Your videos are great and I found them by accident. I come from Germany and we live not so far away from the North Sea. I surf a CJ Nelson Neo Classic 10.0 myself and the Fins from CJ are amazing. I would say; now you have the perfect setup for all conditions. I‘m looking forward every week for a new video, great job and many thanks for the spirit😁🤙
Awesome thanks Chris! Yea i'm really loving this cj nelson for sure. Took it out one other time on a larger day and it performed lovely! Going to try it out again this weekend with the cameras rolling 🤙
The fin(s) is 50% of how a finned surfboard relates to the wave and rider. CJ is one of my very most favorite surfers both to watch and to share the water with. His nose rider fin is based on the classic Donald Takayama Nose Rider. CJ added a little bit of rake and beefed up the area. The Alex fin is based the old Greenough Stage IV. It is a flex fin compared to stiffness of the broader fin. It will let the board flow with the twists in wave face and project a nice carving bottom turn, while its long base keeps any direction change gradual enough to allow walking and nose riding. There was a period of time when I would go to Rincon with a twin fin, a semi gun, and a longboard in the truck. I'd start with the little board in the morning, take a break and fuel and go to the next bigger board and so on. There was a milk crate in the truck full of fins so I could tune my boards to the conditions and my moods. I had a lot of fun. If you are into high performance nose riding fins, you owe it to yourself to try Guy Takayama's Orca, which bears kinship to Greenough's windsurfing fin designs. Guy's Manta is really good too, but the Orca hits the sweet spot with me. You can go to the beach with one board and three fin set ups and have three distinctly different rides to choose from.
Well said! I love messing with fins.. I think it makes you a better surfer. And I love how much difference a fin could make as well. Take out the Cj nelson noserider and compare it to the alex knost... it's like being on two different boards
I have that CJ Nelson fin, my first session with it was amazing! Best purchase ever! I can't nose ride yet but your videos are a great learning tool, hopefully I can get there soon!
Awesome video mate. I'm surfing already 10 years on a regular short board and latley Iv'e decided that I want to move to a Longboard. Your videos give me alot of inspiration to make this shift happen. BTW, I really like your editing skills, your videos make me feel much more calm and relaxed. Peace and Love from Israel (yeah we got some waves in here and not only conflicts)
Thanks so much!! Great to hear you're making the switch. Israel has some great longboarding waves.. although fairly crowded from what I hear. A trip there is in the cards for sure! Especially since I'll have Gilad to show me around
Interesting, I'm new to longboarding after short boarding for years and bought that Alex Knost fin with my first longboard. I was surprised at how easily the board turns but have been struggling with cross stepping so might be time to try a bigger fin.
Oh yea you gotta try a more stable fin! It's not a miracle cure as cross stepping is difficult, but it does make quite a difference. As we get better we can start trying the looser fins I imagine
so helpful! That noserider fin looks sweet - you had some sick slides with that. I've been thinking of a new fin for my 9'2'' log, might check it out! thanks!
Thanks Hilary! Yes, I don't think you'll regret getting the CJ nelson. For a 9'2 you can go with the 9.5" and I think that could be perfect. 10" would work as well
I agree, fins make a massive difference. Personally I too am preferring a 10’ hatchet fin, though mine is similar to your normal FCS click-in. And no I don’t find it harder to turn either, just different as you said. Great Vlog Bro🤙😎
Thanks for this one! Kind of inspired to try that Knost fin. Today though I moved mine up in the box, as you did a few Vlogs ago. I concur, at least with a larger pivot fin, that it seems to not sacrifice very much stability and maybe loosened things up a bit too! It felt good. Awesome vlog as always!
Nice Anthony! Yea I would test as many fins out as you can, because you don't know how different fins feel till you try em. It's funny thought because this CJ nelson fin is so big that theres less than 1 inch of room to move it forward or back. Not sure that will make much if a difference hehe
@@LongboardSessions Yeah, you know that may be part of the reason there isn't a huge difference with mine. I'm using a True Ames Tyler Warren 9.75 in. pivot fin which has really really wonderful hold. I think the turning did slightly improve with the move forward though. It certainly didn't make things any worse.
@@anthonymichaeltriola8313 That's my experience exactly. Moving the fin forward didn't make anything worse, only better. I suppose it depends on the types of waves you're riding as well.
I gotta circle back to this again! Inspired me to give a flex fin a try, which I’ve now been threatening to do for months. Switched out the Tyler warren 9.75 inch pivot for a 9.5 inch greenough 4c flex. The looser turning made for so fun on a smaller day!
GREAT video. As someone who does performance turns I've always liked the 2+1 (with True Ames cutaway fin) because you can turn well on the rail like a shortboard. But I may buy that CJ nelson for small days I want to try nose riding.
