Hi all,

Overall I'm super happy with my recently acquired 2009 nobile shinn twintip. The flat rocker is taking me some getting used to in bumpy conditions but it's already pushed my riding to a new level (still not that high) in the flatter stuff.

I have two questions.

1) Has anyone tried the shinn or 666 (similarly flat rocker and squareish tips) from 2008 or 2009 with smaller than stock fins? The 55mm fins feel unnecessarily big and I'm thinking of trying something smaller to loosen the board up.

2) The pads and straps, though firm are pretty comfy for my feet but I do find my feet come out a bit too easily especially when it's windier and bumpier. Any tips for increasing the grippiness of the pad's surface? Roughening it, putting something on it?

All tips appreciated,

Dojo

Hey Waxy, where can you get the 35mm fins from?

I've been riding the 55's since i got my '09 NHP and have just learnt to deal with them. They're a bit of a handful if your trying to slip the board around, but i've been glad i've had them a couple of times as they're sensational at helping you hold down silly amounts of power.

cheers for replys.

hi harry potter, i appreciate the discipline of accurate landings but i pop just fine heel to toe and back again on both tacks, and it's not that i want to be a lazy "oh, hell, popping's too hard i'll just slide it around" kind of guy. i enjoy being able to pop accurately and at speed both ways and making transitions an aesthetically important part of my kiting. it's as much in a straight line as in slidy tricks that i suspect some looseness would help. i'm a good enough rider to balance the board and keep it tracking without needing big fins, and i just want a bit more slipperiness.

emailed nobile australia but yet to hear back. will other brand fins fit in tewrms of hole size, spacing and rocker? maybe a dumb question but i've not switched fins between boards before.

maybe the underground 35 or 40 mm fins?

cheers, dojo

just had my first session with nobile 35mm fins on the shinn twin. they work a treat, it was just the change of feel i was after.

it was 20-24 knots at altona, and low tide so i spent most of my time in the little waves and chop out the back (flat water is great but i want more than six inches of it if i'm going to go for anything). even in the bumpy stuff the 35s gave me plenty of grip when i wanted to track and let me slide the board when i wanted. i also got a bit less spray, much of which comes from the front heelside fin hitting chop.

as for the pads, i'm getting used to them, and the straps are softening up a bit, but the arch on the pads is a bit much for my flattish feet. might take a sharp blade and slice a mm or two off.

I got a nobile Shinn 132 and have had the same problem as djdjo...

The board kicks up heaps of spray and the fins feel s**thouse. Is there a big difference on the fin change? I mean I have only just got the board and it is supersoft for landings but I find it slides a little too much.

mantis5 said...

I got a nobile Shinn 132 and have had the same problem as djdjo...

The board kicks up heaps of spray and the fins feel s**thouse. Is there a big difference on the fin change? I mean I have only just got the board and it is supersoft for landings but I find it slides a little too much.

Even before putting the new fins on I found that after several sessions I was getting way less spray than initially. My technique had to adjust for the flatness of the board. Spray ceased being an issue after maybe ten sessions.

I also had to adjust weight distribution for landings, and found that in general I now land pointing a bit more downwind, touching down with the rear heelside tip first rather than being able to land more across the wind and roll through the landing on the rocker like I did on my previous board.

I never had a problem with the 55mm fins other than their being bigger than I wanted. They are super grippy and felt very efficient to me, leaving a clean wake even when well loaded up. For riders whose style warrants medium sized fins I think they're very good.

This board has its challenges due to the flat rocker. It requires a defter touch with weight distribution and more precision on landings. But for me the incredible efficiency, speed, wind-range, and pop are more than enough reward.

The 35mm fins won't let you slide the board around quite as nonchalantly as dre slides his custom, but for my style at least they increase the flexibility of the board for surface tricks and landings.

This is definitely not a board for beginners or those who like to cruise. I think I'm only just good enough to make it pay, but each session I'm growing into it more and realising what its capable of when pushed.

yeah DJDOJO nice....

My shin is the black and silver one. I love the look, feel and lightness of the board. I have had about 2 hrs on it and yes it takes a fair bit of getting used to. I was riding a LF concept custom 135 with heaps of rocker. Big difference in the boards as the shinn is a flatter intermediate/advanced board. I can say I'm happy with it appart from the excess spray. Now I know about the fins I'll give some smaller ones a whirl. As for the straps.. They are average but I guess I'll get used to them also.