Found an old beaten up single fin in my uncles shed and as you do, nicked it (he was trying to clear out stuff so was a win win situation). Took a couple rides to get use to it but I love it. My mates keep telling me it'll be no use in summer etc because you need the extra fins to pump and make sections etc but how I see it is, if 30-40years ago, blokes were doing alright on these, then surely I'll manage!

Just had a question though, I'm finding it harder to push through my turns on this thing and sliding out on cutbacks and stuff. It feels as if, you have to almost 'guide' the board on the wave. Can't get my head around how I can 'cross step' abit too on this thing and cannot on a multi finned board. So anyone have any tips on surfing singles?

Surf off your rails more

I've got a couple of old retro single fin boards lying around that I use to muck around on.
For me I found the thickness of the rails to be what held me back form going rail to rail as much as the fins did. I really felt like I had to plan sections ahead in order to get enough drive from it on Perth waves. Despite being so unresponsive (I'll put much of that down to lack of ability) they're so much fun.

Walk the board more and surf off your front foot. Watch old morning of the earth footage for inspiration. Single fins are great I reckon.

i've read somewhere long while ago about a "soul arch" they all used to do before thruster was invented

^^ What they said

Go with the flow of the wave. You can't force it into a turn, its only got one fin, old style rail shape and maybe some V in the bottom, volume forward etc etc.

Gotta kind of let it find it's way, you can't dictate to it, once you start getting a single fin in the right pocket not many feelings like it, yeow!

If you try and drive like you do a thruster found they felt mushy, they find their own line. Teaches you to stay close to the power which is why when you get it right it is so much fun.

Good pointers above. i find on singles you ned to surf forward, trim before you turn as the speed isnt generated throught the fins it from forward momentum, if that makes sense.

and the speed on a single is in the top of the wave.. So try to trim high.

Look at terry fitz or even joel fitz or mp on singles and the lines they take but if your surfing crappy small close outs most singles will just feel like you have a bucket tied to the back.

my first board was a 6'10 hot buttered single fin
i can remember some of my brothers mates being impressed that i could do a grab rail cutback and bottom turn ,little did they know in reality being a puny grommet that opposing left and right hand rail grabs was the only way i could get the fu ck er to turn

worth a look here for some serious style

That was the one I was thinking of.... Thanks Prawnhead I just skip to about 1.50 now..... The Jbay bit is the best bit.

Here's his young bloke...




And this one is alright 2. If you don't like scenery skip the first 1.30ish.

Select to expand quote

SP said...
Good pointers above. i find on singles you ned to surf forward, trim before you turn as the speed isnt generated throught the fins it from forward momentum, if that makes sense.

and the speed on a single is in the top of the wave.. So try to trim high.

Look at terry fitz or even joel fitz or mp on singles and the lines they take but if your surfing crappy small close outs most singles will just feel like you have a bucket tied to the back.

Spot on. Trim high is the key,,,walk forward on the board.

This is my puppy
www.seabreeze.com.au/forums/Surfing/Longboarding/My-2003-hand-shaped-delta-designs-single-fin-pimp/

Take off
Crank it over onto the rail.
Jam the f**k out of the tail with back foot.
It will go vertical.
Stall tail in the lip while board is vertical.
Slam nose back down with front foot. The throwing lip will facilitate this.
Full reversal of direction with awesome re-entry under the lip.
Repeat

Cheers all for the tips, have taken aboard surfing it more forward, engaging the rails and even trying to do a kooks version of Beerdeads suggestion. Am seriously loving it and dreading the oncoming summer when conditions become lacklustre.

One last question though, cutbacks: I find myself sliding out when trying to as I 'pump/ trim' and then that turning action. I just can't seem to get the full turn going. Anyone got tips? Is it simply a matter of 'guiding' it more rather than surfing it like a multi-fin board again?

Singles need more emphasis on the tail than modern boards. Same principle of jamming the tail over on the rail with the back foot will give an excellent cuttie.

Slow your surfing down, use your leading hand as a rudder, don't try to hard and have fun

I ride a single now as my main board. The key is the back foot, you need to trim forwards and initiate the turn off the rail in this position, mid turn right before you normally just drive your back foot you need to slip your foot back and then drive. This then drives from the tail. Kind of need to ride the whole board rather than stand in one spot and pivot.

If you put the foot back first it stalls the first half.

The best bit about riding them is that when you get back on your thruster you still do the same thing, drive forwards and get your back foot back to turn. They make your surfing better, IMO everyone should ride one at least a bit.

P.s no need to slow your surfing down but wiggling maybe does not work and they are better suited to more down the line waves. I love mine, it's a 1 board quiver, works in small waves with the volume and has a narrow enough tail to hold well in a bit of juice. The other bit is it paddles so well the sweep has nothing!!