The best way to start walking the board and riding the nose is to get a hold of an early to mid sixties log that is too thrashed to be worth anything to a collector. It will be heavy and hard to handle. It won't turn at all until you figure out when and where to put your feet to make it happen. It won't accelerate until you move forward and it won't turn until you get back to the tail. You have to guide the thing into turns, coax rather than force. This will train you to be light on your feet at the right time and lay into it at the right time. It is actually a fun challenge on little days you might pass up otherwise. Once you start getting some decent rides on the beast, get on a good single fin 9'4" or longer and whole new form of expression opens up in front of you. On my 9' modern longboard I usually prefer the Hawaiian style thruster cluster. I go with a 1+2 on my 10'4" x 21 1/2" Wayne Rich speed shape. Remember that classic long boarding is about glide, flow, and rhythm... nose riding is just the icing on the cake.
closeout floaters are the best because all that buoyancy makes them pretty easy to make, plus the fun of throwing all that board up there and the acceleration afterward
Hi there! I was hoping you could tell me the best spots to long board in new jersey. I live in california, but am an NJ native, so would love to hit up some spots the next time I visit. Love your videos!
Check out the Skvarrna equalizer from flying diamonds, it's like this perfect combination of a flex fix with a pivot fin. It's based off the DT Flex with some improvements that Kevin made for his surfing. I've tried a dozen fins and it's the first one that feels easy to turn, but still locked in for nose rides. I've had a couple friends try it and really like how it feels. I'm not sure I want to surf anything else now :) Thanks for the video!
good choice of two fins to try out. I personally ride the 10.75" CJ california pivot as my primary pivot fin. I am noticing much improvement on your overall flow and confidence walking the board. It may have been wave choice/ time of day/ or just happenstance, but it looked like the Knost fin was working better for you. the 4A style template may have allowed for more maneuvering to get in the pocket for tighter noserides. Take it with a grain of salt. I ride both styles in a variety of surf conditions. It helps to change it up, and get a new perspective. That is how we grow as surfers
Oh sweet, nice that you're seeing some improvement in my surfing! Your point about changing things up is so crucial.. I went surfing today and only focused on drop knee turns (this thursdays video) and it made me learn so much about the board and made me way more aware of where my feet are. I may have learned more today than in any other session just by experimenting.
You should try the CJ Nelson classic pivot from flying diamonds. It has more rake and let’s you turn, trim and flow better than most pivot fins. It’s a happy middle between Alex’s and the CJ fin.
Oh sweet! I'll check it out. I feel my FCS pivot does a decent job at being the middle man for now. But something like that but a little longer could help!
@@LongboardSessions CJ is a close personal friend and everything he makes he puts his all into. And luckily I get to test it all because of his generosity. I enjoy your videos. Keep experimenting.
Hi, very interesting video as usual :-) which size of fin (single fin) do you recommend for a 9,1 log. I actually have a 9. I am a beginner in cross steping and nose riding so obviously I am looking for stability :-) Many thanks and continue. all the best from France !
Thanks so much! Well the rule of thumb is if you have a 9' board you should put a 9" fin on. However, after creating this video I think you can do whatever you want lol. If it were me, I'd go with a the CJ nelson noserider 9.5" or similar. Super stable and will really help with cross stepping for beginners and also advanced. Heres a link to that fin: flyingdiamondsca.com/shop/noserider/
You can try to put your fin closest to tail as possible to find more stability, talking about size i think your fin it's ok for your longboard, but for the shape i suggest to try more fins you can to find the perfect for you and your board
I have a Joel Tudor 10.125" on my 9'6" pressed all the way to the back of the fin box.... Brah.. The waves pick up and take me with them before I've had a real chance to paddle for them.
haha nice! I'll have to give that one a shot. Iv'e been messing with my fin all the way up in the fin box lately.. I'll have to go back to all the way back to see the differences.
I hope CJ is giving you a kickback, ‘cause you’re seriously moving some product! Been toying with the idea of a pivot fin for my 9’6”, and this vid made me think why not? Just clicked buy.
I've got a CJ noserider fin, best fin I've used in my log. Used to be a 4A guy, but the nose riding capabilities of the CJ fin is next level. Just wait till you get it on a lined up point break!
Good stuff man! On those reentry floaters I've found it super helpful to get low with the knees and really lean back to get the nose up. We have a lot of those here in Hawaii of you want a longer ride at some of the breaks (looking at you White Plains...). I'm not nearly where you are with the nose riding but the floaters I got down quick out of necessity. Plus it's always fun to drop in on a section that folks wouldn't assume you can on a big board.
Oh sweet great advice! I'll give that a try on saturday. I also assume I need to look at my landing rather than look at the wave. Typically if your eyes are in the right place everything works out better haha
How would you say the CJ nelson fin is compared to your FCS Hatchet (if you use one more than the other)? What are your thoughts on the Rainbow Pivot fin?
I can't say iv'e done a direct comparison of the CJ to the FCS Hatchet. But I imagine the CJ is slightly more stable and lends itself to slightly more drawn out turns. The FCS hatchet will be slightly less stable (but still stable) and will be more of a pivot style turn. Never tried the rainbow pivot!
Hey Brian, loved the video and I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! I had a quick question, what fin would you recommend for a 9'6 Hobie Uncle Buck? I typically surf at a beach break (Bolsa Chica, CA); with the winter swell slowly making its way in, the sets roll in much faster and more snappy. P.S. I don't have money for a new board. I currently have a Tyler Warren Pivot fin (seafoam), a 9.75, and a friend's 8.5 pivot fin.
