Carve Performance Surfboard guide 2011 by Orca Publications

SURFING MAGAZINE

Qu'est-ce que c'est (the shortboard revolution)

permission to land 2011 is a watershed year in the british board market. never have we had such innovation, variety of shape, or choice of brand. the shops are now full of the best sleds in the world. want to learn more? read on...

2011 performance board

By Ester Spears

here has been a quiet upheaval in surfboard design over the last year or so and these days the stand-out surfer ripping at your local beach is more likely to be riding a short, fat, wide, wave-catching machine than a sleek, foiled, high performance thruster as used by Mick and the tour elite. These new generation boards are not the cut down mini-mals or fat-boy flyers of the type seen so unfashionably with many a middleaged weekend warriors. They are the new “alternative designs” or hybrids, where wider and fatter means more foam and more foam means more fun because you can ride these boards a little shorter than you normally would. There was a fishy smell when the insurgency started in the late nineties but although the fishes were fast and furious in summertime grovel sessions they just didn’t cut it when the surf got good. Last year the on tour antics of Dane and Kelly and their super short sleds sparked a flurry of activity in foam pits around the world. Now, today in the UK and Ireland we have never had it so good. Designers and shapers have bent the plan shape and rockers to develop a board that fits in the pocket and keeps its speed and can work at any break and in all sizes of normal surf. In short, fat is beautiful and the new shapes are just plain SEXY FUN, and what’s more

guide

for the normal surfer like you and me they can be life changing. It’s a big call I know, but this is definitely not a trend it’s a revolution! Trevor Clayton runs Down the Line surf shop in Hayle and regularly has a stock of over 500 shortboards and is probably the largest shortboard stockist in Europe. He told me about the seeds of this rebellion, “It all started with the keel fish and surfers realised that you didn’t have to go bigger in small surf, you could go small but retain the volume. These boards were good for small surf but didn’t cut it when good waves came, the same with the fish tail quads.” Trevor reckons that Al Merrick took the next step with his Biscuit design and that led to the Dumpster Diver that Dane Reynolds made famous. Incredibly this design is said to account for 25% of Merrick’s global sales! This was the turning point. These design boards could be ridden as small as 5’2" and worked in all sorts of surf. Was it the beginning of the end of the traditional shortboard? Well, perhaps on our shores. Trevor cites the phenomenal success of the DHD ‘Project 15’, “It’s halfway between the Dumpster and the

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New shapes, new ideas and new materials have swept through board manufacture like a tornado in the last season. We have all best foreign brands, the home shapers are on fire and this season’s hottest models are tailor-made for our shores. As surfers we've never had it so good. No wonder Matt Rodwell’s jumping for joy.

Rodwell

2011 performance board guide

shortboard, so it’s for good surfers who can get in four or five times a week and is a magic design that seems to suit all conditions.” He has been blown away by the response of customers who have actually made a beeline back to the shop to rave about it. It doesn’t happen that much with other models. Looking into the future Trevor sees this moment as a sea change in surfboard design. The shorter, fatter and wider boards come with many short and fat names, from Turnip to Titan but probably the most popular is the Dominator from Firewire. Designed by Dan Mann, the board combines a full outline with a thick foil from nose to tail and a 5/4/3 fin configuration and really took off here last year. Among the new models this year by Firewire is the Hellfire, described as a ‘contemporary Hybrid’ taking the best characteristics of the Dominator but adding 2” in length with a narrower nose and tail and deeper double concaves for extra lift and drive at speed. The result is a more standard short board look and feel. The Hellfire has more of the on-rail, in the pocket drivey feel that you trust in your “normal” short board. Suggested lengths are 2" to 4" shorter than your regular short board, or 2" to 4" longer than your hybrid. Another from Firewire is the Sweet Potato designed for the small days we so often get in summer. It is one weird looking cookie but initial feedback is that it flies. Designer Dan Mann explains, “The aggressive bottom contour creates considerable lift and the deep double concave with a ‘spine’ down the middle divide the board in half isolating

the fins, rocker and bottom on one side of the board at a time. This allows the board to get on a rail quickly. The Sweet Potato is the board you should always bring on a surf check, and you'll find yourself ripping on small days where you'd otherwise go home.” Of course Firewire pioneered the surfboard with two parabolic stringers made from balsa combined with their hollow core technology. This innovation of parabolic stringers is steadily gaining momentum as Luke Hart, shaper at Quiver told me, “Basically the parabolic gives you minimal twist and a stiffer board. The memory of the balsa stringers means that you get projection out of your turns (the more you put in the more you get back) and due to the curve of the stringers and epoxy glass jobs the boards feels super lively and fresh for years (longer than standard construction) due to the closed cell super fused EPS foam we are using with Hexel S-glass you get a ridiculously light board that is strong and 100% water proof even when dinged!” Luke’s got two new models for this season— the Bumblebart, originally designed with Lee Bartlett about a year ago and since tweaked, the board has a wider nose with a performance shortboard tail finished with a round pin. “The board the catches waves easy, holds on rail amazingly but also releases off the top when pushed. It fits in to any pocket due to its size but still has the rail length to push you up bigger faces unlike round fish type boards. I feel like it is the ultimate all rounder that can be enjoyed by the average surfer and the consummate pro,” Luke said. Luke’s Dirty Truck (it’s a surfboard design not a lazy habit) showcases another general theme for boards that go good in shit surf, “It has deep singles concaves all the way through for speed and lift. Matched with a wide nose quickly pulled in for balance and manoeuvrability equally. It is a great board for projection out of sections be it in the air or for tail release (especially when ridden in parabolic construction). The speed of it is amazing and the control you have with the speed is what makes it such a good board for progressive surfing."

tony plant

Russ Winter about to throw his trademark snap. His choice of sled – an NS Bullet. It’s shorter and more rounded the old ‘shortboard’ with particular focus on the fin placement. It's that attention to detail that singles out this years models as outstanding. The shapers are excited, we are frothing and you should be delirious! It’s like we died and went to board heaven!

