Fred Rubble and the Elevon by Timmy Curran

Well, now I know why a lot of the guys on the Channel Islands Team are talking about this board... It is one of the best short boards in the line. With all the hype, I wanted to use some new Future-istic fins to see if it still lived up to the word on the street (& that it did). In the last few months I've wanted to experiment with fins, and these were the perfect fins to use.

The new Elevons are very interesting. When I first got them I doubted they would even work. I told Kyle (who makes these vids), that I may be coming in after my first wave. To my surprise they had no drag. They actually made the board feel really fast. When I looked at the fins, I thought that they would do what the Laird Hamilton Hydrofoil did, lift the tail out of the water. Not quite to that extent, but something close surfing down the line. It was the opposite, actually more difficult to get them out of the water when attempting airs. If you are bored with your normal fins, they are for sure worth a spin. Best way to get them would be to go to futuresfins.com and find a Demo Center near you.

With all that said, back to the board... It was nice getting to test the Fred Rubble in some really good waves. I'm so blessed to live and surf where I do. The rocker in the board was exactly what I like, right in the middle. Not to much and not too little. When boards have too much rocker they are usually much slower to paddle on. I am a fan of this board because the rails are slightly pinched, which made it hold in really well on turns. The shape of the board is a very standard shape, it's what I would want for my every day short board shape. I would definitely recommend this board for all types of conditions, it's just one of those boards. Can't wait to try it with my favorite Vector fins. Not a lot of explanation about this board other than get one if you can.

Next board blog on the Semi Pro, there will be more rights... You have my word.

See y'all in the water. - Tim

My Set-Up: Conner Coffin

Conner Coffin is a smart man. He's 18 and has already finished a year and a half of college credits. He's got a house at Backdoor, the very wave that Kelly introduced his Deep6 board design to the world, on the way to winning another Pipe Masters. Conner got one, and here's his take...

"It's a 5'8" x 18 5/8" x 21/2" Deep6. It's got a 5 fin set up. And, its intentions are to get barreled. I have never ridden a Quad before, so this is a test run with the EA Quad fins. It seems like a fun little board for getting tubes, and today looks fun at Backdoor. I hope it goes fast."

After session report: Fast - check, Tubed - check. Conner rode the board all day, and couldn't stop smiling.

Neckbeard = Interesting Sessions… by Timmy Curran

Board: CI - Neckbeard: 5’6" x 19 1/4" x 2 1/4"

My first session on the Neckbeard was a bit of a shocker. I think sometimes you can have shockers just because, and that it was! Don’t think too much while surfing… On a side note, after that spectacular session I accidentally pushed my hide- a- key into a black hole in the frame of my car. It took 30 min and a miracle to get it out, thanks to an old neighbor who came to the rescue with a hail Mary, hay maker. Thanks Ernie!

My second session, I got tricked by the Great Northern Pacific to paddle out at a 6.0 high tide. It was one of those days were you look at it and wonder why there ain’t no one out. Hmmm… So, I ran to my car and suited up as fast as I could. Once I got back down to the waters edge I saw that it was breaking 6 feet from shore and to my surprise there was a lot of back wash? Weird… I was gung-ho though, you know, and paddled out. The waves were horrible, and a sweet southern gale came a blowing to top off my 20 min session. You’d think that after being a surf addict for 20 years I’d be a better judge of conditions. Maybe it’s the addict part that’s the problem… Especially when filming, it’ll get me every time.

The next session the waves were really fun, especially for that board. It was waist to chest high and fun little peaks. One thing I liked about this board was that it paddled really good for it’s height. That is always a plus for me, a board that’s weird to paddle is doomed from the get go.

It was fast and a bit loose off the tail for sure. The board felt like it would be amazing if I was regular foot and got to surf C-street front side. I bet it would be a blast, and wonder if that’s what Dane was thinking when he designed it. I am baffled at how well Dane shreds this board, in all conditions and sizes. That dude has a lot of power and is able to tame it like a fine racing horse. I guess that is what makes Dane the best free surfer in the world. He is one of those non chalant dudes who can air 360 a door. Good for him…

After that session I decided to put my old faithful 3’2 Vector fins in to see if they would give it a little more hold. Well sure enough, they did. The waves were head high+ and the board was feeling fast and free. After 3 sessions I was due for a fun surf on this board, and was thinking this is it. This is going to be a 3 hour session of total stoke. I caught about 10 waves and was frothing, due to timing it right and getting a window of really fun waves and hardly anyone
out. Well, it all ended… ended for about a month or so. I went for a backside air 360 on a waist high little right and hyper extended my knee and sprained my ankle.

It’s been almost 3 years since I have had a injury and the timing is no bueno. It is almost Santa Anna wind time and you know what that means… could of been worse though, and I don’t need surgery so it’s all good. Wish I could of had a few more sessions on the Neckbeard, but was glad to get a few waves where the board felt really good under my feet. I would recommend this board for mushy, fun, ripable surf, but gets a little loosey-goosey which can always put you in interesting places on the wave.

Gonna go sticker up my next board The Rubble and stare at it for about a month while I am hitting the gym like Kimbo Slice.

For some radical surfing visit marinelayeproductions.com to see Dane riding this board like no other.

Neckbeard=http://cisurfboards.com/surfboards/neck-beard-by-dane-reynolds/

Fins=http://www.futuresfins.com/

Please excuse typos, grammar, spelling, making sense, booties, head snaps, head dips & brevity... -Timmy