Step by step more or less…http://min.us/mbi3ZbQR8f/1… {hope this link works}
Great stuff - I learn boatloads from progressive sidelight pics like that, was sad when it ended! Interesting bottom. Hope you get some good photos after glassing too. Thanks for posting.
Old fashioned hand-shaping never goes out of style. Great job, but I hope it was someone else who took the pictures, because stopping at starting to take pictures would drive me nutty. Went through the whole album, I hope Ben is happy with your skilled creation.
I am a one man show. I have been doing it long enough to be beyond “nutty”…Ben has a few of my boards and I knew he would be stoked with the pics. Besides He is a BIG guy I am a big guy the board is big, not enough room in the room for us all. At least this way I got to plan my interruptions…
Thank you Mr ACE you made my day.
Yep really stoked and can’t wait to ride it.
Even more stoked feeling like I was part of the process.
great work Ace Photos are informative. It's a very interesting bottom configuration. It would be good to hear more on what the principals are behind that step.
“principals are behind that step”
Short answer “The foam lead me to it”.
Theory…Compression exhaust sort of Bonzerish concept.
Also gather push when catching waves.
Break step in rail line that I have had good results in- “Step V”
Helps define “V” when I am using slight convex bottoms forward of “V” pod
Which gives more thrust and bite in rail to rail drive and turns
other short answer “It works good”
I have had really positive feedback on the smaller boards that I have used this bottom contour on.
Normally on 11’ers I stay more “conservative” BUT Ben is a big guy and a good surfer and I think he
will be able to push this board to more than just a “point and go” board.
Oh yeah, forgot, it is only gonna have one fin. This “V that went to far” seems to work well with that.
Thanks Ace. seems like that step tail would be a nice touch for a modern pig shape pod/egg or whatever you want to call it. I have long been an advocate, of that style board for us over the hill types with a desire to surf something a little more progressive then the standard Longboard. If I were still in SD area we would be working on something around 8'6" with float and an ACE special fin set up.
Here is a 6’6" version…http://min.us/mpxqiXg8D/7…
I have been riding a 8’er like this for the last couple years. Also works really good as a Quad fin.
This is a million dollar thread, for me it exemplifies the best of what Swaylocks is about - ACE is one of the real class act professionals. Lays it all out, no hype, no hyperbole, no pomp and circumstance. Links to two photo essays, with probably 40 plus years' shaping wisdom spelled out photographically with side lighting and clear photos, and for the icing on the cake, an explanation in layman's terms of the "pixie dust" elements of the design.
Not that just anyone could plug that into their equation and come out with the same product, but if you're smart enough to pay attention, there is a lot of wisdom there for the taking. The rest will blow on by and not even know what they missed. Gotta love it.
It is DONE waiting for Ben.
A thing of beauty.
Paddles nice and smooth easy to catch waves and goes really fast.
Nice looking board.