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2011 performance board guide

dhd

bourton

Bobby Monster

Fat Bullet

Little Zapper

Specifications: 5'10" x 20" x 2 ½" Shaper: Murray Bourton Fins: Quad

Specifications: 5'4" x 19 ¼" x 2 ¼" Shaper: Murray Bourton Fins: Thruster or quad.

Off the back of the success of the Brooko round tail quad, Muzza has come up with a slightly quirkier model in the guise of the Fat Bullet shortboard. Whether you want a more fish like version of the Brooko, or simply want to enjoy the sensation with a few paddling advantages thrown in: enter the hull! Without a doubt this is Muzza’s zippiest fish yet.

Muzza’s Little Zappa does a lot more than meets the eye. It’s a fish style board that can be ridden in twoto-five five foot surf. Fast down the line and with plenty of speed in and out of turns. The plan-shape has been designed for high performance on the face and in the pocket, and encourages bursts of speed out of your turns, but the volume through the nose equals easy paddling and a high wave count.

Contact

Call: 01736 757025 Website: www. downtheline.co.uk

simon

DTS

Mollusc

Toe

Specifications: 5'9" x 19 ¾" x 2 7/16" Shaper: Simon Anderson

Specifications: 5'11" 19 5/8" x 2 5/16" Shaper: Simon Anderson Fins: M5, M7 or SA Green Performance Core

Specifications: 5'8" x 20" x 2 7/16" Shaper: Simon Anderson

Specifications: 6'0" x 20" x 2/ ½" Shaper: Darren Handley Fins: Thruster or quad Designed by Darren Handley to be "Bobby's ultimate when the waves are small", the Bobby Monster is a little wider in the nose and tail, with a rounded pin and a little more thickness in the rail. It’s a fun, fast board with great planing speed and super-quick release off the top. Flash those fins.

anderson

The DTS’s wide tail allows for good speed in small waves, while the moderate vee gives plenty of railto-rail smoothness. The narrow nose plan-shape and low nose entry – combined with medium tail rocker – helps you nail those tight in-the-pocket rail turns, with controlled slide at the end of the arc if desired. Stylin’.

anderson

The Mollusc is a hybrid. It has all the performance benefits of a shortboard yet a fuller nose, combined with a single to double concave, means that it catches waves more easily. Can be ridden with a swallow or a round tail – Simon recommends a round tail for connecting deep carving turns on the face in good waves.

anderson

The low entry, wide nose, and deep concaves of the Toe equals easy paddling and take off, as well as providing plenty of speed. And the narrower swallow tail with slight vee allows for tight rail turns in the pocket. Because of the rounder nose you can ride the Toe one-to-two inches shorter than your regular fish style board.

Contact

Call: 01736 757025 Website: www. downtheline.co.uk

webber

dhd

Gutter Lover

The One

Project 15

Specifications: 5'6" x 19 3/8" x 2 ¼" Shaper: Greg Webber

Specifications: 5'10" x 19" x 2 7/16" Shaper: Greg Webber

Specifications: 5'9" x 19" x 2 3/16" Shaper: Darren Handley

This model is the shortest and fullest of the four small-wave boards that Greg has based on his high performance shortboards. Its stumpy plan-shape combines with a deck shape, rails and the concave you’d expect on any high performance shortboard. Plus the tail area is wide enough to give great small wave planing ability and also to let you break the fins out in top turns – kicking up plenty of spray in those summer swells then...

Ever since it burst onto the scene, The One this has been recognised as a contemporary classic. Surf it two inches shorter than your regular shortboard and you’ll benefit from a positive feel from the balanced blend of curves, and from the snappy radical benefits that comes from the lack of length. A win-win.

Project 15 is the ultimate small wave performer. The plan-shape, combined with a straight rocker, generates plenty of speed and response. And in the last 16 inches of the tail the curvy outline pulls in to a rounded square, which enables the board to turn tightly under pressure in the pocket. Developed with the input of all the DHD team for performance surfing in small waves. Ride it oneto-two inches shorter than your height.

Contact

Call: 01736 757025 Website: www. downtheline.co.uk

mccoy

chilli

Lazor Zap

Astron Zot

Red Peppa

Specifications: 5'10" x 20 ¾" x 3" Shaper: Geoff McCoy

Specifications: 6'0" x 22" x 3" Shaper: Geoff McCoy

Specifications: 5'5" x 19 1/4" x 2 1/4" Shaper: Jamie Cheal

Geoff has been working on the new Lazor Zap for some time now and the finished board is truly amazing. It comes even harder and squarer off the bottom, and gives you incredible control through the tightest of turns. Compared to the original, the tail is slightly wider with a bump-wing swallow and there is a touch more thickness through the nose. It’s rock solid in steep juicy waves, yet easy to throw about in weaker junk. A true wonder board!

The McCoy Astron Zot is, in Geoff’s own words, “the best surfboard I’ve ever made!” It’s faster, looser and more responsive, and a complete class act in all its single fin glory. It’s shorter and wider than the Nugget and is basically a design masterpiece! Ride it shorter than you would your Nugget – and enjoy...