Thanks Jorge! That hobie looks like a decent board. The fin selection kinda depends on what you want to do. If your goal is noseriding I'd go with that CJ nelson noserider (fin). 10 " or 10.5" would work. That tyler warren fin is probably decent as well. If you need something that turns quick and is much looser the alex knost (first fin i used) is excellent. You can also try something like a the fcs hatchet pivot fin... that might be a bit in between the two. I'm no expert on fins, but it seems like you just need to experiment to see what works with your board.
Man so funny. Did same thing recently on an 11ft cruiser I ride in small clean stuff. The Greenough cut away fin so easy to turn then the fat hatchet made it a virtually un-turnable tracking monster!
Cool video I just got some new fins for my fish about a month ago and I didn’t think I would be able to feel the difference but I could definitely have much faster I was going. 🤙🏽
Hey I surf spring lake. But I’m in Costa Rica right now and I got a 9’6’’ bing with a cj Nelson style fin and it is so slow to paddle. When you said that fin is heavier when paddling do you mean it is slower? And by how much?
Oh nice! Not slower to paddle, it just makes it stay in a straight line really well. Therefore turning the board while paddling is more difficult which makes the board "feel" heavy. I don't think fins would make much a difference when it comes to paddling speed. Maybe the board is a bit small for you?
@@LongboardSessions ok I gotcha ya the board is a nose rider with 50/50 soft rails and when I paddle it feels like the water wraps around the tail of it. But when I ride my 9’ board with more hard rails I paddle much faster.
@@MrGoldenboyh Wow that's very interesting. Yea it could be that your just used to the other board and your Bing is not as fast of a paddler. Seems a little odd tho ?
I have 4 CJ Nelson boards 3 10’0 and 1 11’6 for those small days they are all Pearson Arrows, incredible boards and they all have a 10”CJ fin the stability is awesome, you will master the turning, I’d suggest watching old CJ Nelson videos to see his style, he’s an old friend from Santa Cruz I’ve surfed with him a bunch. I copied his style. He’s a goofyfoot too. 🤙♥️
You may want to go a bit smaller on the board. However, I really have no idea how the cj will react on that board. Looks like a greenough 4a could be a better choice? But who knows till you try it haha!
Very timely. After 40 years I recently bought my first nose rider and it wobbles about when on the nose because the rails are so soft. Some of the better nose riders use hatchet fins so I will definitely get one this week. Thanks for this, all of my other longboards have hard rails near the tail and are set up for performance.
10" hatchet center would be great, but side bites are really for more high performance longboards when you want to do a sweeping fast turn instead of a pivot turn. But I believe the 10" hatchet would be a great mix of both the cj nelson and the alex knost!
I have the same FSC than you. (same color board, same bag, same fin, same beard...??? I"m a big fan? ahahah), Ihave never tried other fin, but the CJ model is interesting, is it realy so difficult to turn with? Thanks for your videos.
hahaha are you the clone?? I highly recommend trying out this CJ nelson fin or something similar. It's way more stable than the FCS fin. When it comes to turning, I wouldn't say it's hard, but it's a little different. Paddling is weird with the CJ fin because it makes you board feel "heavy" if that makes any sense. Paddles just as fast, but it really keeps the board in a straight line. I still also like the FCS fin, but im way more intrigued by the CJ nelson. So I'll give it a few more tries for sure
@@LongboardSessions I don't want to transform my board as an aircraft carrier but for noserides, stability is the best, I can't wait to try, if I could find some in France.
Customizing my fins on all my boards since the 80s, make my own longboard fin design that is faster than anything I've surfed. Many half decent boards rip w the right fin.
Hey James, Yes I actually sold it, but the buyer is nice enough to wait until Oct 17th when my new board is coming. BUT! I just wiped out yesterday and the board smashed against the rocks, got a nice ding in the side. Going to have that professionally fixed and see if they are still interested hehe
@@LongboardSessions oh man. Im Sure they can fix it. I was looking at getting a real longboard myself. Thank you. looking at stewarts redline 11 or matador el toro just for local beach breaks.
@@jamesdiola4773 Sweet! If you don't currently have a longboard, it's a must for any surfer IMO. Even if you don't like longboarding, it will help your shortboarding for sure
@@LongboardSessions thanks brian. Yeah just getting back it since the freak wipeout i had. I think ill end up getting the stewart redline 11 in eps. Thanks man. Keep the videos coming 🤙🏽
Those hatchet fins make you feel like your dragging a body behind you. I prefer the smaller rakes. Alex Knost has a very side-to-side style when he surfs
All fins are to thin. What how can that be? They are made to fit in a fin box. Not for maximum efficiency, It is simple hydrodynamics. A thin fin will cavitate much earlier than a thick fin. Cavitation causes the fin to lose it grip in the water. The proper ratio of in thickness to length is 1/8th inch of thickness for each inch if length. A 10inch long fin will be 1 1/4 inches thick at the base tapering up to the tip. This allows your board to ride up at the steep top of the wave with out the fin losing grip with the water. The other benefit is that because the fin work much better it can be place further forward from the tail making the board looser.
