So right now I've been riding a lost plank in the less than stellar conditions we get around here and I notice that it tends to be a bit stiff when it gets a lot of speed in more fun surf (thigh-chest). I was actually talking to Matt Biolos at my surf shop and he told me that the plank works well as a twin if you take out the smaller inside fins, and he said likes to ride it like that at lowers, but clearly Massachusetts isn't exactly Trestles quality. My question is, how does a twin ride compared to a quad (when changing the configuration on the same board)? I realize the quad will likely have more drive, but will the twin pivot/ go rail to rail a little tighter? It seems to me that removing the fins in the back moves the pivoting point a bit farther up so that the tail might respond a bit faster and looser, but I don't know a lot about twins, as I've only ridden a few..So overall, how does a quad configuration ride in comparison to a twin, and what are the pros/cons of both? Any feedback is greatly appreciated. Thanks guys.
what fins are you running in it now? you might be better suited by throwing a smaller pair of rear fins in the board.
I've been riding my retro shape as a twin for about 5 months. The only time I've put my trailers back in were for the few shoulder/head high days this summer. It's a skatier feel and more responsive in slower waves. Of course you're compromising drive but with current conditions we've been having here you really don't need much. I would like to experiment with a different fin setup as the tail has has a tendency to slide around at the bottom of the wave after a top turn.
The fins are future "contoller" fins, a template made by lost. Features two large keel-like fins with two smaller regular ones further back
try the simon anderson quad set...still a larger size fin, but less overall area than the controllers...those might be too much fin for you.
The Controller fins are a great fin, especially for wider tailed boards that you can use more hold in. I ride them in my Jimmy Keith Sled Zeppelin. It is a modified, more performance mini simmons inspired design. I ran a set of Stretch quads in it just to see how it felt-absolutely horrible. It had no drive and slid out easily. The controllers made the wide tailed design really light up. Here is what I would suggest if you do not like the controllers. Try running the two front fins from a Stretch quad set with two longboard side bites in the rear. This will keep hold in the board but loosen it up a bit, as the post above suggested with the Simon Anderson's. Get the Honeycomb centered set, the glass flex do not hold or drive as well. IMHO Good luck.
Definitely agree that the controllers really work with the wide tails. I might try running just the bigger front fins first like matt reccomended then see how it feels
as has been said here controllers are great fins for wide tailed boards. i have played with numerous sets in some of my wider tail boards and they were far and away the best all around fins. i would try them without the trailing fins and then based on your size go to a smaller quad set like the f4s. finding a shop with a fin tree is your best bet....
I've never surfed a quad and know nothing about them but this video was interesting and informative: [video=youtube;NEL374y284k]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEL374y284k[/video]
All I ride are quads but loved twins back in the day. The quad , to me, has more drive and hold than the twin which is much more loose and likes to slide out on hard bottoms or vertical releases or gives you that skatey feel on the rear when in some solid surf. The quad can do the same if on a narrow board with very small rears. If riding a wide board with good volume small rears can give you great snap in turns with the volume keeping the board stable and not getting to loose on the rear. You just have to play with different set ups to see what works best for you on different boards. The twin works great in small surf and is super manuverable in big when you get used to the loose rear.
