Tom Morey’s idea that symmetry is a waste of time interests me. Water doesn’t seem to know better. How important is it, if at all?
For 90% of surfers it`s just a sales tool. The same goes for ultra pointed noses and high gloss finish. Humans are both mentally and physically asymmetrical. Modern mainstream surfing is fast becoming “The Innermost Limits of Pure Bullshit”. Tom Morey was right.
I think surfboards are symmetrical mostly because of aesthetics. Its function is totally open to debate. People think hey whatever, it looks the coolest, so they buy it. First impressions sell more than any other factor. The appearance of balanced proportions (even if they`re dead wrong) attract the most consumers having the lowest common denominator of intelligence. My $.02
I have always toed the line with the tradition that symmetry represents quality craftsmanship. I do however believe that it is unnecessary to performance, in fact, assymetrical boards are under investigated, and it is only the market which drives the resistance to such a concept as odd rails or two different outlines per side of a board. Everybody who has shaped any respectable number of boards checks out the sameness of a boards rails when they eye off a competitor - but there’s a difference between bumps and dips in an outline and functional assymetry. A handful of name shapers have done assymetrical boards as a freak, I’ve seen channels only on one side, crosses between pin and swallow, they’re all interesting. How about purpose built twisted rocker? http://www.speedneedle.com.au
Asymmetry by design is very different than “oops” followed by “what the hell.” Altering the outline also alters the foil, deck and bottom. A lot to get right. Still better to experiment than to do the same thing. Rob Olliges
I had considered the benefits of shaping an asym board specifically designed for a certain wave, like say the superbank. Maybe a board that would hold a good line on the face yet offer a nice release for cutbacks. I don’t doubt that it has been done in the past, if anyone has attempted it I 'd be curios about the results. -jim
I haven’t seen them much anymore, but back in 70’-80’s anyone who has seen the little groms in the islands ripping on the pieces of plywood doesn’t need to know that it’s the shape, it’s the surfer. Give Slater a door and he’ll surf better than anyone of us with our best board, thats just the way it is. A good shape enhances ability, but thats it. But we all want to be proud of our skills, and thats means a perfectly symetrical, beatutifuul foiled, shiny sled…with pretty thin pinlines. -Jay
racking my brain and my computer… for a picture from a few months ago. Guy named camel ( i believe) shaped what was said to be the “perfect left wave board” it was quite unsymmetrical, with a twinzer set up, but the back right fin was a fin box, others were glassed in. also, the fins were not aligned with stringer… that was very noticable. I guess symmetry doesnt matter if you know what the effect will be, such as a perfect board for one wave.
the main thing with symmetry is having a board that works the same whichever direction (left or right) it goes. however, i believe it is possible to have an asymmetric board that works equally well going either way. as far as quality control, it’s easier to have a symmetrical board. that way, if it’s a dog, it’s easier to see why.
I think the new/current Surfer’s Journal has an article on this guy Camel, with a photo of the fin section of one of his boards featuring a “half-Bonzer” config or something. Can anyone verify? I’m sorting piles and jettisoning heaps of crap and wouldn’t know where to begin to look for it tonight.
The best craftsmenship boards that l have seen,and by that l mean the most spot on shapes from rails to foils, were done by a guy who couldn’t surf very good at all, they went shithouse, so therefore his theories were wrong because he couldn’t feel what had to be done, the best he could do was guess or copy other well respected shapers ideas, l will stick my neck out here and claim that 80% of the guys shaping are like this, the only difference between them is that some of them are better with their hands than others, hence symetry. KR
I read somewhere that perfect symmetry isn’t necessary because people surf differently frontside than they do backside. Made sense to me, but I still agree that symmetry is a sign of good craftsmanship. Unless a board is completely machine shaped, I don’t see how it could be perfectly symmetrical.
Hey Nels, the current Journal has a pic of this unique board. It has a slight asymetrical tail, center box offset, two shallow bonzer sides, and another halfmoon type fin forward and offset of on of the bonzer sides. I’ve never seen another like it- he says it’s the “best tube-riding board ever”. KR brings up a good point. It is probably safe to say that most guys are merely reproducing what others have already done. No wonder board design is stagnant. How many people are truly trying different things?