With a low fast entry to get through flat sections. A deep double concave which keeps transition from rail to rail very smooth. The rounded square v-tail in conjunction with the 3” flat panels out on each rail stabilizes & narrows the water flow under your board keeping speed. Very tech, easy to use. Ride the Red Peppa 4” - 5” shorter than your normal shortboard.

Contact

Call: 01736 757025 Website: www. downtheline.co.uk

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2011 performance board guide

luke young

Robot

Mini Zero

Specifications: 5'2" - 6'10" Shaper: Luke Young

Specifications: 5'4" - 6'6" Shaper: Luke Young

High performance supershortboard for the smallest waves but has been turning heads across the globe in much more demanding waves. Seriously wide tail with really low rocker for speed high performance in slack waves. Comes with a deep single concave and twin plus large trailer fin set up. 8 degrees of fin cant in the front fins for increased lift. Order 6 inches shorter than your standard board for intermediates, 8 inches for good surfers.

The Mini Zero is an adapted version of my popular Zero shortboard model for small or weak surf. The length is reduced by four inches, the entry rocker is lowered right down and the width is increased by half an inch, but you still ride the same thickness. Allows early entry into waves and planing through flat spots with ease. It has a deep single concave running right through with a thruster fin set up and your choice or round or rounded square tail.

bunty Dipper Specifications: 5'10" x 19 5/8" x 2 1/2" Shaper: Graeme Bunt Fins: Thruster Designed for small to medium surf. Single to double concave for maximum drive. Enough tail kick to carve a good turn, low entry rocker for easy wave catching. Put a spark back into your small wave surfing this summer.

Contact

Call: 07789663693 Website: www. lukeyoungshapes.co.uk

Call: 01208 814282 Website: www.localhero. co.uk

chilli

Grom Model

Cayenne Peppa

Chilli Birds Eye

Specifications: 5'6" x 17 5/8" x 2 1/16" Shaper: Jamie Cheal Grommets are becoming truly great surfers at a ridiculously early age these days. In the past the old man would keep his kid on the big dusty brown board for as long as possible. Problem is you can’t shred on a log! Chilli has worked closely with arguably the best under 16 year old surfers in the world to develop the Chilli Grom Model. This design combines a low entry full board rocker, flipped out tail for tight snappy turns with a slightly fuller plan shape to handle new school moves.

Specifications: 5'11" x 18 1/8" x 2 1/4" Shaper: Jamie Cheal Its medium, single to double concave compliments the low, consistent rocker. The hip-squash makes for easy manoeuvrability and gives you the chance to fill out the rails. Foam is your friend. This board is an easy, surfing all rounder with speed. Keep it simple.

Specifications: 5'5" x 19" x 1 7/8" Shaper: Jamie Cheal Ride the Birds Eye 2”-3” shorter. It keeps the same volume as your regular board, just shorter and wider. The Foam is spread evenly from the stringer to the edge of your rail, giving this board its defining feature...Its flat deck. Enjoy the flight.

Contact

Call: 01736 757025 Website: www. downtheline.co.uk

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firewire

Hellfire

Gromflex

Dominator

Specification: 5'10" x 19 ¾" x 2 3/8" Shaper: Nev Hyman Fins: Thruster/Quad

Specifications: 5'6" x 17 3/8" x 1 7/8" Shaper: Nev Hyman Fins: Thruster

Specifications: 6'0" x 20 ½" x 2 ½" Shaper: Nev Nyman Fins: 5/4/3

Taking the best characteristics of the ever popular Spitfire/Dominator but adding two inches in length, a narrower nose and tail, and a deeper double concave for extra lift and drive at speed. The result is a more ‘standard’ shortboard look and feel. The Hellfire feels amazing under foot, and you will immediately feel like a better surfer. Cheating really.

The perfect board for starry eyed whippets who want to surf like Taj. No need for volume – as paddling is no problem for those young guns – so superlight and insanely responsive. Basically a morphed down pro board for groms to hack all over the shop. A truly lethal still-in-school weapon.

If you’ve been surfing at all in the last few months you’ll have spotted one of these. The Dominator combines a full outline with a thick foil and a 5/4/3 fin configuration. The wide point’s further back to reduce the nose profile and the Dominator paddles like it’s turbo charged. Take a look about: that many surfers can’t be wrong!

Contact

Call: 08453 019800 Website: www. firewiresurfboards.com

firewire

El Fuego

Alternator

Sweet Potato

Specifications: 6'1" x 20 ½" x 2 ½" Shaper: Nev Hyman Fins: Thruster/Quad

Specifications: 6'2" x 19" x 2 ½" Shaper: Nev Hyman Fins: Thruster

Specifications: 5'4" x 21 ½" x 2 ½" Shaper: Nev Hyman / Dan Mann Fins: Quad

Designed with that ‘fishy feel’ in mind, but with the ability to surf fast and tight in the pocket. The fuller nose and low entry rocker – combined with putting the thickness slightly further forward – enables El Fuego to catch pretty much everything in sight, but still put the pedal to the metal when required...

With the perfect blend of a short rail line, generous curve, and slightly thicker foil, the Alternator is perfect for ‘more fun’ in average conditions, yet is still thin enough for ripping it up if it turns on. Also great for less experienced surfers – ride the same length as normal but appreciate a bit more area and thickness for stability.

All round fun machine, the Sweet Potato paddles into waves super early, is ridiculously fast, generates all its own speed and rebounds with control off anything. And amazingly, considering its wide tail, it holds really well through serious turns. Looks unridable. It’s anything but...