Wow funny you say that. I just bought that fin a couple weeks ago to test out haha! I got it in an 8.5 tho for the purpose of the video idea. A 9 or 10 would likely suit my board better
@@LongboardSessions I think if you want to noseride, the fin should be longer than the board. I ride a 9’6” and should maybe have a 10” haven’t tried one yet. Thanks for vid!
@@LongboardSessions sweet me too, on the 9”6, it’s a 2+1 setup but I’m going to try running it single fin. I got a 9” 4A and an 8” rainbow fins, “wingnut” which I’ve heard good things about… I’m hoping I didn’t go too small on it though.. Thanks for the vids, I’ve learned a lot from you 🤙
@@clayton_1000rr oh awesome! Yea the 4a is an amazing fin. I’d put a 10.5 on your board tho. I don’t see any downsides to a larger 4a. Might be ever so slightly harder to turn,,, but it’s worth it
I like the way CJ Nelson surfs much, much better than Alex Knost. I also like CJ Nelson's down to earth personality. Alex Knost worries about his hair and looking cool. Typical Newport Beach guy. He came down to Cardiff Reef years back and Devon Howard, Joel Tudor and Ryan Burch were out surfing, they were such better surfers than Knost.
i don't know too much about knost, but CJ is unbelievable. I don't think there is anyone more "flowy" than him. I don't think i'll ever adopt that style... I see myself becoming more of a quick and scrappy longboarder like jefson silva. I think we all end up figuring out our own style as we progress I imagine
Your videos are great and I found them by accident. I come from Germany and we live not so far away from the North Sea.
I surf a CJ Nelson Neo Classic 10.0 myself and the Fins from CJ are amazing.
I would say; now you have the perfect setup for all conditions. I‘m looking forward every week for a new video, great job and many thanks for the spirit😁🤙
Awesome thanks Chris! Yea i'm really loving this cj nelson for sure. Took it out one other time on a larger day and it performed lovely! Going to try it out again this weekend with the cameras rolling 🤙
The fin(s) is 50% of how a finned surfboard relates to the wave and rider. CJ is one of my very most favorite surfers both to watch and to share the water with. His nose rider fin is based on the classic Donald Takayama Nose Rider. CJ added a little bit of rake and beefed up the area. The Alex fin is based the old Greenough Stage IV. It is a flex fin compared to stiffness of the broader fin. It will let the board flow with the twists in wave face and project a nice carving bottom turn, while its long base keeps any direction change gradual enough to allow walking and nose riding. There was a period of time when I would go to Rincon with a twin fin, a semi gun, and a longboard in the truck. I'd start with the little board in the morning, take a break and fuel and go to the next bigger board and so on. There was a milk crate in the truck full of fins so I could tune my boards to the conditions and my moods. I had a lot of fun. If you are into high performance nose riding fins, you owe it to yourself to try Guy Takayama's Orca, which bears kinship to Greenough's windsurfing fin designs. Guy's Manta is really good too, but the Orca hits the sweet spot with me.
You can go to the beach with one board and three fin set ups and have three distinctly different rides to choose from.
Well said! I love messing with fins.. I think it makes you a better surfer. And I love how much difference a fin could make as well. Take out the Cj nelson noserider and compare it to the alex knost... it's like being on two different boards
I have that CJ Nelson fin, my first session with it was amazing! Best purchase ever! I can't nose ride yet but your videos are a great learning tool, hopefully I can get there soon!
Thanks Russell! Yes I'm still loving this cj fin! Keep working hard and you'll get it
Awesome video mate. I'm surfing already 10 years on a regular short board and latley Iv'e decided that I want to move to a Longboard. Your videos give me alot of inspiration to make this shift happen. BTW, I really like your editing skills, your videos make me feel much more calm and relaxed.
Peace and Love from Israel (yeah we got some waves in here and not only conflicts)
Thanks so much!! Great to hear you're making the switch. Israel has some great longboarding waves.. although fairly crowded from what I hear. A trip there is in the cards for sure! Especially since I'll have Gilad to show me around
Nice narratives and footage combo. Good efforts
Thanks Jay!
Interesting, I'm new to longboarding after short boarding for years and bought that Alex Knost fin with my first longboard. I was surprised at how easily the board turns but have been struggling with cross stepping so might be time to try a bigger fin.
Oh yea you gotta try a more stable fin! It's not a miracle cure as cross stepping is difficult, but it does make quite a difference. As we get better we can start trying the looser fins I imagine
@@LongboardSessions Pivot fin 👌🏼
Awesome videos!!
Cool to see the difference between the fins. For a break with such a short ride like that, you may like foiling.
Thanks! Iv'e actually seen a guy foiling around here.. he seems to have quite a bit of fun haha! Can't noseride on a foil tho😜
so helpful! That noserider fin looks sweet - you had some sick slides with that. I've been thinking of a new fin for my 9'2'' log, might check it out! thanks!
Thanks Hilary! Yes, I don't think you'll regret getting the CJ nelson. For a 9'2 you can go with the 9.5" and I think that could be perfect. 10" would work as well
@@LongboardSessions awesome, going to scope my local shop today!
I agree, fins make a massive difference. Personally I too am preferring a 10’ hatchet fin, though mine is similar to your normal FCS click-in. And no I don’t find it harder to turn either, just different as you said. Great Vlog Bro🤙😎
Thanks Adam! Yea iv'e been thinking of trying my identical fin but 1" longer to see how that feels. For now I'm gonna keep the CJ nelson on for awhile
I have that same exact alex knost fin, and love it, but i did also enjoy the 10 inch hatchet i had
Yea that alex knost fin is great! I see using that fin more as I improve
Thanks for this one! Kind of inspired to try that Knost fin. Today though I moved mine up in the box, as you did a few Vlogs ago. I concur, at least with a larger pivot fin, that it seems to not sacrifice very much stability and maybe loosened things up a bit too! It felt good. Awesome vlog as always!
Nice Anthony! Yea I would test as many fins out as you can, because you don't know how different fins feel till you try em. It's funny thought because this CJ nelson fin is so big that theres less than 1 inch of room to move it forward or back. Not sure that will make much if a difference hehe
@@LongboardSessions Yeah, you know that may be part of the reason there isn't a huge difference with mine. I'm using a True Ames Tyler Warren 9.75 in. pivot fin which has really really wonderful hold. I think the turning did slightly improve with the move forward though. It certainly didn't make things any worse.
@@anthonymichaeltriola8313 That's my experience exactly. Moving the fin forward didn't make anything worse, only better. I suppose it depends on the types of waves you're riding as well.
I gotta circle back to this again! Inspired me to give a flex fin a try, which I’ve now been threatening to do for months. Switched out the Tyler warren 9.75 inch pivot for a 9.5 inch greenough 4c flex. The looser turning made for so fun on a smaller day!
GREAT video. As someone who does performance turns I've always liked the 2+1 (with True Ames cutaway fin) because you can turn well on the rail like a shortboard. But I may buy that CJ nelson for small days I want to try nose riding.
Oh cool! Yea a 2+1 setup feels so different. If you through the cj nelson on it's going to be like riding a different board haha! but sooooo stable
The best way to start walking the board and riding the nose is to get a hold of an early to mid sixties log that is too thrashed to be worth anything to a collector. It will be heavy and hard to handle. It won't turn at all until you figure out when and where to put your feet to make it happen. It won't accelerate until you move forward and it won't turn until you get back to the tail. You have to guide the thing into turns, coax rather than force. This will train you to be light on your feet at the right time and lay into it at the right time. It is actually a fun challenge on little days you might pass up otherwise. Once you start getting some decent rides on the beast, get on a good single fin 9'4" or longer and whole new form of expression opens up in front of you. On my 9' modern longboard I usually prefer the Hawaiian style thruster cluster. I go with a 1+2 on my 10'4" x 21 1/2" Wayne Rich speed shape. Remember that classic long boarding is about glide, flow, and rhythm... nose riding is just the icing on the cake.
closeout floaters are the best because all that buoyancy makes them pretty easy to make, plus the fun of throwing all that board up there and the acceleration afterward
Yea for sure! I'm sure with a little practice i can start landing them. They're real easy to get into, it's the landing iv'e never practiced much haha
I surf Florida and my squirrel cutaway fin is my fav. I dont use side bites. My friends tell me its too loose for their taste but I love it.
Oh nice! I'll check those out
Please do a test with the Greenough stage 6. It's the coolest looking fin out there. But is it also good? Some swear by it...
wow that thing is funky looking lol! I'll try it out one of these days
Hi there! I was hoping you could tell me the best spots to long board in new jersey. I live in california, but am an NJ native, so would love to hit up some spots the next time I visit. Love your videos!
Nice! Message me on Instagram @longboard_sessions
Check out the G&S Speed fin. A fantastic blend of speed, drive and turning ability on a lonboard
Sweet, i'll check it out
Great video idea man! Awesome stuff as always
Thanks bro! Somehow when I think Im out of ideas... something pops in haha
Check out the Skvarrna equalizer from flying diamonds, it's like this perfect combination of a flex fix with a pivot fin. It's based off the DT Flex with some improvements that Kevin made for his surfing. I've tried a dozen fins and it's the first one that feels easy to turn, but still locked in for nose rides. I've had a couple friends try it and really like how it feels. I'm not sure I want to surf anything else now :) Thanks for the video!
I'll check it out! I kind of found the same thing with the greenough 4A. Holds real well and very easy to turn!
really enjoy your videos! can you make an episode about how to find decently priced longboards? they are so hard to fiiiiind ;(
Thanks so much! It's really hard to find used longboards. You looking for a noserider or just anything over 9'?
good choice of two fins to try out. I personally ride the 10.75" CJ california pivot as my primary pivot fin.
I am noticing much improvement on your overall flow and confidence walking the board. It may have been wave choice/ time of day/ or just happenstance, but it looked like the Knost fin was working better for you. the 4A style template may have allowed for more maneuvering to get in the pocket for tighter noserides. Take it with a grain of salt.
I ride both styles in a variety of surf conditions. It helps to change it up, and get a new perspective. That is how we grow as surfers
Oh sweet, nice that you're seeing some improvement in my surfing! Your point about changing things up is so crucial.. I went surfing today and only focused on drop knee turns (this thursdays video) and it made me learn so much about the board and made me way more aware of where my feet are. I may have learned more today than in any other session just by experimenting.