Hey Ryan, For the inquisitive custom builder, true craftsmanship ideally relates to a designs intended function. Is it for a specific type of wave or rider? Built for extreme lightness or maximum durability? Hollow waves or flat? Choppy or smooth conditions? Maneuverbility or speed? Rigidity or flex? Safety? The surfing disciplines which can most naturally utilize functional symmetry are those which ride waves in symmetrical body positions... kneeling, sitting or prone. Just because most surfcraft are built as compromises, influenced by a number of factors unrelated to actual wave riding, it doesnt follow that there arent a multitude of valid possibilities outside the conventional. IMHO, symmetry is just one of many options, not necessarily an indication of the builders skill or a design requirement. Heres one of Geoff Gouldens highly successful efforts… 
This asymetrical discussion creeps up every few months or so. I have said this then and i’ll say it again. If you look at he edge control of a snowboard, (especially on a compettitive race board where the angles of the feet are something like 45degrees to 60 degree) it made perfect sense that the edges should be offset to match the drastic foot angles. Drastic assymetric boards appeared in the mid 90’s and after a 3-4 year run they have all but disapeared. WHY? Lets examine edge (rail) pressure in relationship to body mass. the pressure points for turning on your toe side edge (forehand, or facing the wave) are the balls of your feet, and conversely for a backside turn you put pressure on the heels of your feet. That offset on your board might be a few inches, however your bady mass is more or less over the same axis. The original designers of asymetrical boards argued incorrectly that the entire body mass is offset. This is not the case. If it were then the boards would have been faster than symmetrical boards and riders using them would have a huge equipment advantage over those that didn’t. Well, needless to say the winners of races were sometimes on a symetrical board, and sometimes on an asymetrical board. I myself have ridden both and can tell no difference. So what does this have to do with surfing. Well the principal of body mass and the offset of your feet is similiar. However given the liquid nature of where a surfbaoads rails are supposed to dig in, and the fact that you are using only one rail (save for cutbacks, snaps, etc) make the rational for an asymetrical board even less valid. In fact I would argue that say when doing a cutback the offset tail might actually provide a greater amount of drag, thus slowing rebound time from the wave. Maybe, who knows… The idea of a board designed to be ridden on only one wave direction is a very interesting idea. However i might argue that you are now creating a board that was never meant to be riddden in the othger direction, thus completely taking out half the equation, which in turn argues that it is not an asymetrical board at all. Asymetrical board, by nature, is a board that is optimal both frontside and backside My three cents Drew
“I myself have ridden both and can tell no difference.” Theres either a difference in sensation or performance, or there isnt. Or maybe you just can`t tell the difference.
Allright Ryan and Dale - that was the photo I sw in TSJ. Since you took the time, I’ll see if I can get around to photographing the warped tail on an old board of mine that allowed the nicest cutbacks I’ve ever done.
Thanks for the pic Dale. Surely symmetry is only one factor in surfcraft design. As always, I dig your input. That would be great Nels!
I rode an asymmetrical back in in the late 70’s. Made by a friend; the front side was a drawn out template with the wide spot well forward. The backside was real curvy in the tail, almost like he had flipped the template. I could definately tell the difference as cut backs and top turns were real loose. Problem was, if you wanted to go backside, there was no drive at the bottom and cutbacks had no snap. If you are only going to ride one kind of wave, they make sense. But for most of us that like mixing a few backside waves now and then, they are way too confining. If you ride a thruster with removable fins, try putting different shaped or size fins on each side of the cluster and see what happens…
The warped tail rocker one is akin to my point . But you guys all have good points,. The snowboard guy has a good point though i tend to go with the idea that backhand surfing is enough of a different use of body weight and feet pressure to respond best to a rail different to the forehand one. Why would an assymetrical board be only rideable in one direction ? Surely the board would be customised to a riders foot pressure on the backhand/forehand, rather than just going one way??? http://www.speedneedle.com.au