Fish Quick Facts
Christenson Fish quick facts
| Brand / shaper | Christenson Surfboards, shaped by Chris Christenson in San Diego County, California; made in America |
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| Board type | Classic twin-keel fish with high-performance touches; Chris Christenson calls it “still probably the most versatile design of all surfboard craft” |
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| Best waves | Everyday medium-sized surf, and plenty of surfers ride it in larger waves too, especially frontside; Chris has tested it from Cardiff Reef to Uluwatu and Waikiki to Pipe |
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| Skill level | All skill levels |
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| Tail | Deep swallow, which with the keels lets the board reach high speeds and hold whenever it is on rail |
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| Design | Chris’s signature low rails and a twin pin (swallow) tail paired with keel fins set with low cant and toe for speed and rail hold |
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| Fins | Twin keel: glassed-on marine ply keels, or FCS II / Futures twin boxes. Best template: Christenson’s own keel, the FCS II Christenson Keel or the Futures Christenson Keel. |
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| Stock sizes | 5’0 to 6’2 (27.58 L to 44.12 L) |
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| Sizing | Ride it like a fish: shorter and wider than your shortboard with 1 to 2 L more volume; about 9" to 10" shorter than a standard performance shortboard at the same volume |
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| Constructions we stock | PU (poly); every Christenson we have carried is a polyurethane board, made in America by Christenson Surfboards |
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Fish Q&A
What size Christenson Fish should I get?
The Fish carries a lot of foam in a short, wide outline, so ride it like a fish: shorter and wider than your regular shortboard, with 1 to 2 liters more volume. Comparing stock dims, it runs about 9" to 10" shorter than a standard performance shortboard of the same volume. For example, if you ride a 5’11 shortboard at about 28.5 L, look at the 5’2 (20 1/2" x 2 5/16", 28.86 L), or the 5’4 (20 3/4" x 2 3/8", 30.93 L) for a bit more float. Stock sizes run from 5’0 (20 1/4" x 2 5/16", 27.58 L) to 6’2 (21 5/8" x 2 7/8", 44.12 L). Our shop staff can help you pick a size.
What fins does the Christenson Fish use?
Keels. Chris designs the Fish around keel fins set with low cant and toe, and it comes either with glassed-on marine ply keels or with twin boxes in FCS II or Futures (each in-stock board on this page lists which). For boxes, the natural choice is Chris’s own template: the FCS II Christenson Keel, a thick, flat-foiled keel with plenty of curve in the leading and trailing edge for smooth rail-to-rail transitions and grip through big turns, or the Futures Christenson Keel, the most upright keel in the Futures line, for speed and control down the line.
What is the Christenson Fish?
Chris Christenson’s classic keel fish, with his signature low rails and a twin pin tail. In his words it is still probably the most versatile design of all surfboard craft: if he were stranded on an island for ten years with one board, this would be it. It has been tested from Cardiff Reef to Uluwatu and Waikiki to Pipe, and the keels with low cant and toe plus the twin pin tail let it reach high speeds and hold whenever it is on rail.
What waves is the Christenson Fish for?
Everyday medium-sized surf is where it shines, but it does not stop there: many surfers ride the Fish in larger waves as well, especially on their frontside, because the keels and twin pin tail hold on rail at speed.
Who is the Christenson Fish for?
All skill levels. Beginners and intermediates get an easy-paddling, fast board that catches everything, while advanced surfers get the classic keel-fish speed and rail hold with enough performance to be pushed in good waves.
What construction does the Fish come in?
We stock the Fish in PU (poly). Every Christenson board we have carried has been a traditional polyurethane/polyester build, made in America at Christenson’s factory. Each in-stock board on this page lists its construction and fin set-up.