Contact

Call: 08453 019800 Website: www. firewiresurfboards.com

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will bailey

2011 performance board guide

2011 performanc

JP has come up with a whole range of “X” models combining subtle bottom contours with tuned up plan shapes. Having picked up a lot of the boards in this guide we can tell you the technical detail put into the rocker and concave combo's this year is simply inspiring. You need to go to a good surf shop with a wide range of shapes and spend a day checking out the nuances. Nath Phillips fins free.

Resin8 has been experimenting with new techniques for quite a while now their latest models are in clear epoxy and have parallel stringers on the rail. This has the effect of stiffening the board in the middle but allowing flex in the tail, but that’s not all that makes this board stand out from the others. The Scoop features a scooped out concave deck. This is nothing knew in surfboard design, as anyone who remembers the legendary George Greenough will know but it is making a comeback. Resin8 shaper Ruarri Spurgeon told me, “The thickness for paddling and catching waves is all in the rails, which has always been where the floatation in a surfboard is. So taking thickness out of the centre of the board doesn't reduce paddling power. Besides the fact that these boards are designed to be ridden shorter, they feature slightly fuller rails.” Ruarri told me the scoop deck feels so much more comfortable when paddling and is more stable as you feel as though you are ‘inside‘ the board when riding. There's a little over a half inch thickness taken out of the centre of the board to create this scoop deck shape, which brings you closer to the wave. This creates a lower centre of gravity and you feel better balanced with control through any type of manoeuvre. Ruarri says, “These features will be greatly noticed from the very first surf, even more so when going back to riding a regular 'domed' deck surfboard; the surfer will greatly notice the slight loss of balance on the 'domed' deck, and also notice the feeling of riding higher above the wave. Riding lower and closer to the waves face has its benefits, even if it's just a half inch, this will be noticed.” SurfTech has long been the market leader in this type of technology. This year they have been developing the technology much further based on feedback on their team. The goal— to produce a board with the benefits of epoxy but the feel of polyester. 'Ultraflx' is their answer. These boards are claimed to have the flex pattern, performance and characteristics of a polyester board but by using high quality materials and construction, the board maintains the crisp flex and soft feel of a new board for years rather than weeks or months. New in the range this year there are lots of five fin set-ups that allow you to ride shapes as thrusters, quads or five fins, including the new Harley Ingleby HP 9'1" but right down to high performance short boards from Rusty, Simon Anderson and Stretch. The Randy French Bat Bullet (5 fin) has a fuller nose than a typical winged fish with a unique pulled-in bat tail, giving more volume without the length. They can be ridden in a broader range of waves, while maintaining drive. The Xanadu Gipos and Randy French Spudnik (both 5 fin): also have that wide rounded outline, with smooth curves, are ultra responsive, keep their speed and float well, but still let you pull off those big turns. They are ideal summer boards.

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2011 performance board guide

Quiver

The Bumble Bart

The Dirty Truck

The Guilty Pleasure

Specifications: 5'8" x 19 3/8" x 2 3/8" Shaper: Luke Hart Fins: Thruster or five fin setup

Specifications: 5'10" x 19 3/8" x 2 3/8" Shaper: Luke Hart Fins: Thruster

Specifications: 6'4" x 20 ¾" x 2 ½" Shaper: Luke Hart Fins: Thruster

With a forward wide point, a stub nose, and a pulled in rounded pintail, the Bumble Bart gives the rail feel of a ‘good wave’ board, but with the stability and paddle power of a fish. As comfortable in one foot junk as it is in 6 foot surf, it’s guaranteed to leave you buzzing (geddit?!).

With the Dirty Truck you have the ease of paddling, loads of control and a huge amount of speed along with the drivey rail surfing of a shortboard. Available with a wide square tail or pulled in swallow tail and with continuous rocker and single concave throughout. This is the future of progressive surfboard design: sign up.

It’s not a minimal, it’s not a shortboard, it’s the Guilty Pleasure. Super fun and easy to surf in pretty much all conditions. The sleek curvy template equals effortless paddling, while a slight hipped tail gives plenty of pivot for turns. For boys and girls that just wanna have fun...

Contact

Call: 01637-875-811 Website: www. quiversurfboards.co.uk

beach beat

adams

Ruby

The Tonka

Specifications: 6'0" x 20 1/2" x 2 5/8" custom available. Shaper: Matt Adams

Specifications: 5'4" - 6'6" Shaper: Matt Adams

The Dusty Specifications: 5'9" x 18 ½" x 2 3/16" Shaper: Chops Lascelles (original design by Greg Clough) This board has a three phase bottom contour: a single into a small double concave which fades out on the rail to a flat planing section. As the name suggests this board was designed for ASP aerial maestro Dusty Payne, so if you think you’ve got what it takes then step-up: The Dusty is the ultimate stick for you.

“Makes surfing easier! After many trials and tweaks, we have mastered the Ruby. A fun, little, flying machine, that actually feels like it fits in the wave. Open up a whole new world of surfing.” - Jayce Robinson (Team Rider)

Our version of Dane Reynolds Dumpster Dive redesigned this board to suit British surf, using Matts proven rocker and bottom shape this board is already a huge hit with all our team riders. It's a great all round board and suits the newschool style of surfing. It comes with a single concave and a thruster setup as standard. order 2-3" shorter than your standard shortboard.

