In the back of TSJ 21.5 Page 126, Steve Pezman wrote a neat little piece titled,
Boardroom: Thoughts On The Shaping Sequence
He closes with these remarks
Switch is different… and most people don’t surf swich. I want the board to ride the same going frontside right as it will frontside left for a guy who’s either a natural or goofy. I think if you surf switch, there might be an advatage to an asym, but it might be very subtle.
A couple of things Pezman overlooked; 1. A board as mentioned would be an accident. 2. Such accidents are almost impossible to duplicate. Lowel
F W I W…Carl and I had a lengthy discussion, in late 1962 or early 1963, about an Aussie board design called the Hook or Hook Tail, that Carl had become interested in. The design had one rail like a gun, and the other rail like a hotdog board. The gun rail was longer. In Sept. 1963, on the NS, I saw a Surfboards Australia ‘‘Hook Tail’’ that one of the Aussies had brought over for the winter. The asymmetrical design concept had its origin, and early development in Australia. Carl certainly brought it to peoples attention. Prior to my comment to Carl that I liked some aspects of asymmetrical design, he was calling his boards Hooks. Shortly after my comment his boards became Asymmetricals. That was in the spring of 1964, after I got back from the Islands. For the record, I prefer symmetrical boards.
Thanks for the history lesson on The asymmetrical design The first ones I saw were in the early 70's Carl allow me and a few others to try them out At Swamies. It was one of those days that the left was also working. What can I say I remember I liked the board. At That time a lot of the La Jolla crew were giving praise as to how well They cut back. Have not been on one since but Carl has been working on them for years.
What needs to happen is some hot up and comer needs to win a big contest riding an asymmetrical and it won't be long before everyone has to have one.
[quote="$1"]
Thanks for the history lesson on The asymmetrical design The first ones I saw were in the early 70's Carl allow me and a few others to try them out At Swamies. It was one of those days that the left was also working. What can I say I remember I liked the board. At That time a lot of the La Jolla crew were giving praise as to how well They cut back. Have not been on one since but Carl has been working on them for years.
What needs to happen is some hot up and comer needs to win a big contest riding an asymmetrical and it won't be long before everyone has to have one.
[/quote]
Ryan Burch is just one of the young guns being tutored in the ways of asyms by Ekström and Ryan does some pretty interesting shaping; he's also an excellent surfer.
He's already got quite a following of his own but he's not a contest surfer ... .
At the last Boardroom Surfboard Show at Del Mar, our booth was across from Carl’s. He and I had a lengthy discussion about his Asymmetricals. When I told him I have built a few, he was stoked. I told him that one of my favorite personal boards was an Asymmetrical, he told me to bring it down for him to see. Carl gave me some great compliments. He told me to keep shaping them. I was truly honored. And left with a renewed enthusiasm about these designs. I believe in this concept. This is that board.
Barry Snyder / Windigo Surfboards
Barry can't help but notice you seem to have also played with the planing surface in the tail. Heal side looks to have more release or more curve in the tail rocker.
Artz, good eye. Yes indeed, it does have more rocker on that rail (my heel-side). It is amazing for how short and fat this board is, it turns so good! Been working on this design for about 5 years now. I also put the tail from one of my HPSB’s. It is very a directional changing tail. So it does just that. The Toe-side rail is my Double wing Swallow template. Only it has a single MR style fin for drive. Loose on my forehand. I’ve put his tail on several performance fish boards with good results. They were Quads.
Barry Snyder
I also noticed the off set " center " fin placment. Should have said that fin somewhere near the middle.
I had some balsa that I traded an old beater longboard for about 15 years back. Finally got shamed into making a board this past summer. I couldn't resist and put an asymmetrical tail with a koa tail block. Put it in my buddy's booth at "The Boardroom," but I doubt it got looked at too hard with all the badass Stretch, BK, and Casey, etc., balsa guns in the booth.
[IMG]http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr335/asurfrat/Photo0210.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr335/asurfrat/Photo0211.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr335/asurfrat/Photo0218.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr335/asurfrat/Photo0233.jpg[/IMG]
Artz, Ya, it does look a bit weird, but I thought why not the fins too. Also the way the tail steps down on the tail, I couldn’t put the Future box there and sand it properly.
Surfthis, I like that tail. Not to mention the beautiful woodwork. sorry I missed it at the show. Maybe we’ll meet next time.
Barry Snyder / Windigo surfboards
Very nice, Surfthis. very nice.
Thanks Barry and Greg. Had some great guidance on that project. Glad to get it behind me! I knew chambered balsas were a lot of work, just didn't realize how much!!!
Funny thing Barry, I actually talked to you after your shaping "seminar." I didn't realize who you were, just happened to walk up and listen to your conversation with someone else. Oh well, like you said, maybe next time! Really cool seeing so many different shapers' ideas and techniques on display. Wish I had been at the booth a bit sooner and seen you shape.
That was a fun show, but I wasn't there to sell anything, just there to party with some old friends I don't get to hang out with as much as we used to. I did show that board to Ekstrom, I was hesitant as I don't feel worthy, but my buddies talked me into introducing myself. Once we got started talking, he was super cool, I had to show it to him.
On a side note, while I was showing my board to Carl, up walks Lance Carson. I have no idea how old the guy is, but he was really cool and so stoked. Really fun to listen to him talk about studying Phil Edwards movies figuring out nuances of his style and what not. So much enthusiasm, kind of like a stoked grom! I say that with the utmost respect, of course.
On the topic at hand, I'd say it's no waste of time to try to be perfect with matching rails (symmetry), but I've learned from my own asymmetrical experiments that symmetry is definitely over-rated as far as performance goes. It does limit your resale as the board really is either for a goofy or regular footer, although "Plus One" has shown that they can be ridden with the long rail on the backside.
A couple more pics. This is an "international" board. Koa tail block and fin box veneers, Ecuadorian balsa, redwood from NorCal, and paulownia from North Carolina.
[IMG]http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr335/asurfrat/balsadeckfinished.jpg[/IMG]
[IMG]http://i497.photobucket.com/albums/rr335/asurfrat/balsabottomfinished.jpg[/IMG]
I think the future is definitely assyms custom tailored to your personal style/ability. If you can get a board that is tuned-in to the way your frontside and backside surfing is, you will have the best board you can get. Not sure how long it would take to get there, and you’d need a variety of boards to fit the range of waves you ride. I’d leave the longboard alone, but an assym gun can be tailored to fit each person.
I don’t think a generic assym will work for everyone. What works for me may not work for a lot of other people.
surfthis, yeah next time. Or maybe stop by my shop in Oceanside. Maybe if you go to Surf supply, they are just down the street from me. Anyway, I like how the center fin on that board is off-center too. Even your fins are asymmetrical too! Looks like you and I have the same concept in mind. Stop by anytime. I love talking asymm’s. The board with the Indian Blanket looking inlay is the board I shaped there. Barry
Yep, that’s the one! How long, like 5-0 or so? Looks nice, I like the Einstein graphic also. Seems appropriate for the shape.
Barry where are you located in Oceanside? I have a few old friends in the area that make boards. Bob Sakota and Dan ( Skydog ) Highland. i keep in touch with Dan on Facebook. Sakota made one of my all time favorite boards in the mid 90s .
Artz, I’m in the valley of Oceanside. South of the airport off the Hwy.76. 456 Via Del Norte. The old Walter’s ding repair building. Yeah I know Bobby. Good craftsman. Worked for Donald. I spray some of his boards. I’ve Met Skydog a couple times too.
Barry Snyder / Windigo surfboards
I Like that Einstein spray. i want to do one like that and name the Board The Uncle Albert model.