Cool video !!!! Hey where in NJ is that beach located ?
Hey Luis! It's the central NJ area.... people don't like it when I say the town 🤷♂️
You should try the CJ Nelson classic pivot from flying diamonds. It has more rake and let’s you turn, trim and flow better than most pivot fins. It’s a happy middle between Alex’s and the CJ fin.
Oh sweet! I'll check it out. I feel my FCS pivot does a decent job at being the middle man for now. But something like that but a little longer could help!
@@LongboardSessions CJ is a close personal friend and everything he makes he puts his all into. And luckily I get to test it all because of his generosity. I enjoy your videos. Keep experimenting.
@@mikeamericanelectric9240 Oh that's a nice friend to have! Will do, thanks!
Looking good! I've been debating buying the CJ Nelson noserider fin. I think this video sold me on it. I might try to go with the 9.5" noserider fin.
Awesome! I think the 9.5 is the perfect length for this fin. It's so stable that you don't really need to extra length on the fin IMO
Alex knost fin is crazy I made a performance longboard a,d were looking for a fin. I decided to get it and its really good turns are awesome.
OH sweet! Yea it's a really great fin. Can't wait to start using it more as I improve
Hi, very interesting video as usual :-) which size of fin (single fin) do you recommend for a 9,1 log. I actually have a 9. I am a beginner in cross steping and nose riding so obviously I am looking for stability :-) Many thanks and continue. all the best from France !
Thanks so much! Well the rule of thumb is if you have a 9' board you should put a 9" fin on. However, after creating this video I think you can do whatever you want lol. If it were me, I'd go with a the CJ nelson noserider 9.5" or similar. Super stable and will really help with cross stepping for beginners and also advanced. Heres a link to that fin: flyingdiamondsca.com/shop/noserider/
@@LongboardSessions thanks for your quick answer and advice
I will order and let you know in this thread my feeling and progress.
Bye
You can try to put your fin closest to tail as possible to find more stability, talking about size i think your fin it's ok for your longboard, but for the shape i suggest to try more fins you can to find the perfect for you and your board
@@danielebertora1220 Thanks Daniele for your reply ;-)
Sounds good!
Try also the captain fin tyler warren 10.25! I think it is a good compromise between these two type of fins
Oh very cool! I'll check it out. To be honest though, my old FCS fin is a decent compromise between the two. Turns well and is decently stable.
Depends if you’re on a nose rider, glider, mid length, etc..
Absolutley true. Gotta find the right fin for the board
I have a Joel Tudor 10.125" on my 9'6" pressed all the way to the back of the fin box.... Brah.. The waves pick up and take me with them before I've had a real chance to paddle for them.
haha nice! I'll have to give that one a shot. Iv'e been messing with my fin all the way up in the fin box lately.. I'll have to go back to all the way back to see the differences.
@@LongboardSessions I'm just worried about the fin being broken because Hawaii get plenty reef.
@@SomeUrbanNinja Yea you gotta watch for that shallow water! Mind the tides hehe
I hope CJ is giving you a kickback, ‘cause you’re seriously moving some product! Been toying with the idea of a pivot fin for my 9’6”, and this vid made me think why not? Just clicked buy.
HAHA if only... You'll love this fin.. I havent taken it off since this video
I've got a CJ noserider fin, best fin I've used in my log. Used to be a 4A guy, but the nose riding capabilities of the CJ fin is next level. Just wait till you get it on a lined up point break!
Sweet! Oh man I can't wait for a point break haha
Maybe in your next video you can look at a thruster/high performance long board. ?
I'll do a HP longboard comparison video one of these days. Definitely a must
If only there were waves like this on the beaches of Auckland's West Coast in NZ 😭 Awesome videos, Thanks for the stoke 🤙
haha yea these were fun ones. Thanks!!
🤦🏾it was cold at ocean city last Sunday and I wasn’t ready for it 🥲 time to throw this wet suit on 😭 nice video as always ✨
thanks William! time to start getting the winter gear ready !
@@LongboardSessions no problem!!! 🥴🥴🥴🥴 it’s time to move to Hawaii 😂
@@williamjoyner3768 lol in our dreams
@@LongboardSessions 😂😂😂
Good stuff man! On those reentry floaters I've found it super helpful to get low with the knees and really lean back to get the nose up. We have a lot of those here in Hawaii of you want a longer ride at some of the breaks (looking at you White Plains...). I'm not nearly where you are with the nose riding but the floaters I got down quick out of necessity. Plus it's always fun to drop in on a section that folks wouldn't assume you can on a big board.
Oh sweet great advice! I'll give that a try on saturday. I also assume I need to look at my landing rather than look at the wave. Typically if your eyes are in the right place everything works out better haha
How would you say the CJ nelson fin is compared to your FCS Hatchet (if you use one more than the other)? What are your thoughts on the Rainbow Pivot fin?
I can't say iv'e done a direct comparison of the CJ to the FCS Hatchet. But I imagine the CJ is slightly more stable and lends itself to slightly more drawn out turns. The FCS hatchet will be slightly less stable (but still stable) and will be more of a pivot style turn. Never tried the rainbow pivot!
