Skim Style?

[hossdog]

So I have given in to the surfing craze and have been surfing behind my 21v between SkySki sets. I'm on an older Broadcast. It actually came with the boat. Just starting to try spins and am getting closer to riding one away with every set. I'm having fun with it, but have a few questions.

I come from a skate and snowboard background and am pretty sure I'm all about the skim style of surfing. I like the idea of being loose and throwing tricks. What's up with the twin tip boards and running no fins? I'm just kicking the idea of upgrading around and think the idea of a non directional board with no fins sounds really cool, but I don't see much about them. Are they just too loose? I love wakeboarding on the Hyperlite Roam board. I also wakeskate finless and love being able to do surface spins.

Anyone running the Obrien Alias or something similiar? It seems like running fins would really limit what is possible in the spin department. I'm a total newb when it comes to this stuff so please bear with my ignorance to the subject.

[NICKYPOO]

Don't waste your money on another pop out. Spend a little more and get a real board. Don't worry about the fins. 360s have way more to do with skill than they do fins, or lack thereof. Most skim style boards only have the one little trailing fin so, really not an issue.

[IDBoating]

You really need the little fin that is found on most skim style boards. I recently tried our skim board without a fin and I was all over the wave. Carving to stay directional only goes so far. I was amazed at how much difference a little one inch fin could make.

Spins with a fin are no problem. I find there's much more resistance to driving the edge of the board into the face of the wave than overcoming the directionality of the fin.

Also, they make skim style boards that have fins on both ends. That says something about the importance of having a fin in the water!

[hossdog]

So it is pretty clear that the fins need to be there. What is a good skim style board set up for the looser style of riding for someone right around 200LBS? There are so many different boards and I don't think I'll be able to ride before I buy due to my location.

[NICKYPOO]

I would be looking pretty hard at the Phase 5 Danielo Diamond. It's only 54" but, it has a nice wide tail. I like the look of the Colt and the Model X as well. I'm nearly 200# and I ride a 54" twin. I would like just a bit more length and width which is why I like the look of those two. I think it would really go a long way in helping me recover if I'm not exactly in the right spot. That being said, the Diamond might do the trick with that big fat tail and the same length.

I would also be looking for a Calibrated Piscus but, I have no idea where to find them.

[Wickedcummins]

I have the ronix one skimmer and love it.. Great for spins and fun to ride

[wakemitch]

You can definitely ride skim style boards with no fins and be fine. I rode finless for a couple years, but this winter I started riding with a small fin. The fin gives me some drive which has helped my airs tremendously. I can't get the same drive finless.
Also, my riding was a lot more sketchy while finless because I would over rotate my tricks a lot.

Some good boards to look at would be:
Phase 5 Danielo Diamond 54"
Phase 5 Danielo Pro Carbon 45"
Victoria Bigfoot
Victoria Factor (or Factor PCX) 52"

[mdk681]

I have recently given into the surfing craze as well after riding on my neightbors Wakesetter only one time. After buying a boat and a board this year I can say I am obsessed.

That first time I rode I used my neighbors Phase 5 Oogle. It has a bit of a wider nose to accomodate a wide range of riders and skill levels, and also different weights. It was a great board for me to learn to surf on, and I ended up buying my own when I got my boat. I have friends well over 200lbs that do great on it, along with the smaller girls around 120lbs who love it. Personally at 6'4", 185 I love the thing. I am starting to get spins down and love the speed of the board.

I would have to second the Drew Danielo Diamond. I rode one for the first time and am hooked, it is much skinnier towards the front while still having a wider back to it. Super quick board and great control. I would check out the Phase 5 site and see what you think.