I have seen some nice bonzers for sale on CL from time to time and it doesn’t seem like they sell quick. I keep thinkin about pulling the trigger... there was one listed in point pleasant for at least half a year idk if it’s still for sale, it was a Campbell brothers looks like perfect condition
I’ve never ridden one, but I swear, every Person I see ride them looks so stiff and not smoothe at all. Curious to see what it rides like, but I’m pretty much locked in on my 3 fin round tail set ups
They are great board's but not for everyday conditions. The generate so much drive but they don't pivot/turn like a thruster. For fast running beach break type waves i go thruster all day. Bonzer is reserved for those days.... big with power, but open faced. Not death pits. Around here that's rare conditions but it happens. You really need a big open face to draw your turns out and experience what the bonzer is about. Like i mentioned earlier in this thread (i think). Big carving open face cutbacks.
I'm a 55 years old shortboarder cripple with severe hips arthritis, high-grade metastatic fibrosarcoma, my right leg soft tissue burnt into a hard wood-like form, femoris rectus excised with tumor, lung wedge resection, 40% of my liver removed, right lobe liver and gall bladder removed. Doing this since exactly 8 years ago. Every time i come back and get fit and surfing i work my way back down so far as a 6'8" since i am 6'5." Right now i can't sleep with so much fluid in my hip they can't get to to drain, and can barely lift my leg off the ground. I still surf. Caught some good waves in buxton july on a 6'10". i had one good one day after the liver surgery in october on a 7'6". Maybe try again tomorrow. Buxton in 5 weeks. I am still a shortboarder, but i have to get myself back down to it.
Malcolm shaped me a bonzer for small waves 5-fin octafish wing swallow worked pretty good. Duncan and he were very kind and helpful, and i got a good price. The other board was a 5-fin hpsb swallowtail good for pumping swell.
Damn, dude!...and i thought i was bad off. I'm also 55. My front knee is full of scar tissue, has several cartilage defects, osteoarthritis and pain that keeps me barely walking most days. Last 3 years, I've been trying to get back on my shortboards, but it's been a failure...so far. In the meantime, i have had relative success on soft-top funboards. Went down through the grades, starting with a 9 ft wavestorm...and just bought a 6 ft foamie. Waiting for the waves to get smaller (winter in norcal), so i can try it out .
Yeah guys, my original comments were assuming older guys were injury free and healthy. The fact that both of you are still getting wet is what's important. Props to you both and keep at it
Also 55, about to be 56. See, youse guys problem is you probably spent your lives eating right, exercising, and being active. Now you bones, tendons, and joints all are decaying. I spent most of my life drinking heavily, smoking dope, chasing hookers, getting chased by the cops, and eating crap food. I may have heart disease, melanoma, and a decent fat roll around my waist, but my joints and muscles are fine! So the lesson to all you young-uns on here is: Staying active your whole life will lead to being a decrepit old man, partying yout whole life and not giving a Fock will eventually cause your heart to blow up in your chest. Take your pick. I'm headed out for a surf now, check in later
I quoted your post because you asked if any older guys still shortboard, and i am a shortboarder. I agreed with your post 100%. I think a wave ridden on a longboard is almost like a different sport. I do it, but only because they can't fix my leg right now, and yet i keep my shortboard quivers around because i refuse to quit. I have a modified shortboard quiver my shaper made me because he understands my physical limitations and i am still keeping my pre-illness shortboards around in case the sarcoma stays away long enough and they figure out how to fix my leg.
So I've been eyeing this retro fish that I was discussing in the only one board thread. Saw it was on sale, and was becoming seriously paranoid that someone else was going to snatch it so I pulled the trigger this afternoon. Down by the fins there is a deep double concave...not sure how well the pic shows it Forgot to add dims. 5’4” x 20 1/2 x 2 3/8
I'd give it a shot... but I doubt it would work better than a fish. But I'll admin I'm biased in that regard.
