FLASHPOINT

[stemple]

Hart I hope you don't mind me posting my first impressions, after all I am a bloody american.

I finally got to ride one of new boards this morning the 6'0" swallow tail. Conditions were pretty desperate. Bouy reading 3.9 feet @ 7 seconds. wave faces very mushy and only about 3 feet high with an incoming tide. (I know it was bleak but I couldn't stand it anymore I had to least paddle the board around a bit) That said it was not a true test of the what the board could do. My first impression as a paddle out was how thin the board was and profile of the nose is slimmer than either the parkes or the blasts that I have owned. I was a little worried, as swung around to try and catch a lame dribbler, the board seemed to be small and thin. It was slightly slower to paddle then my stubb vector (my current favorite) which by inspection has more volume to it.

I also must add that by far this board is the lightest of the all the boards I have had in the last two years. I think I could actually snap this board on a bigger day as opposed to my blasts that are built very solid with extra thick stringers.

To my surprise the board planned quickly and easily caught a very underpowered wave that I was expecting to really have to work to catch.

I like boards that catch waves easily. Speed was an issue but I did find the board was very loose even at very slow speeds. I ended up catching 6 or so quasi-rideable waves and even got in a one or two moderate to small cutbacks and a lip bash. Wave faces were not that vertical so as for the performance in the pocket and on vertical face the jury is still out. I was not able to really push it through a bottom turn as well.

I know somebody had mentioned volume as key variable. I believe this is very true. the width of the board, 24", allows for lower profile volume. It seems to have all the benefits of a more floaty board but none of the drawbacks.

I can't wait to get it into some more meaty surf. I would say my first impressions were very favorable and if my gut feeling is correct I am going to have raise my surfing to match the boards capabilities.

[hart]

Syd,

I've been sweatin' on hearing from you..

It comes as no surprise that the swallow tail feels different in the water compared to David's and Bud's boards that you have ben riding..but the 'key' in what you said was "How easy it caught a wave"..despite feeling 'thin' thru the rails.

The looseness you mentioned is also good..cause it is your shortboard after all.

These boards will argueably be the most radically different step that you have experienced in getting new boards..they ARE so different to a Parkes or a Blast.

And you are starting to realise just how different they are.

Thanks once more,

Bruce

PS

Don't worry about "lifting your own standard...." to ride them. It will come with time and I think you already know that.

[nwdude]

this sounds like the beginnings of some good analysis - it would help if you guys could make it clear just what this board ( the swallowtail ) is that makes it different / special - some specs would be nice ! - 24" wide ?!!

[stemple]

I have placed Parkes pads on both boards. I like them the best, super light, squishy, and you don't need wax.

[surfhorn]

Thin is good. I've always had the shaper take 'another pass' even though they were hesitant.

[ScottMac]

Prof Bruce,

I was taking a look today at the UK kneeboarding site, and saw a picture posted of one of your steptail boards.
I could'nt really get a good idea of the design from the pic, and was wondering what the theory is behind it.
It's obviously not just a squashtail shape. Thanks!!

Scott

[hart]

I wish I knew how to upload pics from the 'photo gallery' into the forums..but I don't.

nwdude,

There are quite a few pics of stemple's boards in the 'board section'..in one pic, he has laid his new boards next to his old ones.

Look for "An Interesting Comparison"..it may help with your question.

Scotty,

Also in the pic section..under "General.."page 3..there is an Art Brewer pic if Crawford, posted by Bud.

Look at it and look at his bottom. His board is a flex-tail Sydney Slab..with an elipitical step just behind the finbox.

I still shape 'steptails' today..usually as dedicated shortboards..cause too many things seem to go on thru the bottom shape for suitability in larger surf.

Essentially, the bottom curve runs very flat..and straight, directly under your weight as it creates the step behind your fins.

This gives you heaps of accelleration because of the flatness.

The water seems to 'break' however once it leaves the step (and possibly cavitates) and you don't seem to notice the last foot your so of your board (read length).

So, they feel really quick..really short (when they stay flat) and very responsive. Interesting thing tho..when you plant your rail..you get all that length back and the drive turns on.

And besides, they look so spacey..and the UK market is a very new one for me that I had to let a couple go over there..nothing like something a little different to generate discussion..

Even if it is 30 bloody years old!!



hart

PS

Matt Gallagher has won a Phillip Island Pro (argueably our most competitive contest) on a Steppie only a few years ago..and it remains one of the best boards that I have ever shaped him.

[ScottMac]

Thanks Bruce!

I guess the terminolgy was what was throwing me for a loop. I've heard of
"Flex tails" before, but the "Step tail" was a new one!!!

Take care,

Scott

[hart]

thanks mate..

too cool.

how good is the pic?

and how about the Dee between the Why?

Crawford up the beach..how often do you think I saw that?

Autumn I reckon..a pair of 'arms' and no-one on the beach. About noon.

And I've just left Justin..friday night at DY pub..it's 9 O'clock.

He looks more like his father every day..as they say..the more things change, the more they stay the same.

Thanks again,

Bruce.

[red]

I rode my 6'3" "small wave" board album_showpage.php?pic_id=1989 in small Teahupoo and got an epic tube by taking off waaay deep. With 35 wave hungry kneelos out, one good wave was enough.

Rode the same board in sizable (6-8') Timihae on Morea. It performed admirably and took me through possibly the best tube of my life over an evilly shallow inside section that almost everyone except Poto was kicking out of. It was a case of make it or die. Lovely light blue translucent tube, growley and ledgey. No photographic record, unfortunately.

The same board went really well at 6' and 3' Haapiti - a fun left. Lovely looping roundhouses. The longer board provides a feeling of security and stability and makes for long clean turns and controlled bashes off the foam. I recommend it to anyone who wants to surf like this. It's not a contest style but it's better than struggling for control or speed. This board has a different bottom design to most kneeboards that Bruce can explain further. This allows the board to effortlessly get up on a rail for high speed driving turns.

[john -]

red - welcome analysis

is it fair to suggest that contest style is shorter tighter turns?

dorje

[W.G. Facenda]

I was at Tamae that inside section is the shallowest dredger I have seen! Way shallower than anything i found in indo. I had a 5ft 6" fish and thought it was all i needed.Can't imagine riding a 7' kneeboard in indo or tahiti-except to maybe snag more than my share waves with webbed gloves and swimfins. :roll: