About those things on Carissa Moore's board...
During Sunday's WSL webcast of the Oi Rio Pro, the cameras cut to finalists Carissa Moore's back up board, revealing a snaggle-toothed tail.
Did you spot it?
A row of four teeth-like fins glued to the trailing edge of her board.
Clearly an aftermarket addition, my first response was to recall Power Ridges, adhesive 'channels' for surfboards that appeared in the late-80s and, despite bold claims about increased speed and performance, strangely never found a foothold in the marketplace
In this case, the fins, or winglets, or teeth, they don't appear to have a specific name, are made by Mink Systems out of Hawaii. Carissa has just begun using them, however Kai Lenny has had them on his boards for most of the year, and, if advertising is to be believed, he was riding them when he did the big air drop at Jaws last November.
"I have them on every board," says Kai in a breathless Instagram post. "It has helped me go faster, throw more spray and has turned my average boards magic!"
The thinking appears to be along the lines of winglets on aircraft planes and on racing cars that control laminar flow, stabilise the vehicle, and reduce drag. Whether that's applicable to surfboards is one more mystery to throw into the mix. Maybe they'll go the way of the Power Ridge or maybe not.
Mink Systems are made by Kai's coach and trainer, Doug Silva, who on Instagram pithily explained how his new invention works. They "funnel and channel...compression."
Doug is a one-time pro surfer and ex-Quiksilver executive originally from Solana Beach but now living on Maui. For a fifty-something surfer, Doug gives an impressive testimonial of his new product in this video.
Though their website isn't yet live, Mink Systems plan to start selling their products online shortly.
Comments
I guess you shouldn't write thing's off until you try them.
Maybe on a quad.
Gets me thinking of one of the last articles about bog standard surfers. they (including myself) would not be able to notice any effect at all. For me this is pure marketing.
im a bog standard surfer with poobum stance but i still use good fcs and future thruster fins....it takes me about 3 surfs to feel the difference from the crap plastic ones to a good quality fin:)
doesnt more surface area create drag....
would love to blow 500 clams and surf the shane horran wing shaped fin then the quabba fin then try these pieces of leggo and see if a bog poobum surfer can tell the difference
I might send $1 for a sticker, technical and mail order info to old mate in Laguna Niguel, and see what comes back. Hopefully the exchange rate rebounds too.
While doing research for this article, which does happen sometimes, I don't always trawl Instagram for quotes, I found out that Power Ridges were just offcuts from car door protectors, or "automobile protective side-molding".
Same shit you stick to your car for protection from stray shopping trolleys gives "advanced hydrodynamic performance" when stuck to the bottom of a surfboard.
https://patents.google.com/patent/US4878980
Interesting read. Patent shows a "half moon" profile, no foil of any kind.
Not sure if concerned my board will be hit by shopping trolleys but several feet of the stuff along the bottom of a board may come in handy surfing over shallow reefs paddling out ... or in.
Doug ripping in the clip. He appears to agree with my assessment too.
No way surfing like that could go down without car bumper enhancement.
That's like a quad yeah? More grab further back...
'While doing research for this article which does happen sometimes'- ha ha!
Refreshingly honest.
I wonder if it might give a little boost from a judging perspective, rather than anything functional.
Like running your fingers through the surface of the water vs running a flat palm along the surface - the fingers will throw more spray!
Good point actually
Little mini sea anchors when applied incorrectly.
Lipstick on a pig
Now correct me if I am wrong but during one of the recent comp casts one of the commentators was rabbiting on about the amount of "Spray" being throw around and how the judges loved it for whatever reason and it meant a better score. So if only some surfers are using these in competition and getting more spray and more spray means higher points, I reckon that would be considered cheating in most people's books.
There is no rule on the amount of fins or 'mini fins' a surfer can use so it can't be cheating. All the surfers are able to add something like this to their board if they want to
Not cheating Just using available designs
I remember in the 80’s some pro surfers going to 4 channels routinely in comps because they threw more spray and got more points
Has anyone done flow modelling of the water coming off the tail of a contemporary, tucked-under edge board? I expect it would be chaotic as the laminar flow exits into turbulence. Maybe this is intended to streamline this flow-into-turbulence? Like little finlets fitted over the turret or rear wing of cars?
