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SURFBOARD CLASSES & SUB CLASSES

Shortboards | Mid Lengths & Eggs | Longboards | Fish | Specialty Boards


 
CLASS | SHORTBOARDS

SHORTBOARD | GROVELER | THE "MERLIN"

DESCRIPTION & RANGE of CONDITIONS Double Downs or grovelers are shortboard designed for small, marginal knee high to head high waves and all conditions. Notably shorter and wider and moderately thicker than pure shortboards. All the design elements are tuned to create lift, acceleration, projection, speed and maneuverability in smaller and merginal conditions.

ROCKER Relaxed entry rocker, strong speed box, and moderate tail rocker.

PROFILE & FOIL Subtle foil with adequate volume throughout. Volume shifted slightly forward beginning in the 2020s.

OUTLINE Shorter (2" to 4") and wider (1/2" to 3/4") throughout than a pure shortboard with fuller nose and tail, maximizing surface area in a shortboard. RPT, Squash, Thumb, or Swallow Tail.

BOTTOM CONTOURS Single to double concave with peak of double in the fins for marginal to average waves or single concave for average to critical waves. Optional reverse vee featuring vee to double to single concave.

RAILS Full or moderately boxy. Full or moderately crowned.

FINS Thruster or quad.


SHORTBOARD | STEP DOWN | THE "PEREGRINE"

DESCRIPTION & RANGE of CONDITIONS Step Downs are shortboard designed for knee high to overhead waves and all conditions. Slightly shorter and wider and moderately thicker than previous generations of shortboards. Emphasis on more surface area for marginal and average waves yet nuanced sufficiently for control and stability in critical waves. The Peregrine is a step down high performance shortboard designed 1" to 2" shorter than a pure shortboard. This design offers shortboard performance in both marginal and critical smaller and medium size waves. These shapes evolved from surfers looking for a shorter tighter turning radius to maximize performance in these conditions. The shorter rail line makes it an excellent design for vertical maneuvers. This shorter compact design performs in larger surf as well. The Peregrine has evolved into an every day board for performance surfing.

ROCKER Relaxed entry rocker, solid speed box, and moderate tail rocker.

PROFILE & FOIL Subtle foil with adequate volume throughout. Volume shifted slightly forward beginning in the 2020s.

OUTLINE Slightly shorter (1" to 2") and marginally wider (1/4" to 1/2") than a pure shortboard. Slightly more surface area than a pure shortboard. RPT, Squash, Thumb, or Swallow Tail.

BOTTOM CONTOURS Single to double concave with peak of double in the fins for marginal to average waves or single concave for average to critical waves. Optional reverse vee featuring vee to double to single concave.

RAILS Moderately boxy or moderatley crowned.

FINS Thruster or quad.


SHORTBOARD | EVOLVING SHORTBOARD | THE "PEREGRINE RT"

DESCRIPTION & RANGE of CONDITIONS The Peregrine RT is a shortboard designed for knee high to overhead waves and all conditions. Slightly shorter and wider and moderately thicker than previous generations of shortboards. The Peregrine RT combines Redtail rockers and foils for acceleration, projection, speed and control with Peregrine outlines for lift and maneuverability. Rockers, profiles, and foils adopted from the Redtail offer maximum acceleration, projection, speed and control. Outlines adopted from the Peregrine with the wide point pulled back create more surface area and curve from wide point to tail. The extra surface area and curve offer maneuverability with lift and release. The combination of these two primary design features creates a board that excels across the whole spectrum of waves and conditions.

ROCKER Relaxed entry rocker, solid speed box, and lower tail rocker.

PROFILE & FOIL Subtle foil with adequate volume throughout. Volume shifted moderately forward.

OUTLINE Slightly shorter and marginally wider than previous generations of shortboards featuring slightly more surface area. RPT, Squash, Thumb, or Swallow Tail.

