
Besides kneeing, I ride shortboards, longboards and body surf.

Relevant to your post, I have a 6'2" standup KG twinzer fishie - decent kboard in the bigger stuff, but difficult to really fling around kneeing in the small slop that usually passes for waves around here. It is a superb standup board for our waves. Maybe that just means I'm a crappy kneelo. (Smells tried it out a few weeks ago and just smirked at me while I ripped around on his belly whomper.)

I like the ability to choose between standing and kneeing based upon the qualities of the wave that looms before me, on the spur of the moment. Of course, that means no fins...

Just bought a 5'10" kboard, planning to knee up to OH waves, but, I have to admit- can't wait to try it as a standup board as well!

Whatever, its all about having fun, and at last I have some real versatility in my quiver.

[albert]

Instead of looking for a standup board that you can ride as a kneeboard, why not try a kneeboard that you can ride as a standup?

I ride standing up on my boards all the time, so do plenty of kneelos around these parts.

[monkey boy]

How big can I go for the fish to still be "easy" to stand up but still use as a KB. I want to be able to get into the waves early - I'd like to up the wave count.

I've read on some of the other threads that some of you guys have big boards. I guess I'm talking no swim fins - many of you guys go finless ?? from what I gather on a bigger board you don't need the fins???

Big fish .... To quote NWDude from the Schoelkopf thread .... "- pure and simple paddling speed - think an old man whose local break can be a heavy current river mouth competing against @!#%'s on logs - a big wave board with getting in early a priority over flashing manuevers - i'm definitely a rail grabber to crank turns and ride the back of the board type of guy !" though I don't consider myself too old just yet!!!"

Albert - I'm not sure that I'm ready to go complete KB that I can stand on, as my back ground is mainly stand up..

SFKneelo, i'm further north but have been down to North and Central Cali a couple of times. Hoping to get back down that way later this year. Most of my surfing these days is PNW - Vancouver Island and Oregon.

Thanks for the advice! If any one has any photos to give me ideas that'd be great.

Cheers

[surfhorn]

If you're primarily a standup, then a standup fish will do; if primarily a KBer, then a KB fish is the ticket. I've ridden everything under the sun since Day One. If you're looking for a fish, I would steer you towards a quad fish, where the rear set of fins are smaller (not a Twinzer) and are placed towards the center of the board, similar to today's modern KBs (Blast; Freeline, etc).

Out of necessity this summer, I KB'ed a brand new 6'5" standup quad fish in 3'-4' little barrels. While I got a ton of waves, the board was too thick and I had to keep a hand on the outside rail to keep in the steeper part of the wave face. KBs have thinner rails but still maintain a wider template.

Much luck with your search.

Old kneeboard proverb (created by us surf shop salespeople):
When In doubt - buy TWO!

[Bob]

Watching Simon stand up at the end of his waves in his movies seems to say the board is a little too loose for standing up as it looks like he has to be real careful with it when riding it.

A topic not addressed so far is if "monkey boy" wants to stand up and knee on the same board do the fins have to be back like a standup board.

Seems worth considering...

[monkey boy]

I like the armchair advice!! Specially if I get a used board until I decide on what I really want.

Would like to see photos of peoples "dualies" (my made up term for a board that does stand up and kneelo)!

I mean fish in the widest sense.... or probably "post modern"... sounds arty!

Is 6'6 or over too big??

[monkey boy]

cheers artist!!
if anyone sees any good used boards then please let me know.
Not much up here at the moment ..

[gene west]

Monkeyboy-Greetings from the People's Republic of Ocean Beach...ground zero for the fish...born and designed here at the cliff's...no need to go big, most stand up fish rider's here stay under 6'...Tee's advise is good, come on down find a board, you'll be stoked. Myself, I ride Toby's quad's, but just ordered a new stick from Mark Schneider, also recommend Hank Warner, Michael Hynson,Buddy's Blast's and Mr. Mel's, K.g's work too-oop's forgot Skip Frye....

[Dr. Bronner]

Steve Lis makes a pretty good fish I hear.