Watch: Rasta // The Frankenfish
Last week we ran an article on the recent design exploits of Gary McNeill. Gaz had been fishing around in the closet of old surfboard design, blowing the dust off a few old items, then marrying them together to create something new.
Rasta dubbed the resultant creation 'the Frankenfish' owing to it being the sum of many parts. Rather than mere theory, here's test pilot Rasta putting the monster through its paces.
Filmed and edited by Nathan Oldfield.
Comments
Nice vid. Makes the control looks so comfortable and easy on a board that's probably got a fair bit of twitch to it for any average rider like myself!! Great style, loved the close ups, you can really study the foot placement and rail transitions.
Nice music to watch smooth surfing. They didn't credit it, so in case you are wondering it is a song called Afro Golden Line by Amir Bresler. A drummer from Tel Aviv no less!
You'd think they'd get that right.
I watch Rasta on a Frankenfish and it makes me want one of those,... i watch Torren on a morning of the earth mid length twin and it makes me want one of those... i'm so confused.... maybe i just stick to my normal thruster and be happy i can still get up and pull a few turns...
You'd be surprised how easy to control Twinnies are if you have a good design with the correct fins. I've had 2 of Gary's (the Rasta Torus Twin models) and they were awesome. Currently have a Desert Storm twin (amounst many other twin) and it is great for slabs, give em a go! I have a MOTE as well :)
I don't discount the effect of fins, but I think the greatest change between modern twins and the twins of old - think: skittish, slidey, lacking drive - is the modern rocker.
Surfers can get away with a lot more than they ever could, and it's largely due to decades of refinement in nose to tail curve.
There's also a lot to be said about how all the elements combine: rocker, rails, fins, foil. Pick up a well-made modern twin and there's generally a more harmonious mix of features compared to cruder 70s versions.
Here's a Perfect 80s Copy
https://youtube.com/shorts/WlANWqb-wx4?feature=share
A lot of those older Twins seemed to be very flat throughout and maybe that's the trick with these modern versions... the combination of rocker and rail .... tempted to try one even more now...thanks for the insights...
john_c: what fins you like?
How do you find MOTE compared to Gary’s?
Hey Solitude, I've got the new Britt Merricks on my CI Free Scrubber and they go pretty well in the Desert Storm Twin as well. Used the Rasta Keels in the RTT. The MOTE is very different to any other twin I've used, really hard to describe. Fairly drivey but super loose through tight turns. The Rasta TT is super drivey with a bigger turning arc. Here's a vid of the MOTE at my local:
Nice mate. I prefer keels also.
Would love a MOTE but don’t think the 12-18 month wait and cost is worth it.
Plenty good options out there isn’t there.
Could watch Rasta surfing an ironing board, and then want one.
Great surfing!!
Definitely makes you want to go out and by a new board..
Rasta the Anti Christ of the WSL style master choose your path! Great vid
Nice film, I’ve recently taken delivery of a sir Francis 6’8” made by Mark Ogden, its a fish thruster mix and has revitalised my surfing. If there is anyone wanting a board to keep them surfing through middle age this is one to consider..
Nice surfing again by Rasta but really didn't look any different to any other small twin that Rasta rides ,maybe more skatey .
My thoughts exactly. New model, looks like it goes about the same as the RTT.
Never gets old though.
Interesting to see Rasta only using the middle piece of a tail pad. Guess you'd be able to tell exactly how you're back foot is positioned.
Beautifully shot. Nice work
Hahaha Rasta the Antichrist of the WSL... love it....
He has more style and grace in his little toe than EL & his travelling entertainment machine ever will
No music credits discredits
Love watching rasta surfing, used to be imo the worlds most stylish before i saw torryn and Mikey feb and some others all up there for most stylish good surfers..
however i find Gary's boards even though many fishy twin shaped are made are not as easy to get used to for a while like Banksys fish and banksys imo surf 6 foot indo pits better imo, even if 5'8 or 5' 10 long..
Just the rails banks does seem more user friendly but not sliding out either..Also banks holds more volume and foam while not being boats.
Good to see many real guns over 6'10 up to 9 foot using twin keels rather than thrusters or quads as some like Jim B preferring the drive of keels in big ulus OC and big g-land type waves.