Bumps,
Your right ,Fitzy`s boards did not suit me for the simple reason that what I was riding (Parkes,Whiteman then Ponsford shapes)wear light years ahead in refinement,progression and quality.I`d pull one out of the rack and they would dead set make me cringe and he continued to make the exact same chunked out board right to the end.If you had access to the boards that the east coast crew were into of that era you would have agreed as well.
Late 70's/Early 80's Shapers
Moderator: Moderator
Hey Stu! Funny you should mention the screwtails, always liked the look of them, apart from the tail and fin set up. Never ridden one, might have to hit Griz up for a paddle next time I see him.
Being the size I am and tending to surf more off the tail I prefer a bit of area in the back end. That Island was a bit narrow for me in the tail, tended to either slide or wash out when I pushed it too hard. Great tube board though.
Can't say I liked the Strapper much, went really well in 3ft plus lined up waves but was hard work in small beachies. Even in nice lined up waves I just seemed to feel somewhat disconnected with the wave. Kinda like riding a mal. I think it was due to the rails, hard edged and tucked under like an MR twinnie and running right up to the nose. I found it hard to surf back far enough on it. Reckon it would make a brilliant stand up board.
Lovin the Katana though, feels kinda squirrelly but the harder I push it the harder it pushes back and accelerates out of the turn. Whether that's the widepoint, the concave or just the whole thing put together I don't know.
I just know I'm enjoying surfing more than I have in a long time.
Got another one in the pipeline too
Being the size I am and tending to surf more off the tail I prefer a bit of area in the back end. That Island was a bit narrow for me in the tail, tended to either slide or wash out when I pushed it too hard. Great tube board though.
Can't say I liked the Strapper much, went really well in 3ft plus lined up waves but was hard work in small beachies. Even in nice lined up waves I just seemed to feel somewhat disconnected with the wave. Kinda like riding a mal. I think it was due to the rails, hard edged and tucked under like an MR twinnie and running right up to the nose. I found it hard to surf back far enough on it. Reckon it would make a brilliant stand up board.
Lovin the Katana though, feels kinda squirrelly but the harder I push it the harder it pushes back and accelerates out of the turn. Whether that's the widepoint, the concave or just the whole thing put together I don't know.
I just know I'm enjoying surfing more than I have in a long time.
Got another one in the pipeline too
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barry
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good thread for sure
Love the pics and history going on in here.
for me it started in the early 80s, first go on a kneeboard was a Haydu shaped by Ron Romanosky was checkered on the bottom with wooden twin fins and polka dots on the top... echo beach style! then got a custom from Mike Lytle (newport surf co) still have it. then got on the Sunline team and rode Tom Balestars boards for a few years. then Jeff Timpone hooked me up with some Great boards before he moved to Maui. Been riding Eric Schoelkopfs boards since about 89. Erics first label was called Primitive board designs, Eric also shaped heaps of boards for Gary Linden for a few years for his 'Real Job"
should look into Carl Hayward designs, his brother Scott is a ksusa member, lots of old kneeboarding history in Huntington Beach!
for me it started in the early 80s, first go on a kneeboard was a Haydu shaped by Ron Romanosky was checkered on the bottom with wooden twin fins and polka dots on the top... echo beach style! then got a custom from Mike Lytle (newport surf co) still have it. then got on the Sunline team and rode Tom Balestars boards for a few years. then Jeff Timpone hooked me up with some Great boards before he moved to Maui. Been riding Eric Schoelkopfs boards since about 89. Erics first label was called Primitive board designs, Eric also shaped heaps of boards for Gary Linden for a few years for his 'Real Job"
should look into Carl Hayward designs, his brother Scott is a ksusa member, lots of old kneeboarding history in Huntington Beach!
hey
for me my first board circa 1974 was about 4 foot eight with a huge maltese cross on the bottom - I had to cover it with a towel when I went to the beach because people would point at it and laugh - no taste some people it had a fully belly bottom curve and I was in bliss whenever I was on it !
I was even honoured with the title 'eggroll' the firsrt time I surfed it, and that came from a complete stranger... who ever said surfers weren't a welcoming bunch...
for me my first board circa 1974 was about 4 foot eight with a huge maltese cross on the bottom - I had to cover it with a towel when I went to the beach because people would point at it and laugh - no taste some people
it had a fully belly bottom curve and I was in bliss whenever I was on it !I was even honoured with the title 'eggroll' the firsrt time I surfed it, and that came from a complete stranger... who ever said surfers weren't a welcoming bunch...