Contact

Call: 01872 553918 Website: www. beachbeatsurfboards.co.uk

Call: 01726 861091 Website: www. adamssurfboards.co.uk

Call: 01726 861091 Website: www. adamsurfboards.co.uk

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circle one

Diamond Tail

Magic Egg in bamboo

Wing-swallowtail, in bamboo

Specifications: 5'10" x 21 ½" x 2 ¼" Shaper: Jeff Townsley Fins: Thruster

Specifications: 6'8" x 21 ¼" x 2 ¼" Shaper: Jeff Townsley Fins: Thruster

Full plan shape with plenty of volume to catch waves easily and surf fast, even in marginal conditions. Round tail with a wing makes for high manoeuvrability as well as holding a line well for maximum speed. A great fun all rounder- eye catching as well as blisteringly quick for explosive surfing in summer mush.

Perfect first time shortboard designed to perform in UK surf. The wide swallow tail means the board catches waves easily, and the extra width maintains buoyancy. Constructed using the latest cutting-edge technology to laminate strong, light and sustainable bamboo with hand shaped blanks, resulting in the ultimate performance characteristics.

Contact

Call: 01363 773005 Website: www.circle-one. co.uk

resin8

tiki

Scoop 5’10”

FB2

FFX

Specifications: 5'10" x 19" x 1 9/16" Shaper: Resin8 Fins: 5 fin set up

Specifications: 6'6" 19 ¾" 2 ½" Shaper: Tiki Fins: Thruster/Quad

Specifications: 5'9" x 19" x 2 ½" Shaper: Bruce McKee Fins: Thruster

It’s all about the scoop! Find out more at www. resin8surfboards.com , the boards come in sizes ranging from 5’4” – 6’10”.

The perfect step-up board or just an easy riding shortboard. The original Fatboy was designed with extra width and thickness to get into those big Mentawai barrels early, but we’ve found these also to be the perfect characteristics for anyone who wants to ride a shortboard, but isn’t up for the marathon effort involved in riding a tiny board. And it’s built with CLX technology...

Our FFX boards are fiveyears in development. The stringerless Feather Foil technology combines the surgical precision of carbon with the natural flex of Bamboo. Just about the most cutting edge surfboard technology in the world right now. Three models by Bruce McKee from £439. Face the future.

Contact

Website: www. resin8surfboards.com

Call: 01271 812442 Website: www.tikisurf. co.uk

Specifications: 6'2" x 20 ½" x 2 ¼" Shaper: Jeff Townsley Fins: Thruster The ultimate all rounder – a nice full shaped board perfectly suited to the intermediate to expert surfer in everything from two to six foot surf. Designed to get you into waves nice and early, and to accelerate you downthe-line ready for you to stick your first move...

2011 performance board guide

surf tech Stretch F4 Specifications: 6'5" x 19 ½" x 2 5/8" Shaper: Stretch The half-moon template of the F4 elongates the rail-line for positive drive and release off the tail, and the deck channels give added strength and a progressive flex pattern into the four fins. Ride it two inches shorter than your performance shortboard and watch it go…

strive Skip Jack Specifications: 6'4" x 21 ¾" x 2 63/100" Shaper: John Henderson The Skip Jack is a wave catching freak. Its full plan shape ensures that it turns in a heartbeat and flies over flat spots. The ultimate tool for UK waves – easy to get into ‘em, but with a superfun and high-performance feel. I’m in.

Contact

Call: 01205 722745 Website: www.surfcom. co.uk

surf tech

XFC

Rusty GTR

Harley Ingleby HP

ultraflx Specifications: 6'2" x 18 ¾" 2 19/50" Shaper: Simon Anderson

ultraflx Specifications: 5'10" x 18 23/50" x 2 8/25" Shaper: Rusty

ultraflx Specifications: 9'1" x 22 3/5" x 2 4/5" Shaper: Billy Tolhurst

The fastest board in Surftech’s Simon Anderson range. Featuring low soft rails and a single-to-double concave for deep carving turns, the 2011 XFC model retains the TSR Rocker and is a little flatter in the belly section compared to the previous version, but has the same overall tail and nose lift. A screamer.

The GTR is your ultimate all-round board. Great for everyday surf and guaranteed to set you apart from the pack. There’s a deep single concave running through between the feet, with a slight vee out the corners. The tail is a little wider than average, with volume shifted back, so ride it around two inches shorter than your standard shortboard.

Contact

Call: 01205 722745 Website: www.surfcom. co.uk

This is world champ Harley Ingleby's all around longboard. Designed and shaped by Billy Tolhurst for Robert August Pacific, this model was conceived in the fabled surf of the Western Pacific and Indian Oceans. Works great in everything from three to fifteen foot waves. And good enough for world champ = good enough for you...

Charlie Symons

Jayce Robinson slashes back on another homegrown wave slayer this time from Adams. A few years ago there was a lot of talk about imports killing the home market, but in fact the opposite has happened. With outlets like Down the Line offering up hundreds of up to date shapes from the likes of Chilli and DHD direct from Australian factories every few months British shapers had to take up the challenge and compete at the highest level. They did just that. Now for quality and choice we probably have one of the best board markets in the world.

