"Some Pics (lots!)"
not enough!!! that thing looks awsome! we need action shots and more board shots.
how'd you do it? what are you trying to achieve? you have my attention.
I posted the images for people to chew on, if they like.
there are 4 different boards pictured.
High-Speed Rail Flextails…
Great looking boards Allan, youve got a really interesting and unique concept going on there! I hope I get to ride one someday.
I don’t have a black board so I have always wondered whether or not the wax melts off, does it?
Very interesting concept but I wonder how your back foot will fit the shape of that deck???? Do you build it up with foam?
No foam on these. It feels like an arch bar under the back foot (although you could add traction if you wanted), and if you’re standing that far back, you can control the flex with foot pressure.
Wax melting is not a problem if the deck is not directly in the sun…
I would love to hear your feedback on how it rides, and your take on the particulars on why you have gone for this style of tail, etc. the board look brilliant and your workman ship is excellent!
They work well, very fast on the rail. That’s the first thing that you notice: how fast and “hot-knife-through-butter” the board is with the rail volume removed. I’ve never ridden an alaia, but it may be a similar effect.
The tail area increased,from the first couple of more standard swallows (which were customs and I couldn’t convince him to go with the wider tail- which, after he saw, really liked- go figure!) anyway, the incut rail and modified swallow are all about increasing the flex load on the tail- so you can bend more rocker in off the bottom, and have it snap out.
Also, at speed- pumping down the line, for example- the flex will actually reverse out (negative tail rocker). Not much, but enough to prevent cavitation- to keep a clean laminar flow off the tail. Its an interesting effect! You can actually feel the slight shift where the tail lifts a little and the nose stays down. Its like a trim tab on a boat.
Hitting a section and landing feels like there’s a suspension under you…that little bit of give in the tail keeps the rest of the board smooth. Same thing in hollow sections- the tail is essentially micro-trimming.
Anyway, it all comes out of a longtime fascination with Greenough’s boards, and of my desire to experiment with designs and materials .
With all the flexing going on, does it change the cant or angle of attack on the ctr. fin? A Simmons style Casper would be interesting built as such.
Sometimes there’s an assumtion that he board itself flexes like a ski or snowboard, …but surfboards aren’t skis, oviously. So, to clarify- the board itself is very rigid, the flex area is limited to the thin panel in the tail.
My experience with multi-fin set-ups set in flex panels showed that the fins tend to fight one another, though with the right tuning it could work. I just prefer a solid fin arrangement- the fins are part of the board and vey solidy set (stiff, carbon-fiber fins, reinforced fin systems anchored in carbon fiber).
I see, not so much twist but flex up and down. Cool, looks hard to make.
Wow, allangibbons, very impressive. Those things look like they are a real bitch to make.
What about the slightly reduced volume in the tail, is that noticeable when riding, or not so much? I wonder if that tail section reduces overall board volume by 5% or 10% or what, and if you then tried to add volume somewhere else?
How do you think it would ride with more flex area - ie., if the flexy part was a greater proportion of the overall board?
Thanks for sharing!
Nice Allen.
I like to see innovation.
Allan you continue to amaze… Ever since I saw you paintings at the place you shared w/Perry… Ha!
Love to try one of those one day… I’m with you on it… Lot’s more work than up for at this time…
Thanks for sharing.
looks great, very cool! The tail reminds me of bowtie pasta! I Dig the Chucks inspired board. Mr. Gibbons, This is why I love this site! Someday I'll ride have to ride one myself. I'll just have to stay clear of the tail section during wipe outs...fins and the tail could decaptitate.