Okay friends, time to learn about Catch Surf surfboards.
- why? Because you need to add some much needed fun and happiness to your surfing, and it saves me time having to explain why I have this weird little board under my arm at the beach.
Last year I bought a 6’6 Y-Quad for my wife to ride in Mexico, since she struggled to haul around her 8′. I called Catch Surf because I had little time before my surf trip, and the guys were able to get it made and sent out super fast, and it arrived all the way up here (Victoria, Canada) within a week.
My wife loved the 6’6. It floated as well as her 8ft, and way more maneuverable. I also took it out for a spin when the waves got tiny and messy, and it completely changed my surf session. I don’t usually ride longboards, or fishes for that matter, my “go-to” board is a 5’11 x 2.20 x 19.50, so even riding a 6’6 was a little big for me, but man that thing was so incredibly fast and fun!
So a year later, I was thinking about something fun to ride in the small summer waves up here in Canada. I went to CatchSurf.com and was stoked to see that they added a few new models and offered some new upgrades like FCS fins and a harder deck skin.
I picked up the SuperOne, a 4’6 with a 3-fin FCS setup for about $300 usd.
Behold, the 4'6 SuperOne
I took it out for a spin on a tiny day, where my 5’11 was having issues, and it had me laughing the entire time. Apart from the funny looks I was given at shore, people seemed to enjoy watching me surf it, probably because I couldn’t stop smiling the entire time.
I got so stoked on it, that I promised myself that I would take it out on a bigger day.
The next week, the swell got to up to around 8-10 ft. I was thinking to myself, the waves are way too good to bring out that little thing. I ended up surfing an hour on my shortboard, until I had to give in to the craving to see how the SuperOne would do in those size waves.
I busted it out, and holy f^&k! I would drop in a little late, and then the thing would take off so fast on the bottom turn. I had so much speed, I could fly over any section, and it was so loose that I had no problem getting some snaps in.
I ended up spending a good 3 hours on it, and had no regrets for not riding my normal board; I just wanted to ride the SuperOne even more.
The only downside I find with the SuperOne is that it seems to take on a bit of water, I think because of the fcs plugs that go all through the deck, not sure, but you just set it up right and it all drains out so its good for the next session. No biggie, just watch where you put it after you surf.
I took it out again last weekend when the ocean was looking like a lake. It was so small, even all the beginners on their softtops where waiting for sets to get pushed into. I ran to the water, armed with a 4’6 in hand, and had another memorable day at the beach. All in all, The SuperOne is Hilariously Fun.
Anyways, If you haven’t checked out Catch Surf yet, its about time, they got a sick lineup of boards that will bring a lot more fun to your surfing.
Happy Happy
Next board I want to pick up – the Beater!
check out the awesome commercial: 
Bonesy will plan a Beater competition for 2011 up here in Tofino, Canada, so my fellow NW surfers grab a beater now and start practicing.
make sure you check out their blog too – for rad shots and random fun.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
I’ve been wanting to try the Super One for so long now. They’re pretty cheap and I”m tempted to get one. How’s it been treating you? Still having fun on it? How’s it float you being so short? Can you still catch waves as if you were on your standard shortboard? or does it take a lot more work? Cheers!
hey Morg,
thanks for dropping the msg. to answer your question, still having lots of fun with it. I’m 5’9, 162lbs and I find it’s close to as buoyant as my short board. it’s a little bit trickier paddling into big waves, you drop in just a touch later than usual, but it makes it fun.
I would almost go one step up to a 5’0 y quad, just to have that extra float, I’m kinda on the big side for the SuperOne.
hope that helps.
Glad to hear you like your Super One! I just picked up the regular One this summer–though I wish I had held out for the finned version. Just a note, my board also took in a good deal of water near the nose, so much so that it took weeks to drain. Catch Surf just re-railed the entire board for me with the newest material that they’re using. So, if you want to fix the leak, give ‘em a call.
Mark, thanks for visiting the site, and big thanks on the re-rail suggestion, I think I’ll do it, it does take a while to drain eh. cheers bro!
Thanks for the reply! Just another quick question….. How much rocker does this thing have? I actually stopped by the factory today and took home a blemished Super One for a discounted price. But now i’m looking at it back home and looking at how flat the rocker is in this thing. There’s absolutely minimal rocker up in the nose, and for the most part it’s basically flat throughout the rest. We’re talking skimboard rocker on this thing (which I guess makes sense since the One is meant to be used as a skimboard too). Just wondering what your Super One was like rocker wise and if it’s like mine. Didn’t know if there was a possibility that since I got a blemished board, maybe the rocker could have been screwed up as well.
Thanks for any info!
How the hell do you ride this thing….? I just got a Super One, and I’ve taken it out once so far. I think the waves I was taking it in were too steep or punchy for it though. Around shoulder high on the bigger sets and pretty closed out. I’d get up on a wave but this thing has such minimal rocker, and it’s so short that I’d go to set up a bottom turn and I would just nose dive. Or I’d take a late drop and nose dive…. Wave after Wave after wave. Felt like the biggest kook. What kind of conditions does this board suit? Any advice on finessing this thing? Best foot position? How did you adjust your style to surf this thing than your normal boards?
Hey can you remember how much shipping was to Victoria?
shipping to vic, was $75. I also wasn’t charge duty with the 6’6, but the second board they charged me around $40. Typical of Customs Canada
Sorry for the late response Morg, hopefully you have figured out how to wield the Super One. I have a pad on mine, but I found that my backfoot sometimes would catch the kick when bringing it forward on pop-up, so I would actually recommend not using a pad, or use one with a less steep kick on it. I haven’t found an issue bogging the nose, however, I think the board works best in flatter waves. Just keep your stance really far back, and that should help with the nose. Key with this board is staying really low on it, and try and make your nice and drawn out. good luck
Hey man thanks for the reply!
One last question…
I’d love to use it to just dick around on as a skimboard…
I believe you can remove the fins.. is this only for storage or can you replace the plugs and skim it? would you recommend this at all?
I haven’t skimmed on it yet, while the fins are removable, the plugs still stick out like a few millimeters, so you can probably skim decently with it if you can put something over the plug holes, but it may drag a little.