picked the 6’10" stepchild up a few weeks back in Santa Monica – have surfed it a few times – long island – el porto and the hook in santa cruz – board has met and exceeded the specs so far – fits in a standard rental – easy to carry through airports (only $25 to fly with on JetBlue) – kinda bulletproof = no dings (yet) – i have had it out in junk – it takes some getting used to, but def works – had it out in clean surf at the hook – caught waves better than lbs – would have been great if not for the crowds and loosing my fin (don’t ask) – had it out in windy junk at el porto – fun rides – had it out this am in maybe waist to shoulder high pretty clean waves on long island – had my 9’10" out first but wanted a change so took the stepchild – after the initial difference (3 feet i guess) it was a blast – late take off are super easy and fun – it hold in the pocket – it is fast – turns great – holds through most white water – usubg a greenough paddle fin – not sure if i like the farberow flex or greenough paddle yet – subtle differences – crazy think is – you can noseride the 6’10" – i am not proficient at it yet, but you can def get up there – i think it is an excellent travel board as well as an excellent transition board from long to short with minimal frustration – so now when i travel and figure i will have more than one session of surf time i take the stepchild AND neumatic surfmat – we are about to get our first tropical storn so i hope to have an update for you in bigger surf –
Hey, man. Am I to understand that there’s a Brom Stepchild out on the East Coast? If so, I’d be interested in seeing it in action sometime. I was out in SB a few weeks ago, and picked up my Brom fish at the Beach House. While I was in there, I was seriously considering bringing home one of those Stepchilds, too. I’ve been telling Steve that’s my next order. The shape really intrigued me. Curious to hear more feedback…
Nilus
p.s. I’m in NYC, and when I surf LI, I usually hit Long Beach. Been out there with the red 5’6" a few times recently.
Hey Tim,
Did you have the Step Child out in Long Beach last night? I think those waves would have probably been great fun on a board like that.
Seems as though there’s a few of us interested in “different” surf craft scattered about the LB area, nilus included. I met someone Wednesday morning at Lincoln who saw my Mandala fish and told me he has a Brom fish coming…he knew you. Maybe I misunderstood, and it was nilius?
Maybe some day we’ll all end up coincidentally surfing the same break, also have Mike M. and Mike L. with the Bonzers, my friend Mike with his Mandala, another guy with Mandala flex tail Canard Quad, etc…
I’ll call you about the Dale mats…
Wasn’t me…but it is kinda interesting that there are a lot of us in the same area. Especially since I consider Long Beach “Lost… central” on the East Coast. Not knocking that by the way, as I have a couple Mayhem shapes stashed in my closet. I’m often at Sandy Hook and other spots in NJ, but lately I’ve been cruising to LB for the southern exposure (sounds like it’ll be getting by Wed). Maybe we can organize an alternate surf craft day or something. I have also been interested in seeing a Mandala in person.
Nilus
Cool, here’s mine…I dig it.
i’m long island based and considering ordering a brom…no worries shipping?
Well, I had no problems with shipping on my Mandala…glassed-on keels and all. Came FedEx securely packed about $100.
not sure per shipping but i assume steve packs it better than expected (i picked my brom fish and my stepchild up from steve in LA) – i wasn’t out last night on the stepchild (still in PA) – this morning was really fun though – so difficult to describe how the stepchild works but to say that it is a combo of my longboards and my fish – the most difficult thing to get over is that although it looks like you are paddling a longboard, you aren’t (steve you were so right!) – once you get that out of your head the thing is a blast – only 6’10" but lots of float and little rocker – it moves (not as fast as the fish) but it moves and turns more like a longboard than a fish – yes nilus, there truly is a stepchild here on long island (ask steve who inspired it) – not sure what conditions it will work best it (cleaner the better though, as with most i guess) – difficult decision what to surf these days – def looking forward to some long clean lines to take the liddle out in though – talk about speed! i will prob be in lb tomorrow am trying to decide what to ride – dubstar will be hooked on the neumatic as soon as i get my act together and get it to him; anyone else on LI ride one of dale’s mats?
Sounds like you guys have one of those “broken home” families going. Maybe we could call you step brothers. That thing has no history, so you are, or will be; testing and original that will need feedback. Different fins will be the key. Try a lot of them. Also, that thing sure isn’t going to win any beauty contest.
The coolest thing about what you all are talking about is that it’s totally new and original, so to have it on the east coast and feed back to Bromski out here is unique. Have fun!
BTW – I saw Coral today. She’s growing like a weed, and I know her Dad will be beating them off with a stick.
Skip, tell Coral we really miss her! Is she riding her surf mat?
Roger
gents- you have grabbed my interest- can you please post a photo of a stepchild? thank you ever so much.
Like all kids growing up, she’s fearsly independent and defiant. She’s discarded all alternative vehicles and went over to the CI shop and bought some POS thruster Kelly throb model. Soon, she’ll be back.
I like here zebra skin shoes though.
Now back to surfing.
i thought coral was only riding those 12’ surf paddleboards?
my stepchild is the greenish colored one of the right
it looks kinda like a shrunken Ugly
it is a very subtle board (although not so subtle looking)
eastern skip – what are you riding these days?
so far i think i like the greenough paddle fin better, although i like the drive and snap of the farberow –
Thank you Mr. Epac- hmmm, very interesting! Donald Takayama shaped some short Nuuhiwa noseriders about 20 years ago but they were about a foot longer and, by the looks of things, a bit loggier. Next time I pass thru’ SB I’ll have to heft one.
eastern skip – what are you riding these days?
I’ve got a great number of boards, mostly by Wayne Rich and Renny and Lauran Yater. For the most part I’ve seized opportunities I’ve had being friends w/ these great guys, kind of similar to what Jim Phillips had said about all of his neighbors down south. Wayne and I have become close friends, and I have great respect and admiration w/ his skill and how he handles himself. He’s a guy who learned from the old masters of the South Bay, a dying breed. We have worked together on traditional boards as well as totally original one of a kind “specials”. He’s one of the best in my book, always upping himself and learning from others too.
I have pictures all over the place, but no scanner. I can get some scanned if you would be interested. Some of the Yaters are priceless to me, they feel like museum pieces. I have a Black Volan Spoon w/ a clear deck,wide laps, and Black spoon fin, that might be the first spoon Lauran shaped. Renny shaped me a couple of his Guns, and semi’s. Anyway, they are all over the place, but still have idea boards in the works; one, or two w/ Steve Brom.
Now that I have some time I’ll get some photos together.
boards sound like fun – do you know a really smart guy lauran yater is friends with that happens to be in a wheelchair? i forget his name, but met him at a computer conference a few years back – great guy – spoke very highly of lauran – if you know him tell him the guy from oscon san diego says hello
stepchild:what kind of rails on last half of board? thanks
Me too, I’m interested in a full rundown of measurements etc.
Hicksy
per specs it is best to e-mail steve – the thing about the board is that i can say “the rails are pretty pinched” or “turned down” or whatever – the problem is that the design is so subtle (i.e. the soft rails, rounded bottom, kick in tail etc all working together) that i truly will only hiurt the description. if steve reads this i am sure he will comment.