Great video Brian, thanks!!
Thanks! you got it🤙
Most of the time I got to the NJ shore its a windy mess.......
Yes, you gotta make sure you check forecasts before going. Offshore wind (west wind) is mandatory in my mind
I've got both those fins, nice choices!
Yea they're great! Good additions to the fin arsenal
Hey Brian, loved the video and I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! I had a quick question, what fin would you recommend for a 9'6 Hobie Uncle Buck? I typically surf at a beach break (Bolsa Chica, CA); with the winter swell slowly making its way in, the sets roll in much faster and more snappy. P.S. I don't have money for a new board. I currently have a Tyler Warren Pivot fin (seafoam), a 9.75, and a friend's 8.5 pivot fin.
Thanks Jorge! That hobie looks like a decent board. The fin selection kinda depends on what you want to do. If your goal is noseriding I'd go with that CJ nelson noserider (fin). 10 " or 10.5" would work. That tyler warren fin is probably decent as well. If you need something that turns quick and is much looser the alex knost (first fin i used) is excellent. You can also try something like a the fcs hatchet pivot fin... that might be a bit in between the two.
I'm no expert on fins, but it seems like you just need to experiment to see what works with your board.
Man so funny. Did same thing recently on an 11ft cruiser I ride in small clean stuff. The Greenough cut away fin so easy to turn then the fat hatchet made it a virtually un-turnable tracking monster!
haha yea it makes such a difference! I have a greenough I'm going to be trying soon
Nice video, makes me miss surfing NJ :)
Thanks! Yea NJ is a great spot... if only we had waves more often
Cool music in this episode!
Thanks David! Picking the music is one of my favorite parts hehe
Cool video I just got some new fins for my fish about a month ago and I didn’t think I would be able to feel the difference but I could definitely have much faster I was going. 🤙🏽
Thanks! Yea I was certain fins would barely make a difference before I started experimenting.... I was way off haha
Hey I surf spring lake. But I’m in Costa Rica right now and I got a 9’6’’ bing with a cj Nelson style fin and it is so slow to paddle. When you said that fin is heavier when paddling do you mean it is slower? And by how much?
Oh nice! Not slower to paddle, it just makes it stay in a straight line really well. Therefore turning the board while paddling is more difficult which makes the board "feel" heavy. I don't think fins would make much a difference when it comes to paddling speed. Maybe the board is a bit small for you?
@@LongboardSessions ok I gotcha ya the board is a nose rider with 50/50 soft rails and when I paddle it feels like the water wraps around the tail of it. But when I ride my 9’ board with more hard rails I paddle much faster.
@@MrGoldenboyh Wow that's very interesting. Yea it could be that your just used to the other board and your Bing is not as fast of a paddler. Seems a little odd tho ?
I have 4 CJ Nelson boards 3 10’0 and 1 11’6 for those small days they are all Pearson Arrows, incredible boards and they all have a 10”CJ fin the stability is awesome, you will master the turning, I’d suggest watching old CJ Nelson videos to see his style, he’s an old friend from Santa Cruz I’ve surfed with him a bunch. I copied his style. He’s a goofyfoot too. 🤙♥️
Wow that 11'6 must be so fun lol! Great advice, I'll start watching some footage of him. I would love to start adding some style to my surfing
Do you think that the CJ Nelson Noserider 10.0 will work with my 9 ft Firewire Special T? I'm 5'6 145 lbs. Or do you think I should go smaller?
You may want to go a bit smaller on the board. However, I really have no idea how the cj will react on that board. Looks like a greenough 4a could be a better choice? But who knows till you try it haha!
@@LongboardSessions haha very true I actually ordered a greenough 4a thanks to your video :). I got a 9 inch. Thank you!
Oh awesome! Having both fins would be great as well... One will work better on certain days
Very timely. After 40 years I recently bought my first nose rider and it wobbles about when on the nose because the rails are so soft. Some of the better nose riders use hatchet fins so I will definitely get one this week. Thanks for this, all of my other longboards have hard rails near the tail and are set up for performance.
I imagine a more stable fin should fix your "wobbling" problem. Try a couple different types. What fin do you currently have on it?
Where was this surf shop in NJ? Thanks 🤙🏼
Bayhead NJ. beach-house-classic.shoplightspeed.com/
What about a 10 inch hatchet center with side bites? Too much?
10" hatchet center would be great, but side bites are really for more high performance longboards when you want to do a sweeping fast turn instead of a pivot turn. But I believe the 10" hatchet would be a great mix of both the cj nelson and the alex knost!
interesting video, like always, what are the measure of cj fin? i dont find , it look masive
Thanks Jose! It's 10" long, not sure what the other dimensions are, but it's huge!
i can measure the width if thats what your interested in
@@LongboardSessions thanks, i found it in a japanese web, lol
@@joselucerna7612 Haha there you go
I have the same FSC than you. (same color board, same bag, same fin, same beard...??? I"m a big fan? ahahah), Ihave never tried other fin, but the CJ model is interesting, is it realy so difficult to turn with? Thanks for your videos.
hahaha are you the clone?? I highly recommend trying out this CJ nelson fin or something similar. It's way more stable than the FCS fin. When it comes to turning, I wouldn't say it's hard, but it's a little different. Paddling is weird with the CJ fin because it makes you board feel "heavy" if that makes any sense. Paddles just as fast, but it really keeps the board in a straight line.