Perhaps the most important development is for SurfTech this year though is the introduction of signature shapers to UltraFlx technology. The high proportion of hand finishing and smaller production runs needed mean they can produce up to the minute shapes, with float flex, and life from Rusty, Simon Anderson, Stretch and Billy Tolhurst and the latest thinking on fun smaller wave shapes like the Gipos from Xanadu, the H2O SK8R, Bat Bullet, Spudnik and 5 Fish from Randy and the Dead Kipper from Simon Anderson. North Devon based Tiki have been industriously working away along the same path and have come up with their new Feather Foil this winter. A bamboo/carbon epoxy composite over a stringerless high density EPS foam core it is the product of a five year R&D process with over 25 different variations of foam, cloths, lay-ups, stringers and resins tested! The first benefit is strength to weight ratio— these boards are feather light but super strong with it. However the more important development and focus of the R&D was to create a board that uses the strength and weight benefits of the EPS foam and epoxy resin, but has

a nice feel to it, not the usual stiffness associated with epoxy moulded boards. They have also come up with CLX - a Super Lightweight Epoxy technology from 2009 but with an added carbon patch for more longitudinal stiffness means more response. Shape wise they combine the technology with the FFX - a wide shortboard inspired by Dane Reynolds new school sleds and the FF1; a one board quiver with float up front to paddle and glide, a pulled in tail to hold in the pocket and a 3/4 fin combo. Still on new technology Circle One have been dabbling in sustainable bamboo. The boards entirely handmade as the high density foam blank with wood stringer is hand shaped, laminated with epoxy sandwich using sustainable bamboo as a layer in the sandwich construction. The boards are all hand sanded and finished. The benefits of the bamboo (as well as looking stunning) are that is super light and strong while adding predictable flex to the ride which acts like a coiled spring to propel you from one turn to the next enabling the rider to gain more speed as they travel along the wave. As we all know speed is the critical factor. All of the bamboo is sourced from sustainable bamboo plantations. Back in the world of PU and UK shapers John Purton of JP Surfboards, has a new series of boards which are getting rave reviews in his the ‘X’ range. They are centred around the RX model which is, “Ideal for surfers looking for something with a bit of float,

2011 performance board guide

manoeuvrability and speed in all conditions. They are great for the heavier surfer in smaller weaker conditions but also versatile enough to handle bigger, more powerful waves. This is also an ideal board for the lightweight guys in the smaller models from 5'2" to 5'10" where some will use a fish.” John’s small wave board, the SX, is attracting a lot of attention. “Best small wave board I have ever ridden in my life" says JP team rider, Richie Sills, which is no small praise indeed. John said, "I specifically designed for the guys who are competent with their performance surfing and are looking for a board that will perform in the smaller, less powerful waves. This board incorporates a fuller plan shape similar to the hybrid. It also incorporates performance board characteristics like concaves and rail shapes, but with a more relaxed rocker and a different bottom contour in the front third of the board. This allows the board to catch waves easily and respond to acute turns making the board feel narrower than what it actually is whilst maintaining full speed.” It’s a pretty high tech hull design and it’s flying off the shelves. In the heart of Newquay Nigel Semmens has been

chris burt

2011 performance board guide

building boards for Britain’s elite surfers for the past 30 years. He told me about the board he has developed with Russ Winter named the ‘Bullet’ a board that was totally different to the normal 6'0" that Russ was synonymous with. Designed for the high performance surfer Nige flattened out the rocker, added width but crucially he tweaked the fin positions to control Russ’s powerful surfing style and this is what he attributes the success of the design to. Russ rides his at 5’8” but Nige says that although the Bullet is only for competent surfers he has translated a lot of the ideas into his B52 design to give an advantage to the surfer who can’t get into the surf everyday. Interestingly Nige sees similarities between the new plan shapes and those of twenty years ago and attributes Kelly Slater to making acceptable the modern trend, especially that of the four finner which he says is really popular in his busy factory. Carving out a name for himself on the South coast is shaper Luke Young and my final stop of the tour around the factories. Luke raved on about his model called the ‘Robot’ a board that now fourth generation and he

One of the most amazing attributes of the new sleds is that they go in small waves, but hold in bigger stuff. Sometimes you may need a larger fin combo, but the shorter length isn’t at the cost of volume so you can get into barrels like this, and weave your way through to exit, no problem. Reubyn Ash.

rusty

Dwart

Hustler

Slayer

Specifications: 5'10" x 19" x 2 1/8" Shaper: Rusty Fins: Thruster or Quad

Specifications: 6'2" x 20 ¼" x 2 3/8" Shaper: Rusty Fins: Thruster or Quad

Specifications: 5'8" x 18 5/8" x 2 ½" Shaper: Rusty Fins: Thruster or Quad

The Dwart adopts the basic elements of a modern fish – with a full outline and high volume relative to length – but the double-wing round tail steps increase the outline curve. Which equals a very short board that paddles well, planes efficiently and turns on rails beautifully. O, and if you want to smash it vertically – that’s fine too.

The perfect stick for nailing your moves on those mediocre days. With a narrower nose and hard-wing swallow tail, the Hustler provides all the benefits of a fish with the high performance essentials of a shortboard. If you ain’t surfing perfect waves every day then – come on – you need a Hustler.

Did Slater change the way we look at board design with his Wizard Sleeve? Quite possible. The Slayer is Rusty’s nod to the big guy. With a wide-point front of centre, more width in the middle, and a more relaxed rocker. And you’ve seen the clips: you know this board works in anything from 2 to 8+ foot... A little board for big jobs.

Contact

Call: 01392 877641 Website: www.rusty.com

The Bullet

Tassie Swallow Model

Masters Series

(Russell Winter Model) Specifications: 5'8" x 18 ¾" x 2 3/16" Shaper: Nigel Semmens Fins: Thruster The Bullet has a flatter rocker line with a fuller template, a single to double concave, and has the fins set up just how Russ likes them. A great board for generating speed and for surfing beachies. Even more fun than the man himself.

