Bonzers...

[Sky]

I exclusively ride the 7'1" vBowls I got from bigboard with a 7.75" volan Lovelace fin with the larger runners from an FCS set. I tried riding the board once without it, and while it felt fine while trimming, it felt like it was missing something when I was on my back foot and pushing it through turns. I'm definitely going to make sure Ryan puts FCS plugs on my upcoming one or glass the runners in.

I've been meaning to try riding the Joel Tudor Bonzeresque runners from DRD4 but kinda forgot about it until you brought this up: https://www.drd4fins.com/collection...ide-runners-free-shipping-in-usa-l-6-x-h-2-76

Good to know, those were the ones I was thinking of getting, as well as the Joel Tudor 6.5” fin.

Here is the board in question since it is still up on CL. https://sandiego.craigslist.org/nsd/spo/d/solana-beach-ryan-lovelace-gun/7500002628.html

 

[Pokitren]

My tri plane 8 ft nine lights bonzer works well in everything. Grovels good, and it gets in super early on anything of size. I find myself getting stuck in drawn out turns time to time and in my mind i blame it on the runners but more than likely its just me. It does want your back foot to be more in play than your front foot to make it com alive.

After a lot of trial and error I landed on a wide base thick foiled 6.75 fin that seems to work in everything.

Do I understand correctly that 6.75 is the optimal size for all cases or for some particular ones?

 

[zalfa]

Revisiting this thread..
Strongly considering finding a 3 fin Bumble Bee for NE.
Any opinions on a BB vs Russ Short?
I surf fishes a lot and thought the BB could step in when the fish starts to get too squirrely..

 

[Bighouse]

Limited experience on a Russ short but a couple of buddies have 6’10s that can handle chest to what ever really well. No experience with the Bumble bee. Wide tail me thinks won’t be a good alt to a fish in bigger stuff.

 

[5finFever]

Revisiting this thread..
Strongly considering finding a 3 fin Bumble Bee for NE.
Any opinions on a BB vs Russ Short?
I surf fishes a lot and thought the BB could step in when the fish starts to get too squirrely..

The RS definitely prefers a wave bigger than stomach high, that has push to it. Whereas the BB will go in dang near about anything less than 1-2ft over head. I prefer my RS (6’9”) when the waves are over chest high and I don’t want to fight the crowd on my shortboard. For smaller softer stuff (truly any waves actually) the BB absolutely hauls ass because of that wide back end. If you go RS I would go 8-10” longer than your shortboard and the BB right in the range of the fishes you feel are most versatile. Hope this helps.

 

[kpd73]

The Russ Short is IMO a single fin- that has a black belt in kung fu.
It has all the flowing tai-chi movements of a standard single, and if you size it way up, or just keep it in trim it will flow and naturally gravitate itself to the Energy center of the wave. When the action heats up though, it takes that flow and intuitive nature and can handle whatever is being thrown at it.
Amazing at speed and power.
A good (powerful) wave with some curve in it and it's unreal.
The rocker doesn't like loss of power/speed under it. You can harness Energy from the pocket and rocket out to the open face and carve the Hell out of it, but it won't stay out there like say the speed egg. You will either cutback, or patiently wait as Superman calmy reverts to Clark Kent and it gently makes its way back and onto a highline.
I have a 7'2 roundpin Russ Short b5 that is the best board at what it does.
Unreal.

Not a daily driver for NE. At all.
But when its On...there is no substitute.

I have had a couple Bumblebees most notable a 6'1 b5 with blue lotus airspray I would love to re-connect with someday. Great all round model and super fun, but it was big for me, so that helped immensely.

You want a really killer all rounder for New England?

Pod with Malcoms performance rails.

Flat rocker that keeps the water moving fast through the concaves, in early, and can easily handle Big, because 80% of even our good swells are large open faces off the points, just have to watch that rocker in tight pockets when it gets throwing.
Ask Malcolm.

If you primarily surf tighter faster beachbreak, then yes the Bumble Bee 3 would be a good step off from the fish.

Bonzers for Life!

KPD

 

[ks77]

Pod with Malcoms performance rails.

Flat rocker that keeps the water moving fast through the concaves, in early, and can easily handle Big, because 80% of even our good swells are large open faces off the points, just have to watch that rocker in tight pockets when it gets throwing.
Ask Malcolm.

Man, this is gonna take me down a rabbit hole again reading this string anew.... Anyone have experience with a Pod vs the 3 fin BMLV? Curious how they surf compared to one another and waves they work in in comparison?

 

[nineohtoo]

FWIW, I don't think the BB is much of a groveler, and think of mine as a daily driver (maybe punchy or fast 3-5ft) complementing a Russ Short in bigger or heavier waves (5-6ft+). The tail is wide, but the rail line rocker accelerates quite a bit. Great board, but I think its range is limited unless your small waves are curvy or fast.

I took my 7'0" Russ Short out today and it felt amazing on the only bomb I managed on today's session. I was still paddling for waves late like I'm on a shortboard, but it had enough rocker for that steep drop, and like @kpd73 said, it harnesses a lot of that power and it had me flying back up the face and back down with that bonzer anti gravity high line...

Duck diving under those thick walls with glossy rails was awful. I could get it under no problem, but the board would shoot back up without me half the time. I'm gonna end up a rail waxing kook by the end of this swell

 

[Planktom]

Wax your hands!

 

[SeniorGrom]

5finFever knows where.