Anyway it looks cool and Carissa has the best mix of speed power and flow in all of the WSL...
If someone sent me a 3D model of such a board (and a similar board without the tucked under edge) I'd be happy to run a quick CFD model to compare and share the rough results....
Always dreamed of making a living out of doing such things after doing my thesis on it, but never got round to making it happen...
Hey Pops it wouldn't be all that hard - get BoardCAD, take their default shortboard template, whack in fins and then do two boards, one with the winglets. Save as a file that would suit your flow software, and give it a test. I'd love to see if there's a difference (apart from drag).
Great to hear of your knowledge, too. Can you be contacted via Stu?
Thanks VJ, I'll check BoardCad out.
I've tried AkuShaper and Rhino in the past, but found neither played nicely with my CFD software, so resorted to making shapes from scratch in SolidWorks (which is a pain in the backside!)
Might take a little while to get it done - busy few weeks ahead, but I'll let you know how I go.
And yeah, no issues with Stu contacting me - I assume that he's got access to the email attached to my login? I don't check it very often though (mostly use it for spam), so maybe reply to this comment if you send something?
I’d be great to see the results. Please keep us posted!
Might just be semantics, but does water pass under the board or does the board pass through the water? If the water were passing under the board on an open face (which is where we generally want to be) wouldn't the net flow always be out to sea (with exception to when there is a tube, which is formed by conversion of PE to KE)? We'd be constantly sucked into international waters if water passed under a board, and it kind of implies the riding surfer is stationary like a flowrider. In reality, isn't the net flow nearly zero in the absence of rips, eddies etc. I.e. if you're sitting on the shoulder of a passing PE wave and you simply go up then down, there's little-no horizontal movement, maybe a slight shoreward drift due to friction between water molecules as the wave passes through the medium? Always bugged me what is actually going on when a board interacts with the water on a wave (I distinguish waves and water intentionally). Anyone?
If I understand your question, the answer is that it depends on your frame of reference (and the physics is the same either way).
From the frame of reference of the board, the board is stationary and the water is moving relative to it. From the frame of reference of a bit of water on the wave face, the water is stationary and the board moving relative to it. From the frame of reference of the beach, both are moving (at different speeds).
To use another example, a car. Even from the frame of reference of the car, the car passes over road and through air (in the absence of wind), a road doesn't pass under a car and air doesn't pass it either, they remain stationary?
Anyway, if the physics remain the same then it's pretty irrelevant. Thanks!
Yep.
Sometimes using one frame or other makes the maths easier, but the answers come out the same.
On the contrary, the road does pass under the car, in the car's frame. We just tend not to think about it that way.
Look up Galileo (/Galilean relativity) - he had some illuminating thought experiments on the topic.
Thanks and thanks for the rabbit hole...
Any time.
Yes that would be an infinitely deep one for me.
Look up Lagrangian vs Eulerian.
Now there's a rabbit hole...
One I fell into a number of years ago actually, and came out the other side with a maths major! Lagrangian & Hamiltonian dynamics blew my feeble mind...
The thought fuses mine.
Go fund me a trial without the mandatory wayward leggie anchor interference.
Pointless otherwise...kinda defeats the purpose of the pond's institute technicians.
Anyone Serious! tbb watched every wave of Carissa's & that board cost her #1.
Poor Carissa had to camp the tail to stop it poppin'....Up the fuckin' shit!
Her board was also way too wide & thin...she tried a wider heavy back foot stance...
As a result of correcting, her wide rails dug in slowing her down...Shocker!
Lip smacks & snaps were fine as she could kick-flick the tail but no power carves.
She floated her bottom turns & (Barton:"Warbled"-good call) her Steph Swoops!
Like a really loose MR twinnie she lost her award winning power moves big time!
You'd have to say she lost 30% drive...forcing her to wait out for 2 premium waves.
This woke up Steph for one hot ride but couldn't top Sunny Sally's 2 fair scores.
[8:00] out from end she's gifted a bomb easily a 8-9 ride...see for yourself. (Winner)
https://www.worldsurfleague.com/posts/401567/oi-rio-pro-womens-champions...
Barton reckons that best wave was surfed down..way down [5.17] Bye Bye Carissa.
Get a hold of Barton's full commentary as he was just as bewildered as any..
Carissa fluffs it from one move to next, no flow whatsoever & bails the tail. (Loser)
Opened the door for Sally & our girl made her pay...Oh so easy...Carissa was disabled!
Barton talked up Carissa's smaller waves,floating & cutting small chop.(Not all bad?)
Reminded me of how Cheyne's fins make light work of milky chop.
I guess you could say the Snaggle rolls over the top...It makes sense but needs tuning.
You could say another mod con to do the surfin' for you...(Hate surfing...Go for it!)
Whole Oi Pro copped an eyeful of Carissa's pink Snaggle Puss...(It did look nice!)
If crew really wanna try that board...you'll need to empty out Carissa's bean bag.
You'll probably go thru a few boxes of gluesticks..." It's still good! "
Ponds Institute technicians is the best call ever.
Once I’ve got these bad boys on my shooters and given them a once over with my nano-tune wipes then look out!
WSL 2020 here I come
This has my vote for post of the week!!
I reckon there could be a few cases of over thinking this case. Boards only go as fast as the feet on the deck drive them. In this exact example that board was a back up so didn't actually go anywhere.
Studying engineering and physics is fantabulous at school. Release those students into the real world and that's when they start to learn and apply the theories.
Reminds me of back when footy cards were all the rage. I used my mums clothes pegs and stuck a couple on my bike's frame touching the spokes. Maybe it was a bit harder to pedal but it made a cool noise
@Stunet
(comment above reminded me about this)
Wasn't there going to be an article about comparing fin materials etc like a blind test and scientific measurement from some study or something?
Im pretty sure you said it was coming quite a while back any progress?
Yeah, that's the Macaronis blind fin test conducted by Prof Marc in het Panhuis at Uni of Wollongong. The study isn't out yet and I'm also not sure what journal it will appear in, though I recall Marc said it would be available to read for free online.
I'll drop him a line to see how it's progressing.
Meanwhile, follow his account on IG (https://www.instagram.com/3d_printed_fins_uow/) for all sorts of nerdy surf fun. Latest post has results of simple flex tests on fins, with no great surprise that Futures - which has a full length base - has less flex than two tab or one tab fins.
See also his post on comparative flex for four different boards (https://www.instagram.com/p/BrwavkagyLx/), and specifically how the Vessel PU and EPS boards compare. Again, no great surprise that EPS returns to shape far quicker but great to see it tested like that.
Thanks Stu i will check those page out, wish there was more of this blind testing and measuring etc.
Edit: I wonder if they have done much more test than this, that's not a really a proper test, boards of complete different thickness.
Id love to see test where boards are the exact same shape/dims are testing against each other and then for EPS different stringers etc. (they have two types here but completely different looking board thickness)
And then test done after a year or two of boards surfed.
Its a cool page though i hope they do more and get deeper into it all.
Skegz are sneaky & tbb suspects top secret Olympic floaty free-wheelin' keels.
Swivelling floating teeth amplifying surfer's intent boosting performance...Shh!
Sophie's souped up office chair & computer mouse roller ball were upended by who?
Olympic Ltd edition Snoggle is expected to cost 100x more...Pre disorder now!
WSL Olympic model comes with free half built Wavepool + non stickable sticker.
Interestingly I find a Nubster on a quad really helps carrying speed in a cut back, last third of the turn, and although I'm just a competent but average surfer in my experience a 1.5 inch fin in the back of a quad makes a noticeable difference?
In this case I imagine that being so far on the tail they would have more leverage on the board than a small fin in a traditional place would (same way putting a single further back in the box stiffens the board due to leverage), they would also be in the full flow of water coming off the tail, where it is inclined to try to leave the board at right angles to the edge of the board, in my mind they would force it on a straighter path out the back of the board, stiffening the board. They are also close to the rail and we all know how sensitive boards are to changes at the rail shape/line/hardness. It would probably allow a wider tail and still have control, i.e. more speed without loss of control. They may even allow smaller primary fins, which further reduces drag.
