Christenson Gerr 6'3 review: a modern swallow thruster with a finnicky nose
Updated 2026-09-19
| Length | 6'3" |
|---|---|
| Width | 20 3/4 in |
| Thickness | 2 3/4 in |
| Volume | 38.5? L |
| Fin config | Thruster |
| Top speed | 26.6 km/h |
| Wave range | 2 to 6 ft |
The Christenson Gerr is a 6'3 custom thruster, a modern swallow-tail shape built for clean surf, with one particular quirk in its shaping worth knowing about before ordering a similar board.
What it is and why I bought it
I ordered the Gerr from Christenson in May 2018, a PU board with a curved rocker, medium rails and a bottom running from a belly into a single concave near the middle, into channels, finished with a swallow tail. At 20 3/4 inches wide over 6'3, it was built as a modern take on a swallow-tail thruster.
It came in a white with red rails colourway.
How it surfed
Its best wave came at Dee Why, at a top speed of 26.6 km/h (about 16.5 mph) over a 161 metre ride, using John John-style fins. It wanted clean 2 to 6 ft waves, where the belly-to-concave bottom worked well, but the register also flags a specific quirk: the narrow, upturned nose is finnicky, meaning it demands a more precise takeoff than a more forgiving shape would.
Who it suits and who it does not
A modern swallow thruster like this suits an experienced surfer comfortable with a narrower, more demanding nose shape, in clean, good-quality conditions. It is a poor match for anyone wanting a forgiving, easy-takeoff board, given the register's own note about the nose being finnicky.
What happened to it
It sold on 20 March 2021 for $595, against a $1,100 purchase cost. A replacement cost of $1,250 is also logged against it, for comparison against what it originally cost.
Questions people ask
What is the Christenson Gerr's biggest quirk?
Its narrow, upturned nose is finnicky, meaning it rewards a precise, well-timed takeoff rather than forgiving a late or sloppy one.
What fins worked on the Gerr?
A John John-style fin setup is logged against this board.
What conditions suited the Gerr?
Clean 2 to 6 ft waves, ideal at 5 ft, is the logged range.
For the full spec sheet, see the sold boards list. For the other Christenson boards in the log, see the Christenson C-Hawk and the Christenson Nautilus 7'0. For the case for ordering custom, see custom or stock surfboard.