I still also like the FCS fin, but im way more intrigued by the CJ nelson. So I'll give it a few more tries for sure
@@LongboardSessions I don't want to transform my board as an aircraft carrier but for noserides, stability is the best, I can't wait to try, if I could find some in France.
@@nicolasgoupil7284 lol that’s a good description, an aircraft carrier. I think you’ll be pleased with it though, stil plenty easy to turn
Customizing my fins on all my boards since the 80s, make my own longboard fin design that is faster than anything I've surfed. Many half decent boards rip w the right fin.
Oh sweet! Yea the fin makes such a difference!
Brian were you still selling you continental longboard? Thanks man
Hey James, Yes I actually sold it, but the buyer is nice enough to wait until Oct 17th when my new board is coming. BUT! I just wiped out yesterday and the board smashed against the rocks, got a nice ding in the side. Going to have that professionally fixed and see if they are still interested hehe
@@LongboardSessions oh man. Im
Sure they can fix it. I was looking at getting a real longboard myself. Thank you. looking at stewarts redline 11 or matador el toro just for local beach breaks.
@@jamesdiola4773 Sweet! If you don't currently have a longboard, it's a must for any surfer IMO. Even if you don't like longboarding, it will help your shortboarding for sure
@@LongboardSessions thanks brian. Yeah just getting back it since the freak wipeout i had. I think ill end up getting the stewart redline 11 in eps. Thanks man. Keep the videos coming 🤙🏽
@@jamesdiola4773 Awesome, let me know how it is! Will do
Those hatchet fins make you feel like your dragging a body behind you. I prefer the smaller rakes. Alex Knost has a very side-to-side style when he surfs
lol that's EXACTLY how it feels! I got a 4a style I'm going to be trying soon.. we'll see how that is as well
All fins are to thin. What how can that be? They are made to fit in a fin box.
Not for maximum efficiency, It is simple hydrodynamics.
A thin fin will cavitate much earlier than a thick fin.
Cavitation causes the fin to lose it grip in the water.
The proper ratio of in thickness to length is 1/8th inch of thickness for each inch if length.
A 10inch long fin will be 1 1/4 inches thick at the base tapering up to the tip.
This allows your board to ride up at the steep top of the wave with out the fin losing grip with the water.
The other benefit is that because the fin work much better it can be place further forward from the tail making the board looser.
great video 🤙
Thanks!🤙
Greenough 4A 10”. U won’t regret it…
Wow funny you say that. I just bought that fin a couple weeks ago to test out haha! I got it in an 8.5 tho for the purpose of the video idea. A 9 or 10 would likely suit my board better
Haven’t tried it yet btw
You are a very good surfer
Thanks! 🤙
How wide is the base?
I'll have to double check that. I'll do it when I get home. I assume you're reffering to the CJ nelson?
@@LongboardSessions yes, thank you.
How long is your board for the 10" fin?
The board in this video is 9'2". So you can argue a 9" fin would be more suitable? I'm not really sure... I need to do some testing on that
@@LongboardSessions I think if you want to noseride, the fin should be longer than the board. I ride a 9’6” and should maybe have a 10” haven’t tried one yet.
Thanks for vid!
@@simoniepie yea I think 10” should be good.
What size board do you surf ?
Currently on a 9'6" COS Chingona
@@LongboardSessions sweet me too, on the 9”6, it’s a 2+1 setup but I’m going to try running it single fin. I got a 9” 4A and an 8” rainbow fins, “wingnut” which I’ve heard good things about… I’m hoping I didn’t go too small on it though..
Thanks for the vids, I’ve learned a lot from you 🤙
@@clayton_1000rr oh awesome! Yea the 4a is an amazing fin. I’d put a 10.5 on your board tho. I don’t see any downsides to a larger 4a. Might be ever so slightly harder to turn,,, but it’s worth it
@@LongboardSessions cool 😎
Thanks for the tip
I noseride my 11" CJ Nelson, and use my 10' board as the fin.
Nice!
Wow, Steve Buscemi can surf!
haha!
Is this Long Beach
This is monmouth county NJ
fin game is crazy
yes sir! Love what a difference they make
love it
Thanks!🤙
I like the way CJ Nelson surfs much, much better than Alex Knost. I also like CJ Nelson's down to earth personality. Alex Knost worries about his hair and looking cool. Typical Newport Beach guy. He came down to Cardiff Reef years back and Devon Howard, Joel Tudor and Ryan Burch were out surfing, they were such better surfers than Knost.
i don't know too much about knost, but CJ is unbelievable. I don't think there is anyone more "flowy" than him. I don't think i'll ever adopt that style... I see myself becoming more of a quick and scrappy longboarder like jefson silva. I think we all end up figuring out our own style as we progress I imagine
I sent you an idea via Facebook messenger.
Oh sweet, I'll check it out now!