Christenson Monarch Fish 5'10 review: a twin fin that ran a size small

Updated 2026-09-19

The Christenson Monarch Fish is a 5'10 twin fin, a board that surfed well but ended up a touch undersized for its rider, a lesson the register notes plainly.

What it is and why I bought it

I bought the Monarch Fish stock in October 2015, a PU board with a flat rocker, hard rails and a rolled-to-double-concave bottom, finished with a swallow tail, running a classic twin fin setup. At 21 inches wide over 5'10, it followed a traditional fish template.

It came in a white colourway.

How it surfed

Its best wave came at Beacons, at a top speed of 21 km/h (about 13 mph) over a 160 metre ride. The register is candid about its one real shortcoming: it was probably one inch too small for the rider, a sizing note worth taking seriously when buying a fish of similar dimensions. The logged wave range is 2 to 4 ft, ideal at 2.5 ft.

Who it suits and who it does not

A traditional twin fin fish like this suits a lighter rider, or someone specifically wanting the loose, playful feel of running slightly under volume. It is a weaker match for someone at the upper end of what a 5'10 fish can carry, exactly the sizing issue this board's own log points to.

What happened to it

It sold on 10 November 2017 for $500, against a $1,350 purchase cost.

Questions people ask

Was the Christenson Monarch Fish the right size?

Not quite. The register notes it was probably one inch too small for the rider, a useful sizing lesson for anyone considering a similar-length fish.

What conditions suited this board?

The logged range is 2 to 4 ft with 2.5 ft as the ideal, classic small-wave fish territory.

How fast did the Monarch Fish go?

Its best logged session hit 21 km/h over a 160 metre wave at Beacons.

For the full spec sheet, see the sold boards list. For the other Christenson board in the log, see the Christenson Flat Tracker. For more on getting sizing right, see surfboard volume explained.