Specifications: 5'10" x 18 7/8" x 2 5/16" Shaper: Nigel Semmens Fins: Thruster Designed specifically for one of the UK’s hottest young prospects, Nigel Semmens’ Tassie Swallow Model is designed to deliver plenty of speed, but still hold a rail to suit Tassie’s powerful surfing style. Tassie loves this stick, and really rates it for surfing UK waves.

Specifications: 6'4" x 20" x 2 ½" Shaper: Nigel Semmens Fins: Thruster This board is for older guys that still want to rip. Plenty of volume – for a high wave count – with single to double concave in a vee in the tail for heaps of speed and rail-to-rail riding. Grow up – you know it makes sense.

Contact

Call: 01637 880421 Website: www.nsboards. co.uk

2011 performance board guide

Specifications: 6'1" x 18 5/8" x 2 5/16" Shaper: JP Fins: Thruster

Specifications: 6'2" x 21’" x 2 ¾" Shaper: JP Fins: Quad

Specifications: 5'7" x 18 ¾" x 2 ¼" Shaper: JP Fins: Thruster

For performance shortboard purists, the S2 brings state-of-the-art curves, concaves and foilings to allow you to take your performance surfing to the next level. It truly is a thing of beauty. Guaranteed to get you in and out of every situation in quality waves.

The T4 is the crowd pleaser of the range. ‘T’ is for TURBO, and this board truly is a speed demon. With a double wing and a choice of a swallow or a bat tail, the speed comes from the deep single concave running through the board, with a double concave tucked inside it between the fins. Hold on tight.

Part of the ‘X Series’, the GX has a fuller nose plan shape for better paddling and to enable it to glide through flatter sections. It also has a pulled in tail for extra sensitivity and to allow the board to pivot and carve in the more critical sections of the wave. So, the best of both worlds – paddleability and manoeuvrability. Sweet.

Contact

Call: 01792 851759 Website: www. jpsurfboards.co.uk

Bullet

Specifications: 7'0" x 21" x 2 7/8" Shaper: JP Fins: Thruster

Specifications: 6'0"x 20 ½"x 2 ½" Shaper: JP Fins: Thruster / 2-and-a-half fin (MRTFX)

Specifications: 5'10" x 18 ¾" x 2 ¼" Shaper: JP Fins: Thruster

Based on a hybrid/ minimal shape, the Bullet incorporates a performance bottom contour which includes a single-to-double concave for speed, control and manoeuvrability. It has an easy nose entry rocker to catch waves easily and create speed over flat sections of the waves, but also has increased tail rocker for performance surfing in good waves. Roll on summertime!

For waist through to overhead waves, the RX is for surfers looking for something with a bit of float, manoeuvrability, and speed in all conditions. It has a bump wing allowing a more parallel plan, a rail line which gives more projection and a pivot point for better rail-to-rail transitions. A versatile and essential bit of surfing kit.

Designed for surfers who are competent with their performance surfing and looking for a board that will perform in less powerful waves. The SX incorporates performance board characteristics but with a fuller plan shape and a more relaxed rocker. This equals a high wave count but the board feels narrower than it is, and you can really throw it around. Boom. Available with square or swallow tail.

Contact

Call: 01792 851759 Website: www. jpsurfboards.co.uk

2011 performance board guide

sharpy

personally rides at a tiny 5’4”. “It’s by far the most popular board we make,” he said. “Although it was originally designed for small surf, it has an addictive quality and you can have fun in any type of surf.” The ‘Zero’ is designed to be a step up from the Robot and Luke thinks that if you are a one-board-quiver man then this is the board for you, flatter rocker and wider but with shortboard characteristics in the tail. Luke rides this at a more sensible 5’8” and says, “This is the everything board, it goes soooo good!” In the new technologies department, Firewire are once again proving to be innovators with the addition ‘RapidFire’ hybrid technology to its range. The system uses carbon rod suspension of their Direct Drive construction with a bamboo top deck skin. Firewire say the interior carbon rods work with the bamboo skin to optimise flex patterns, maximising speed and drive through turns, and while not as dent resistant as the other Firewire models, the bamboo does create significant compression strength and does not require a vent. In another interesting development they have just launched a fin that adjusts cant under water flow. Called the ‘Deviant’ fin, it automatically adjusts 7° of cant in either

direction (14 degrees total range of movement) to match the cant of your side fins and apparently will 'noticeably increase speed & responsiveness by reducing rail-torail drag' it will be available in FCS M5 or a Futures FEA outline for test this summer as a single rear fin suitable for a thrusters fin set up. Finally Firewire are introducing a custom option for their boards in which you can go online and tweak the model of your desire by changing a few key measurements to suit you individually.

So there you go. With new technologies, new bottom configurations, new fins, fins set ups and a trend of fat wide performance boards that suit both the majority of the waves we surf and a huge amount of choice to suit every weight and ability we are living in a golden age of board design. Britain and Ireland have some amazing shapers that are truly on top of their game and will knock you up an amazing custom model. We also have some the widest range of imports from the best manufacturers/shapers in the world sat in racks next to them. The result is one of the most varied and competitive quality board markets in the world. To put it simply we have been blown away by the models coming through the CARVE office in recent weeks and we have seen quite a few boards in our time. So now is the best time in years to check out what is on offer in Britain's best board guide, and then get yourself down to multiple surf shops for some retail therapy!

