Thanks mate. Reply sent.
For those interested, my last adventure out in the surf a few months ago with the Kona One was a disaster and broke things. And beachstarting with the standard 46cm (thereabouts) was a downright pain. Imagine still having in your head surf sailing an '80s sinker and then beachstarting a mutha ship that you can barely get your foot up to in marginal air off the beach coz of the near half metre fin! I almost belted my knee into my chin several times trying to get going! A shorter fin would have seen me off right away.
So with the shorter fin I might find some joy, I don't care about the theory behind long fins and their ability to get on the plane faster, more speed etc. etc., I just want to ride the thing in marginal winds and small surf so who cares about speed!
From what I've read, ideally a weed/swept back fin would be better suited but beggars can't be choosey I reckon.
As long as it's mal-ish length it'll do me till I get better. At least now I can old school fast flare gybe the thing with confidence in lighter air, that's a start, next is carve gybe...but I need more wind to practice that.
Getting used to the dynamics of a modern rig has been caving in my head too, the power is not where I remember it used to be. Harness lines in the wrong place and leaning back too much in the gusts, but it'll all sort itself out.
To keep myself warm over winter I'm hoping to keep myself busy grinding and filing the shorter fin to as surfy a shape as I can.
Fark it's been cold! Brrrrr! where's me beanie....
