is there such a thing as twin tip board desinged for the surf, ive heard of mutant and hybrid boards that are twin tip but has anyone got one or tried one?? or should i just take my regular twin tip board into the surf??
I have a 2007 Naish Sol which is oval in shape and is really fun for taking in the surf. It was one of the first boards to have a wood core and side cuts similar to the way snowboards are constructed. I used it in Mauritius and had a lot of fun riding waves. The main issue is you can't back off the power so much like you can with a directional and ride the wave using the board as a surfer does (that is my wave riding n00b explanation), so you can end up shooting out in front of the wave and not actually riding it.
Just get out there and have a go mate, you'll love it.
Start with your regular TT. Get enough experience to demo gear then make your own choice.
Underground and Cardboards have brought out dedicated surf TT/mutants. They are probably a bit expensive to buy just to take a chance.
Most people who adapt to directionals tend to stay with directionals.
Put some 55mm fins on your twin tip to help prevent sliding out and smack some waves.
A mutant will be better but you will be surprised at the difference longer fins can make
My limited experience in the surf on a twinny is not the slide out at the bottom turn its going over the front(there's just no board in front of you if your going down a steep face), with more experience i rekon you would eliminate this somewhat, but when i am rarely on the surfboard this no prob at all and heaps more fun on the surfboard, right board right conditions
Take your twinny in the surf if you dont have the cash for second board, i would have thought unless your going in big waves/waves all the time it doesnt matter, there are some good vids of crew riding waves on TT's, but hey i am no surfer
Have to agree with the Hammer advice.
Ive had one for a few years. It drags a lot of power out of ur kite but its the only TT Ive ever ridden that gives some of that true 'surfing' feeling rather than just playing around on lumps of water.
Great for downwinders but cuts upwind when needed.
tried the hammer. thought it overrated. saw one for sale in an online shop recently though. exxy for what it is.
had a shinn wave for a while. sold it.
bought a cardboard wave on spec, based on where the design came from, rave reviews, the standout performance of their FX TT, and the build quality (hand-made in oz, unlike UG).
the wave does what i want. senfknsational.
but just my opinion.
btw, got a SB. different game plan.
SB = surfboard
TT = twintip
FX = FIIK (ask dan, he makes them)
UG = kiwi brand of board made in china
btw = by the way
exxy = costs too fkn much
senfknsational = pretty good
fkn = www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=fkn
fiik = www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=FIIK
have i missed anything?
I've been riding a Shinn Wave for the past 3 years. Great fun in the surf and flat water if you like to carve around.
nice pic graham! those shinn boards are as rare as the hammer now i think.
try the cardboards wave if you want a TT style board that will carve a lot better, its fun, can be ridden both ways but definately better one side than the other.
www.cardboarding.com/content_production_series.php
the reason why mode people stick to directionals once they try them i feel is it can be difficult to go back and forth between the two type of boards.
Here is my 2 cents worth, feel free to disagree...
Many twin tips are designed around freestyle for flat water, they have little nose rocker so in the surf or choppy water I see a lot of learners and experienced riders nose diving the board when the nose hits some chop and goes under. Even in botany bay flat twin tips can nose dive when they hit chop. If your TT is nose diving then you need a TT with more nose rocker, or you need to ride in flatter water.
The other issue is many freestyle TTs have small fins 2cm to 3cm, good for freestyle and rotating and sliding, for the surf and chop you need 5 to 6cm fins to bight and not skip out when carving chop in the waves. if your TT is sliding out during the turns, get some 5 - 6 cm fins.
Another thing is rails, sharp rails on a TT skip out when edging hard, a good surf or chop TT will have a bit of a curve in the rail around the center to stop the board from bouncing out in a hard curve.
I designed a TT for my local area large choppy bays and the sea because not everyone gets to kite in super flat water, I designed the board with wider tips for easier plaining, 4 cm or rocker so the tips get over the chop and does not nose dive, even if you try to nose dive its difficult to do, and 5-6cm fins to grip in the chop and waves. Its not a freestyle board but a great all rounder free ride and choppy / in the surf board.
I still use a surfboard for the surf, Re mutants I think mutants are a cross between a surfboard and a twin tip, your better off getting a surf board or a twin tip, rather than something that does not do ether very well...
My 2 cents worth, feel free to disagree....
or check out the mutant from the makers of those awesome Flying Lilo's
Flysurfer
flysurfer.com/project/flywave-s/
Have a look around for a second hand slingshot fuse. A mutant of 152cm great fun board in the waves. As with most mutants, lacks enough volume to really ride the waves in all wind conditions. Really excels in ballistic wind blown waves.
If you have the cash the cardboard wave is also supposed to be a good option.
I have a Jimmy Lewis Model 3 that's great in small waves and still some pop - similar outline to the Hammer and stock fins a little bigger than usual TT. JL also has a mutant called the Rad-F. Choicey told me once that he gybes his Rad-F....Both old designs but then so is the Hammer.
SHQ have had a Fuse knocking around the shop for several years. I have tried it several times. I offered to buy it off them, thinking it would be dirt cheap, but they wanted too much for it. It's not a board I fell in love with.
I have a brand new(used 4 times)no marks,scatches, Shinn Wave for $500 if anyone is keen.
have had these convo's arguments with mates heaps of times who are more into going down a specific style path and can't understand TTs in waves anymore
i think it all comes down to personnel preference
for me, i love to mix up on heaps of different boards, surf strapless through to TT, mutant to skim board - all different challenges for kite flying and adapting to wave/water conditions
a note on the mutants (i have a shinn wave in the cupboard) - if you are planning on using it to ride switch occasionally (eg to get out of the **, or truck upwind better in lighter conditions) they typically don't ride as well the other way and you work really hard not to nose dive, but it may be different for other models
jibing it would save that problem but i am lazy and maybe not even good enough to boot 
therefore i agree with griffinkites that it does not do either exceptionally well, but it can't hurt to keep it in the quiver for random occasions...right?! 
