I was looking around on Tom Wegener’s website yesterday and reading his description of riding his “Crusader” model with a D fin. Also watched his short one wave video of his mid length board dubbed “Plankton”.
I’m still scratching my head trying to figure out how he got across the flat section of the wave. The momentum he had was just amazing.
Since I don’t live that far away from him I reckon I’m going to have to go and have a better look at that board.
Ironic that wood as a boardbuilding material was literally abandoned en masse by surfers and now in the era of unparralelled technological advancement it seems to be enjoying a comeback.
Then of course we have the various combinations of woods used in Sunova’s and firewires, Hess’s and many others and things are getting really interesting.
funny you should mention that about wood. i had a conversation with Jason Blewitt today. he has taken my “hermatige series” 6’4" for a few surfs in Byron over the last few days. it was my first prototype build and has a few bumps and humps in it that im embarressed about. however he really was impressed with the speed, drive and handling capabilities of it. wood has amazing qualitys for flex and dampening ,livelyness etc. i think lots of truly magic boards have thier wood content to thank. maybe kellys lucky simon board has a magic piece of wood in it…
I was looking around on Tom Wegener’s website yesterday and reading his description of riding his “Crusader” model with a D fin. Also watched his short one wave video of his mid length board dubbed “Plankton”.
I’m still scratching my head trying to figure out how he got across the flat section of the wave. The momentum he had was just amazing.
Since I don’t live that far away from him I reckon I’m going to have to go and have a better look at that board.
Ironic that wood as a boardbuilding material was literally abandoned en masse by surfers and now in the era of unparralelled technological advancement it seems to be enjoying a comeback.
Then of course we have the various combinations of woods used in Sunova’s and firewires, Hess’s and many others and things are getting really interesting.
I would really be interested in what you see. I’m with you on scratching my head, I’m also really wondering why he has gone almost holey to wood. Looking forward to your feed back on this one. I would love to join you on your trip except I’m in CA so it is a little more out of my way. B
Weight has a lot to do with wood boards being a good ride… and if all the wood is well picked and alighned, magik.
I recently rode a balsa 9’4" singlefin and was realy surprised by the way 75lbs of wood can make speed, ignores chop and the velvet smooth ride…(starts drooling,again). So impressed am I that in gonna make a 8’6 gun from pine, though its hard to find the good wood.
I gotta tell ya, i’m making my first chambered cedar board and it’s way more satisfying than foam. I don’t want to shape foam at all anymore. Building surfboards with wood is where the gratification is.
I took my 6’2" chambered balsa single fin out this morning. It was foggy, but the crowd was light and the waves were fun. It has been exactly one year since I finished it, and the spar varnish is holding up well. It is my favorite board in my quiver. All of my other foam boards feel too light and flippy floppy to me after riding this wooden board. Wood, although very stiff, has the perfect amount of flex. It has a certain resonance that just feels right when you are up on a wave.
Agree. The process of taking the fibers of a felled tree and giving new life to the lumber in the form of a wave riding vehicle is soulful and fulfilling. Wood boards connect us with the very roots of surfing, it’s heritage. There is of course this large need we all have for chemically produced foam surfbords just as there is a need for the internet, cell phones, and all things “modern”, but there is also a internal need within all of us to be connected with simplicity and those things natural and beautiful. Wood is good. Wood is a great way to Enjoy the ride!
Got on the phone today and had a chat to Tom Wegener so I’ll drop in and see him this Saturday or next Wednesday. I’ll see if I can get some photos of his “Plankton” model which is the name he’s given to his egg in the 7-8’ range.
man that looks like something really special. Your build? Any more pictures of that? Different angles/build pics etc. Is that some nice kind of cherry and balsa? Really pretty, nice cuts.