I suspect if someone as talented and driven to win as Carissa is testing them, and willing to use them in competition (even on a back up board) they should not be written off.
Aerodynamic changes to a car make huge differences, the tiny (10mm) lip on the rear of a Golf GTI roof line reduces rear lift by 40kg at 200kph (VW aero testing), water has a much larger impact at a lower speed.
We all look for edges while surfing to enhance fun, perhaps little tuning devices that can be attached and removed may make a difference to our existing quivers.
I doubt they will catch on, as most humans are skeptical of the new...
Drod, where were you doing 200k's in a Veedub golf to get the benefit?
Just a side note re "small aerodynamic changes to a car makes a big difference."
This does remind me of a recent aircrash show I watched where due to the plane waiting on the tarmac for way too long the wings were calculated to have increased their thickness by a 600 grit sandpaper. This tiny increase of 'ice' on the wing thickness demanded a takeoff speed of 20 knots faster. The aeroplane could have taken off safely, but on takeoff instead of gently climbing the pilots freaked out and pulled back way too hard increasing drag dramatically and killing half the passengers on board.
In theory the nubster makes complete sense and i have to admit Kelly made me even more curious after talking about them.
But strangely enough and i gave it a few weeks surfing, i just didn't feel any advantage, just felt like a slow quad to me, like i was dragging a little middle fin.
Maybe i will revisit it at some stage with a different board or different shaped nubster.
Tom Hoye quote "small changes make a huge difference"
The best way to try them is take out all the other fins. Go surf and feel if they work .
Pearls of wisdom Camel
I remember when athletes wore 'Power balance wrist bands'
Nice videos of the elite, performing at an elite level.
Show me the science or fuckoff.
Ha power balance sucked a few in eh ..from Rasta to Eddie Rothman ..Fools !
What about the magnet on the parcel shelf of Peter Brocks souped up Commordores and their super low tyre pressures. He was harnessing the inherent energy all around us. Worked a treat! Ahh, the new agers I wonder how they are now as old agers?
I reckon it was called the Polarizer for a reason...........
Ha, ha I couldn't remember the name of it. Well done.
Problem solved instantly, magnetize the little suckers and feel the power of polarity.
Hahahaaa ... THOSE things to create more 'spray'? Stop it, my ribs are hurting!
C'mon fella's, oops, and ladies ... any 'spray' is a result of "displacement" from weight of surfer + board etc.
Shape factors are important too.
Ever stuck a toe in the water out the side of a cruising boat?
No, but I've stuck my hand out the car window and felt it go up n down as it cut through the air. Then, held out my fingers to form little upright winglets, and the sensation was unique.
"Ever stuck a toe in the water out the side of a cruising boat ?"
Once or twice but it made fuck all difference to the boats handling.
It's usually a technique I employ on insubordinate deckhands at night time and generally way offshore..
Yep, not saying that it'd make any noticeable difference to the handing, but it does create spray! (Plus you can feel the force).
Can't imagine that Carissa's stubs would make all that much difference from a handling perspective (maybe you'd notice a little more drag?), but they might well create a little more spray. I could be completely writing too. I'd love to test it.
Bet the deckhands got in line real quick after that.
haha I was thinking the same...but, but, come on Wingy you know that they will increase 'spray' by 0.0035% which makes a 'yuge' difference!
All scientifically tested and proven somewhere in a VW emissions lab....
Is that the same test lab the carbon, for the carbon strips, was developed?
I was thinking the BMW aerodynamic lab
These work 110% guaranteed!
I just need 100K investment from 10 smart people to make them.
- Greg Webber
Over the years I've been associated with many inventors and start-ups, quite a number of which were or are great ideas, patents, concepts, products, and or business models.
Sadly, most have failed. Often through no fault of the inventor, and financial losses were incurred by investors. Everyone knows it’s risky, but everyone expects to win. The other reality is that quite often a good inventor (or tradesman, or doctor etc) isn’t necessarily a good business person. They are vastly different skill sets.