BOTTOM CONTOURS Single to double concave with peak of double in the fins for marginal to average waves or single concave for average to critical waves. Optional reverse vee featuring vee to double to single concave.

RAILS Moderately boxy or moderatley crowned.

FINS Thruster or quad.


SHORTBOARD | EVOLVING SHORTBOARD | THE "PEREGRINE RT 24"

DESCRIPTION & RANGE of CONDITIONS The Peregrine RT 24 is a shortboard designed for knee high to overhead waves and all conditions. Slightly shorter and wider and moderately thicker than previous generations of shortboards. The Peregrine RT 24 features lower tail rocker and deeper concaves. The lower tail rocker increases acceleration and speed. The deeper concaves create extra curve in the rail rocker maintaining quickness, tight turning radii, and maximum maneuverability. The lower tail rocker and increased rail rocker created by the deeper concaves are the key design features that differentiate the Peregrine RT 24 from the Peregrine RT.

ROCKER Relaxed entry rocker, solid speed box, and low tail rocker.

PROFILE & FOIL Subtle foil with adequate volume throughout. Volume shifted forward.

OUTLINE Slightly shorter and marginally wider than previous generations of shortboards featuring slightly more surface area. RPT, Squash, Thumb, or Swallow Tail.

BOTTOM CONTOURS Deeper single to double concave with peak of double in the fins for marginal to average waves or single concave for average to critical waves. Optional reverse vee featuring vee to double to single concave.

RAILS Moderately boxy or moderatley crowned.

FINS Thruster or quad.


SHORTBOARD | PURE SHORTBOARD | THE "REDTAIL POCKET ROCKET"

DESCRIPTION & RANGE of CONDITIONS A pure shortboard is designed for waist high to overhead waves and all conditions. The design elements are tuned to create, control, and maintain power, acceleration, projection, speed, and maneuverability in a variety of conditions. The Redtail Pocket Rocket is the original Natural Curves high performance shortboard and a quintessential contemporary shortboard.

ROCKER Relaxed entry rocker, speed box, and moderate tail rocker.

PROFILE & FOIL Well foiled, but not over foiled with adequate volume throughout. Volume shifted slightly forward beginning in the 2020s.

OUTLINE RPT, Squash, Thumb, or Swallow Tail.

BOTTOM CONTOURS Vee to single to double concave or vee to single concave. Optional reverse vee featuring vee to double to single concave.

RAILS Moderatley crowned or thin crowned.

FINS Thruster or quad.


SHORTBOARD | STEP UP | THE "WOLF"

DESCRIPTION & RANGE of CONDITIONS The Step Up is designed for head high to well overhead waves and the start of heavy water conditions. This design extends shortboard performance into waves too thick, powerful, or fast for a pure shortboard.

ROCKER Relaxed entry rocker, speed box, and moderate tail rocker.

PROFILE & FOIL Well foiled, but not over foiled with adequate volume throughout. Volume shifted forward. Slightly thicker than a pure shortboard with extra volume integrated into the core of the board.

OUTLINE Slightly longer (2" to 4") than a pure shortboard. RPT, Squash, Thumb, or Swallow Tail.

BOTTOM CONTOURS Vee to single to double concave, vee to single concave, or reverse vee. Concaves are slightly shallower than they are in shorter boards. Optional reverse vee featuring vee to double to single concave.

RAILS Moderatley crowned or thin crowned.

FINS Thruster or quad.


SHORTBOARD | SEMI GUNS | THE "OSPREY"

DESCRIPTION & RANGE of CONDITIONS The Semi Gun is designed for overhead to triple overhead waves and heavy water conditions. This design extends shortboard and step up performance into waves too thick, powerful, or fast to surf with a smaller surfboard.

ROCKER Relaxed entry rocker, speed box, and moderate tail rocker.

PROFILE & FOIL Well foiled, yet solid volume. Thicker than a step up or pure shortboard with extra volume integrated into the core of the board.