Another fine performance characteristic is the drive and projection the new breed carry through turns. Sure everyone likes barrels, and we’d all like to huck airs, but sometimes there’s no better feeling than getting out on the shoulder, sticking in the rail and carving a big figure of eight. Stoker, CR.

carve surfing magazine 107

2011 performance board retailers 5

cornwall

Down the Line Surf We stock a huge selection of surfboards made in and imported from Australia including surfboards by Dick Van Straalen (DVS), Jim Banks, Simon Anderson, Greg Webber, Chill, Murray Bourton, Firewire, plus Geoff McCoy, Morning of the Earth as well as many more surf boards you've come to know and love imported from Oz by Down The Line. Web: www.downthelinesurf.co.uk Email: info@downthelinesurf.co.uk Address: Market Square Arcade, Copperhouse, Hayle, Cornwall TR27 4EA Tel: 01736 757025

TRANS SURF Trans Surf stock surfboards from Al Merrick, Stretch, Rusty, Simon Anderson, Meyerhoffer, The Seaglass Project (Tom Wegener) and Marmalade. WEB: www.transsurf.co.uk EMAIL: info@transsurf.co.uk ADDRESS:Trans Surf, Unit 2, Mawgan Porth, Newquay, Cornwall, TR8 4BA Tel: 01637 861616

7 8 6 5

7 1

Custom boards in Epoxy/Polyester, repair service, 200 boards in stock, demo boards to try. Factory/showroom and online shop. WEB: www.escapesurfboards.com www.escapesurfboards.biz EMAIL: info@escapesurfboards.com ADDRESS: Escape Surfboards, Unit 12 Pityme Ind Est, St Minver, Wadebridge, Cornwall, PL27 6NS TEL: 01208863962

10 11

Surftech Demo Centres

KING OF WATERSPORTS

Ma Simes

Secret Spot Surf Shop Since 1989 we have strived to provide our customers with solid advice, great products and friendly service. Currently we stock boards from Firewire, Surftech, Sevens, Hydroflex and many more. Web: www.secretspot.co.uk Email: admin@secretspot.co.uk Address: 4 Pavilion Terrace, Scarborough, North Yorkshire YO11 2JU Tel: 01723 867919

108 carve surfing magazine

Tiki Surfshop

dorset

Sorted Surf Shop “One of the largest stocks of surfboards in the country with expert friendly advice, give us a call to discuss your next board”. WEB: www.sortedsurfshop.co.uk ADDRESS: Sorted Surf Shop, 42 Sea Road, Boscombe, Bournemouth, Dorset, BH5 1EW EMAIL: info@sortedsurfshop.co.uk TEL: 01202 399099

JP Surfboards

yorkshire

devon

We have the largest range of surfboards in Europe on display, in stock and for test. Including Tiki, McKee, Hydroflex, Webber, Aloha, McTavish, Walden, Southpoint, NSP and more. WEB: shop.tikisurf.co.uk EMAIL: info@tikisurf.co.uk ADDRESS: Caen Street, Braunton, North Devon, EX33 1AA TEL: 01271 816070

Our factory and showroom are situated in South Wales on the Gower peninsular. We have over 120 boards in stock and have a full range of our surfboards in our test centre. WEB: www.jpsurfboards.co.uk EMAIL: jpsurfboards@btconnect.com or jpsurfboards.x@gmail.com

Zuma Jay As one of the longest established surf shops, Zuma Jay prides itself on quality and service. We all surf here and can advise you on what board you need from the basics through intermediates and experts. We have 4 shapers working for us plus we work closely with Surftech and several other board manufactures. WEB: www.zumajay.co.uk EMAIL: shop@zumajay.co.uk ADDRESS: Belle Vue Lane, Bude, EX23 8BR TEL: 01288354956

Citysurf

Wales’ best stocked surf shop, top quality surfboards. Fast efficient service and solid advice. WEB: www.masimes.co.uk ADDRESS: 28 High Street, St Davids, Pembrokeshire, West Wales, SA62 6SD TEL: (0)1437 720433

WALES

Cardiff’s only true surf shop established 1986, over 80 surfboards and over 100 wetsuits always in stock, beginners surfboard packages from £299.00 Email: citysurfshops@hotmail.co.uk Address: City Surf, 2 Castle Arcade, Cardiff, CF10 1BW Tel: 02920342068 Web: www.Citysurfshops.co.uk

Local Hero Surfboards Visit our factory shop in Wadebridge for a wide range of boards. We offer second hand, brand new or custom built boards and designs. Feel free to ask for advice about specific styles and shapes to ensure you get the right board. WEB: www.localhero.co.uk Email: info@localhero.co.uk ADDRESS: The Workshop, Brook Road, Wadebridge, Cornwall, PL27 7PB Tel: 01208 814282

Test ride before you buy some of the world’s greatest shapes in Tuflite technology. Tel: 01205 722745 Web: www.surfcom.co.uk

Kingofwatersports.com has a huge selection of boards for all abilities, with brands including BIC, Bilbo, O’Shea, Circle One, JS, Rusty, Fanatic, Santa Cruz, FCS, Gorilla and many more! Most available with a free boardbag and delivery! WEB: www.kingofwatersports.com EMAIL: sales@kingofwatersports.com TEL: 01202763675

Escape Surfboards

sussex

Wittering Surf Shop Over 150 British and International boards in store and online with friendly expert advice to find the board of your dreams! WEB: www.witteringsurfshop.com EMAIL: info@witteringsurfshop.com ADDRESS: 13/15 Shore Road, East Wittering, Chichester, West Sussex, PO20 8DY TEL: 01243 672292