My aim is to review boards for the average knockabout surfer (or ‘kook’ like me), without all the technical terms and manoeuvres.
Those that have read my reviews, know that I froth a twin fin!
Just that feeling of looseness and down the line speed, it get’s me every time! Twin fins are just easy to paddle and make a small wave look and feel effortless. I have tried and tested a range of different shapes, size’s and litre-age and know what works and what dosent for me.
I find for my surfing, over quoting the litres on these types of boards make’s a massive difference. I suggest to do the same if you are tossing up between sizes. The extra foam gives assistance to your paddle power with the added bonus of earlier entry into the wave. It’s a win, win!
The Critical Slide Society or TC have designed a Twin Fin that suits a wide range of abilities and surf conditions. It is called ‘The Angler’ and it was clear after my first couple of waves that I was in that category.
Critical Slide is all about the simple joy of surfing. They design boards that are not going to win a world title, they are designed to get every last drop off fun out of wave! Exactly the same reason I surf. I can’t do any of the manoeuvres that the guys at my local board riders can do but I can appreciate the feeling of frothing a fun wave just as much.
‘The Angler’ rides just like it looks. A whole lot of fun packed into a small colourful shape.
I got a 5’11 at 38L in the colour Ochre and just feel in love with the colour choice. Even though the other option is Artichoke which looks just as fun. My first layer of wax just made the colour stand out even more which had me frothing so hard to surf it. It definitely catches eyes and turn’s heads as you walk down to the water.
I have found in the past that 38L for me is tip toeing towards that ‘boatie’ over sized feeling but with the Angler’s shape I didn’t get that feeling like I have on other boards. I felt that I nailed the right size board for me. (I am 6ft and roughly 85kg who surfs 3-4 times a week.)
I paired ‘The Angler’ with a set of Free Fall Retro Keel Fins and it was like they were made for it. I found it really easy to get speed and attempt turns. I have used these fins in so many different boards and they are the gift that keeps on giving!
I usually put tail pads on a lot of my shorter boards but honestly I didn’t need one. The shape of the tail makes for a really stable base with a bit of room to move for feet adjustment. Bad salesmanship from the guy that sells tail pads, but I would rather be honest with my reviews.
The Angler makes for a high wave count session. This board does everything I want it to do and more. After surfing The Angler, I don’t see myself spending top dollar on a small wave board again. The Angler did everything those more expensive boards do just as good.
I had a great session at a local beach recently where the swell was pumping and it was just coming into high tide. A lot of the punter’s out there that day were on high performance shortboards and as the tide started to get really full, I could really see them starting to struggle to get onto the waves. This was The Angler’s time to shine. It had no worries at all paddling on to the bigger fuller sized waves. As I said the waves were pumping, which made some of the take off’s super fast and so much fun! It forced me to really attempt to engage the rails and work on some cutbacks to put my self in a better position which the Angler handled nicely.
The Angler is value for money at $750 and after riding it a heap I know this board will be a keeper. Definitely not a board that you should get if you are new to surfing but if you are at a stage where you want to take your surfing to the next level, this is the board for you.
I give the Angler a 8.5/10,
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Disclaimer - This Free Gift has no connection with Global Surf Industries. You will only receive the gift if you contact me directly via email.
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