One invention was so obvious and so good it had to be a winner. It was sold to the international market leader. It turned out that rather than using it to make money, they wanted to ensure it wouldn’t decimate its business. The superior product will probably never be produced or sold, and the inventor and initial investors will never receive royalties. Just because you can provide a superior product doesn't mean it will be embraced or financially successful. Even the GOAT had to finance the development of his wave pool dream, whereas others have had to seek external investment with differing degrees of success.
I'm not defending Greg Webber specifically as I don't know him, and this is a general comment to highlight that a lot of the criticism often directed at him should probably be more about Start-up venture risk rather than Snake Oil salesman.
Most of us don't have the imagination or motivation to put it out there. To Greg's credit he believes in himself and keeps thinking outside the square and coming up with ideas.
(Need for speed)
Teardrop shape locked in orbit or a vacuum (eg: Hadron Collider) seems fastest...(But!)
At speed of Light all objects are reshaping to suit, some obvious examples...
A teardrop shape morphs into a speed wobbling toothpick shape...spinning out.
A round shape takes on a faster Oval shape without the pintail.
An Oval shape transforms to hold a near perfect Teardrop with increasing tail speed.
Of course objects can reshape similar at slower speed as to structure & weight.
Fastest alien surfboard flips end over end in some warped out ancient orbit.
"OUMUAMUA" or (Huey's Surfboard)
"Kick Flips faster than the existing laws of celestial mechanics!"
https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/space/scientists-weigh-in-on-...
(Blinded by Science) re: F.B Space Diver
Crew see's F.B trying his best to hold pindrop but spins out to instantly lose speed.
There seems no way an 'inert Pin shape' could prevent wobble to increase speed.
[WARNING] Space diver's test performed without solar handplane or space flippers!
Space diver/s can freefall for 4:00-4:30 mins @ 1125 km/hr
Bodysurfer (could) freesurf biggest fastest tsunami for 4:00 mins @ 1,000 km/hr
Body/Suits are fine but 'Fogged up Goggles' prevent a longer ride...(Up vs Down?)
Note: Eyes & ears would suffer lifelong distorted damage without...(Not good!)
Silver Surfer's 'Toomie' zooms 300,000 km/sec but sponsored by 'Fogged up Shades'.
All riderz had to end their session after 4:00m no matter how flash their ride.
Craft or Freesurf has little to do with it, comes down to a decent all-weather gap filler.
More on sealed units... tbb recalls a curious thing an astronaut once said...
"The sunny side of Space suit feels extremely hot & Dark side extremely cold".
I thought an insulated pressurized space suit has even temperature throughout?
Houston! We have a problem!
Shades of Apollo orange juice packs leaking 'into' the helmet seals without Kaboom?
Are with the dealing with the Right Stuff or amongst non hostile Aliens?
Mr X aka Glen Winton has been doing stuff like this for decades ... he put small "spolier" fins on the edges and tail of one of my boards years ago ... theory was to reduce tail turbulence ....
Perhaps these provide some of the drive of channels without being too over bearing? But I am pretty shit at putting grip tape on these bad boys don’t look much easier
Drodders did you buy some of these
Are you a believer ?
?
They're called "vortex generators".
Popular on Mitsubishi Evo cars, but also widespread in the aerospace industry, and motorcar racing.
They act in two ways... Depending on what they are on and how they're fitted.
1. like the dimples on a golf ball, and help fluids separate quickly from the object, creating less turbulence attacking the back of object.
2. Keep the flow attached for longer, so that turbulence is reduced and separation can be managed elsewhere. Like on aeroplane wings.
Given the fit on Carissa's boards, and the hydrodynamic shape of a board at the tail, I don't think they're giving her much speed. If anything, she's using them to tighten up the control at the back by creating a bit more drag.
You want Channels
Peel N Stick
https://www.stickychannels.com/
I have them on the back of the roof on my Evo doing almost 260kph down Bathurst conrod straight
I couldnt tell if they worked or not I was hanging on so tight going flat into the chase I really
didnt think about them just hoping to stay grounded.