Coconut Harry’s Board Swap Saturday in Nosara, Costa Rica Episode 2
In Episode 2 of 'Board Swap Saturday' from Nosara, Costa Rica, Coconut Harry tests three fish-style surfboards — a WRV with a trailer fin, a Mod Pod with twin fins, and a Ricky Carroll — in crowded conditions. The WRV with the trailer fin was a disappointment, while the Ricky Carroll and Mod Pod performed well. Harry reflects on his fin choices and vows to return the WRV to a twin fin setup.
Summary
The episode opens with Coconut Harry introducing the theme of 'fishes midlengths' for Board Swap Saturday. He presents three boards: a WRV fish he plans to ride with a trailer fin, a Mod Pod (described as small for him at 6'3") set up with twin fins, and a Ricky Carroll, which he praises extensively for its chimed rail design, similar to a Steuart Hydro Hull or Magic Walden, making it fast and versatile as both a thruster and quad.
Harry outlines his strategy for the session: rather than competing for set waves in the crowded lineup, he plans to sit inside and link sections, which he recommends as a practical approach for surfing in crowds. He explains his specific goals for each board — wanting the WRV to feel loose and groovy with figure-eight maneuvers and controlled slides, using the Ricky Carroll for rail work, and riding the Mod Pod as a fun twin fin on smaller waves.
In the post-session review, Harry admits the day did not go as planned. The Mod Pod (5'10") performed fine despite being small for his frame. The Ricky Carroll once again delivered, earning two thumbs up. However, the WRV with the trailer fin was the major disappointment — Harry says he knew immediately upon standing up that it wasn't working, citing poor paddling capacity and no meaningful benefit from the trailer fin in the non-throwing conditions. He speculates that trailer fins only make sense in more powerful, barreling surf. He also acknowledges that his fondness for WRV boards from his college days may have clouded his expectations, and vows to ride the WRV as a twin fin in future sessions unless waves are throwing.
Key Insights
- Harry argues that trailer fins only provide meaningful benefit when waves are powerful or barreling, and that they are generally overused — the non-throwing Nosara conditions exposed the trailer fin's lack of paddling capacity and drive on the WRV.
- Harry claims the Ricky Carroll's chimed rail — similar to a Steuart Hydro Hull or Magic Walden — makes it uniquely fast, section-linking, and versatile, calling it a complete all-arounder that both turns and nose rides.
- Harry contends that surfers generally misuse fins and use too many of them, though he acknowledges a session the previous day where a twin fin left him sliding around in bigger surf, suggesting a trailer would have helped.
- Harry recommends sitting inside the crowd and linking sections as a surfing strategy, arguing that most set waves close out and competing for them in a crowded lineup is inefficient.
- Harry attributes part of his disappointment with the WRV to nostalgia bias, admitting his positive memories of WRV boards from college likely inflated his expectations for the session.
Topics
Transcript
[0:00] All right, it's boards pop Saturday once again. I think it's going to be a fun one. Today the theme is fishes midlinks. So, we're going with this WRV that just came in. I'm really excited about it. I love WRV. I'm from the East Coast and [0:32] I'm going to do the rare trailer fin this rainy season. I'm going to ride a lot more shortboards and I'm going to try multiple things. So, I'm going to start today. Normally, I'm I'm really I'm not that big a fan of fins. I think we use misuse them, but I'm going to try it. It might work. The other board is this Mod Pod. I didn't get to use…
Full transcript available for MurmurCast members
Sign Up to AccessMore from Rich Burnam
Playa Hermosa, 2 Esterillos waves & ride into Jaco to Wooster factory then back to Nosara #costarica
A poetic and lyrical montage introducing a Costa Rican surfing trip featuring visits to Playa Hermosa, Esterillos, Jaco, and Nosara. The content emphasizes the carefree lifestyle and natural beauty of the region through vivid imagery of sunrise, waves, and ocean sounds.
How can a 17 year old coach families in surfing & water safety? #nosara #surf
A 17-year-old surf coach discusses how he manages coaching families despite his young age, crediting his lifetime ocean experience and training with world-class coaches. He emphasizes his approach to teaching water safety by helping people progressively expand their comfort zones at a manageable pace.
Expat Insurance Expert Phil Eitman on the Nosara Podcast
Phil Eitman, an insurance broker with 18 years of experience in Costa Rica, discusses comprehensive insurance solutions for expats including health, home, car, and estate planning. He emphasizes the critical difference between Costa Rica's public healthcare system (CAJA) and private healthcare, warning that public care involves long wait times and potential serious health consequences.
Protect nature areas on your property in perpetuity
This transcript discusses a wildlife corridor initiative in Nosara, Costa Rica, where landowners can permanently protect portions of their property for conservation. The program has already added 35 acres to conservation in perpetuity, and speakers argue Nosara could serve as a global model for balancing development with nature preservation. The initiative is framed as a community-unifying cause, rooted in the area's unique history of failed development and sea turtle conservation.
Nitzan Solan on wastewater treatment in Nosara
Nitzan Solan discusses his background in chemical engineering and its focus on wastewater treatment. He has been researching the field extensively and connecting with relevant projects and companies. He feels the time is right to begin taking action on wastewater treatment in Nosara.