Surf Simply's Question Time: Fish or Groveller?

In this week's episode of Question Time, Harry defines what a small wave board really is, and the difference between a groveller and a fish. And, how many waves arrive as part of a set.

Here are the notes for the episode.
Alberto Tay I still don't understand what is a groveller board, what is the difference with a fish? Is it only the way the tail ends?

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German Llorens Is there a golden rule on how many waves come in a set relative to the swell size and period???

[topdeckdog]

As an Aussie i've gotta admit I find it weird to be in a classroom setting getting taught surfing by a well spoken nobleman like it's a Mathematics lesson. As kids we take whatever floatation device is kicking around whatever house we're at, paddle out and eventually figure out how to stand up. After that we become obsessed with getting barrelled... between eating dimmy's and trying to score weed.

[patrickbutler]

I'd love to hear your thoughts on a 5th center "nub" fin on a quad. Specifically for a groveller.

[lizaking]

I love these videos! Knowing how things work is so helpful -- really happy i found this channel 🤙

[michaelmuir]

Thank you for the video, interesting stuff and really helpful. Due to a lengthy hiatus since early 90's I'm totally out of the loop and still riding my 80's thruster. This explains why I turned up at a break last year and looked at everybody's boards and thought ' What the hell has happened? ' All grovellers.

[Xavicasillas]

Good job 🤙 Give us your thoughts on traction pads. What do think about front traction pads and using tail ones on fish or longboards?

[dangowanlock]

Great video as always. I am interested in how the outline shape of a board affects your ability to duck dive it.

Would it be true to say that for a board of the same volume, the more pointy the nose the easier it will to duck dive?

Also is there a volume/weight ratio where effectively duck diving a board becomes unrealistic and you are likely to be more efficient turtle rolling.
Thanks, Dan

[makermatti]

Nice one! I find the classroom setting quite therapeutic maybe I should have taken surfing at uni 😁

[JoelSimbrow]

love the videos. thanks. any way to redirect to the "magic seaweed" link. the redirect to surfline not working.

[markuslebt]

fish if you want fast, loose and dirty, groveller for shortboard style maneuvers.

[albertotay]

Harry thanks for clearing up my doubt. 🤙

[cloudstrife]

I think is very easy.. Fish is for retro style lovers, groveler is to keep as possible the shortboard performance on small waves.

[davidvelazquez]

There are so many terms that are used in every aspect of surfing that the laymen would be hardpressed to guess correctly. From shaping & construction, wave description, board types, maneuvers, ride quality...and on it goes. I found it funny when even Dane and Jordy stumbled when defining the terms they used when surfing in the SITD Allstars.

[kaynojackson]

Hi Harry great explanation, can i please ask a question relating to your previous video which i haven't had a response to yet. If the wave has a wave speed heading towards the beach then why are we getting drawn up the face of the wave in the opposite direction the wave is traveling, when we are paddling in to the wave while trying to catch it ?
Thank you, Kayne.

[jamesshepard]

That surfer, who won the contest on the fish in Huntington Beach, was David Nuuhiwa, ( which resulted in that board being stolen, snapped, left a knife stabbed in it and hung off the end of the pier in Huntington Beach by the locals from the community in San Diego, were the board was originally created, as a form of protest for the superstar surfer, getting credit for the new innovation, with no mention of the creator Steve Lis, which was indicated in an ad in surfer magazine ) and the fish also started getting popular for experimentation again, I think in 93 or 94 when Tom Curran started using them in contests, and was featured in rip curl’s searching for Tom Curran, which eventually led to Lost making the
round nose fish and the movie
5’5 x 19’ 1/4, ( featuring Corey Lopez, absolutely killing it ) which then blew up the fish more than ever

[ItsWesSmithYo]

San Diego in the house lol watch the movie FISH it’s goes deeep on the origins 😂 cool vid

[TJ-dxws]

It occurs to me that the wave set pattern is influenced by your discussion as well as the slope and shape of the bottom. I just emailed a question asking why my local break is experiencing many doubles after a dredging/beach re-nourishment project. The larger longer period waves are going to be (I think) slowed differently than the smaller wave pattern, and thus the bottom will significantly impact how well the waves combine.

[fernandolopeznoguerol]

Hello Harry. Related to sets. How do i know when they start and when they end? Is it a longer time between waves? Thank you!!

[yogalifeinstitute]

Is it correct that a Fish is ridden more in the front of the board as the foam is heavy in the front of the board and a Groveler is ridden more like a short board where it is ridden in the middle or back?

[Dzjiefoils]

You are talking about video’s from the past. It would add a lot to your video if you add the footage of those people surfing the boards. Makes your video more attractive.

[suphahameh]

What? U didn't answer the question? Hahaha