A place to openly discuss and display anything from the Bonzer Realm
I feel these boards tap into and connect directly with the Energy within a wave and the people riding them.
They are very special to me and vital to my being a surfer.
7’4 x 20 3/4 x 2 11/16
Russ Short b5 with baby swallow
This board marked the 50th year of Campbell Brothers surfboards, the 50th year of Pink Floyds - Darkside of the Moon - album and the 50th year of my human experience here.
“Sunny & Surfin’ Checkered Diamond RPM” also known as the “S&S Harlequin RPM” or just call her “Sunny.” Custom shape crafted by Malcolm Campbell. Dimensions: 50" x 17-3/4 x 20-3/8 x 19 x 15-1/2 (one inch from tail) x 1-7/8 (thinner in the concaves). The board does not have a lot of rocker. The board was delivered with the smallest Bonzer True Ames center fin, 6" and a standard set of runners (2 lg, 2 sm). I expected the fin set would be over-finned so I brought some extra fins with me for the fin trials. First rides were at a Costa Rica lava reef/semi point wave, the location and type of wave I intended this board to be ridden. Most of the trials were in 4-8 ft surf.
The six-inch center fin made the board unresponsive and stiff. Next session I moved down to a 5-1/4-inch center with a similar template to the 6", some improvement but still no turning on thought command. The next day I used my standard 4-5/8 FCS PC5 composite showing much improvement, but still not in the happy place.
I continued experimenting with the pairs of large and small runners before moving on to using the large runners with a couple of different side-bites and knubsters still in search of the sweet spot which I had full confidence would be achieved. At the time it was difficult to obtain a single pair of small runners to complement the existing pair of small runners. Finally traded the 6-inch Bonzer center for a pair of small runners from a buddy the working in Okinawa.
Finally in heaven. All the control and looseness I can handle. For spots with such energy (14 to 15+ sec, shoulder high and above, my now go-to board). A slightly different copy/version of this board has more tail kick making it more amenable to lesser energy (<14 sec) wave and easier to catch every day waves along the USA East Coast and softer West Coast beach break/sandbar waves.
Carrying over from a Jamboards thread…the prophecy is complete.
What started as an ISO post, became a text message, became a conversation with Malcom, has now arrived at my door. Seven feet of Campbell Brothers Speed Egg. Resin tint: perfect. Dims: perfect. General aura of otherworldly geometric intention: very much intact.
Thank you @Cartwright for the connection. Now I just have to actually surf it.
I am like that much of you ride these boners. We are not having these kind of boards in Bulgaria. Brothers of Campbell from village of Oxnard are make nice boner board. You boner riders know if shipping to Bulgaria can be? I am like to try boner riding boards. These will make good feelings for Bulgarian #1 surfer, me Stoiko. Board rat boner riders are #1
I am bonzer-curious. Russ Short, Egg Light, what does it all mean? Where do I start? CB and Hanel are the two I see the most. This one near me looks pretty sweet though I hear Hanel’s boards are thin and foiled: https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/1830014847969381/
The Russ Short seems well liked, what’s that all about and what lengths lend well to the design?
I am thinking of using this board in beach break in NorCal, I don’t surf short boards so 6’10 or so is probably the low end of what I have in mind depending on foil, etc.
5-fin? 3-fin?
Where to start?
Thanks!
Hanel’s almost feel like shortboard foils minus the plan shape… Least the few I’ve tried/had.
Not necessarily a bad thing, they’re forgiving boards, but probably way more nose rocker than you’d expect. No flat deck, chunky down rails.
Russ short feels like a modernish version of a late 70’s type board. Egg light, even a lil more modern, less chunk in the downrail, lil sleeker foil. Gary’s are still sleeker though. 3 fins for the drive, 5 for more pivot… Or the 4 fin(asym) and you get the best of both. I have a 6’7" 3 finRuss short that’s a lifer board for me.
Can’t go wrong with either, just different flavors.
Been loving that Arenal by the way!
1st board Greg Eavey ever shaped me I believe some 10 years ago now. Relaxed concaves for softer days but still true to the ethos
We’re still using the plan shape and tweaking things
6’6 Rat Rod Bonzer
I rode this board into the ground and sold it awhile ago
Wonder where she is now…
Posting live from Nicaragua…this board fuckin’ goes. Have been riding it in a quick beach break and it’s an absolute rocket. Boat trip tomorrow to some points, cannot wait to get it moving down the line some more.
That is a nice breakdown to get a grasp on some of the different designs. Sort of what I expected on the Hanels. Again, the Russ getting love! Thanks!
I am glad to hear you’re enjoying the Arenal, I mentioned you on this forum somewhere but wasn’t sure you made it over in the great JB exodus. Glad to see you here!
Just get a 3 fin Russ Short and enjoy the rabbit hole. My favorite model of all time, and sounds ideal for a punchy cold water beach break.
6’10" sounds about right and well within their size range.
Got the 7’ speed egg into my very first true tropical barrel. Absolutely epic feeling and my god does the board just generates heaps of speed. It handled so well but sadly the next wave I caught was a double up monster at this wedge we were surfing and it ate me alive. Hit either my board or a rock underwater and my session was cut short. Board looks fine, ribs/lat muscle does not feel good. 
Im taking my 6’8" speed egg to nicaragua next month!
Hope the ribs feel better!
Recent childhood home clearing last many months found a trunk of old surf lowrider and hot rod mags my Pop saved for me without me knowing (anybody need some 90’s hot rod and street mags hit me up)
Found this ad in a May 91 Surfing issue
Pretty cool
I remember seeing that ad. It inspired me to have a 7’2" thruster shaped (with a Bonzer bottom).
Ive always wanted to try one too. Been very curious about the light vehicle bottom compared to the og 3 fin bottom and the 5 fins.
I have these that aren’t getting ridden but am having a real hard time putting them up for sale. The egg and mlv were my favorites probably did my best surfing ever on the mlv
