I’m not much of a poster here (especially in recent years) but wanted to share. I’m a slightly bigger fellow-- no, not a fat ass. I’ve found for a long time that it’s not easy to find “performance” boards for a larger, powerful surfer. It’s been years since I was able to buy an off-the-rack solution. Of course, being a Florida resident, surfing pretty much caters to the kiddies-- not that the sport in general doesn’t slant that way. Regardless, it can be a struggle.
Well, after a few years of being pretty happy with my locally made customs in the modern fish sort of design school, I was forced into a change. My principal shaper “retired” and I just sort of limped along beating up the boards I did have. A little while back, I had decided that it was time to re-establish a relationship for custom boards and contacted Solosurfer. Though I wasn’t originally looking toward zap/nug styled designs, Solo talked me into taking the leap.
Well, it sure seems worth it to me. I met Solo last week to pick up my board, and she’s a beauty. She’s a real chunk, but very appropriately so, and I must say represents timeless quality of construction. She wasn’t cheap, but reflecting on things, I realize that during the whole time boards “weren’t keeping up with inflation,” you were simply getting less for the same money.
Pigment, cutlaps, deep-polished gloss, crisp pinline work… Combine that with realistic volume, wonderfully flowing lines, and a preposterous variety of fin options, and there really isn’t much more you could ask for.
6’8" x 15ish x 21ish x 17ish x 3 1/8" with a soft rail lift up front and harder, more down rail in the tail, but full all the way around with much float carried far fore and aft. It’s a big strong surfer’s dream machine and I can promise it won’t be the last one I get through Solo.
Thanks to Cheyne Horan and Geoff McCoy for the design inspiration. Thanks to Tim Stamps for the fantastic shape. Thanks to Waterman’s Guild for a sublime glass job. Thanks to Larry Allison for the wonder of options that is Probox and the hand-foiled Spitfire fin.
Most of all, thanks to Solo for everything. He’s been there through emails and phone calls, got in his car and rode to meet me, and has earned a friend in the process. He’s a solid dude, and an honest businessman to boot. It doesn’t always seem like there are enough folks left like that in our sport.
I would love to include here a ride report, but given today’s marine forecast of SW 30-40 kt with gusts over 45 and 9-12 ft of short period sideshore slop, it probably won’t be happening yet.
shaka,
-church