OUTLINE Notably longer than a step up or a pure shortboard. RPT, Pin, or Swallow Tail.

BOTTOM CONTOURS Semi Guns can feature concave, convex, or reverse vee bottom contours. Concave bottoms feature vee entry to single to double concave or vee to single concave. Concaves are moderately shallower than they are in smaller boards. Convex bottoms feature vee entry to tri plane wide point to panel vee wide point to tail. Reverse vee bottoms feature vee in nose and entry transitioning to single or double concaves in the tail or vee to double to single concave.

RAILS Moderatley crowned.

FINS Thruster or quad.


SHORTBOARD | XXL GUNS | THE "SEA EAGLE"

DESCRIPTION & RANGE of CONDITIONS The XXL Gun is designed for triple overhead plus waves and extreme heavy water conditions. This design is very simple and fundamental - catch the wave, make the drop, accelerate dramatically on demand.

ROCKER Relaxed entry rocker, speed box, and relaxed tail rocker.

PROFILE & FOIL Well foiled, yet solid volume. Flat or crowned deck. Flat decks offer added volume and stability.

OUTLINE Sleek. No drag in water or wind. RPT, Pin, or Swallow.

BOTTOM CONTOURS Classic tri plane to panel vee, tri plane to extremely shallow double concave to vee, or reverse vee.

RAILS Full yet chiseled for stability and maximum control.

FINS Single fin, thruster, or quad.
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CLASS | MID LENGTHS & EGGS

CLASS | EGGS | SPEED EGGS | THE "SPEED EGG"

DESCRIPTION & RANGE of CONDITIONS Designed for knee high to overhead waves and all conditions. Full templated all around board designed for flat to overhead waves in all conditions. The Speed Egg carves like a shortboard and trims like a longboard. It's widely acknowledged that Eggs are one of the most versatile surfboard designs offering quality performance for a diverse range of surfers.

ROCKER Low entry rocker, low continuous curve mid board, and moderate tail rocker.

PROFILE & FOIL Long mellow foil. Moderate crowned deck.

OUTLINE Clean full templated RPT.

BOTTOM CONTOURS Classic tri plane to rolled panel vee.

RAILS Moderatley crowned. Neutral nose and wide point. Low in the tail.

FINS 2 + 1, thruster, or quad.


CLASS | MID LENGTH | SUB CLASS PERFORMANCE | THE "SPEED EGG PLUS"

DESCRIPTION & RANGE of CONDITIONS Designed for knee high to overhead waves and all conditions. These Performance Mid Length designs integrate components from modern shortboards and contemporary contemporary eggs into a surfboard with significant surface area and volume. Contemporary design elements facilitate easy board management combining the thrill of carve and trim.

ROCKER Relaxed entry rocker, low continuous curve mid board, and moderate tail rocker.

PROFILE & FOIL Long mellow foil. Moderate crowned deck.

OUTLINE Clean full template with curve. RPT or Squash.

BOTTOM CONTOURS Classic tri plane to rolled panel vee or tri plane to rolled panel vee to spiral vee the tail.

RAILS Moderatley crowned. Neutral nose and wide point. Low in the tail.

FINS 2 + 1, thruster, or quad.


CLASS | EGGS | ROCKET EGGS | THE "ROCKET EGG"

DESCRIPTION & RANGE of CONDITIONS Designed for knee high to overhead waves and all conditions. The Rocket Egg takes Egg performance to another level offering greater opportunity to carve turns in more critical waves.

ROCKER Low entry rocker, low continuous curve mid board, and moderate tail rocker.

PROFILE & FOIL Long mellow foil. Moderately crowned deck.

OUTLINE Clean full templated RPT. Shorter (2" to 4") than the classic Speed Egg with slightly narrower nose and tail.

BOTTOM CONTOURS Classic tri plane to rolled panel vee or tri plane to rolled panel vee to spiral vee the tail.

RAILS Moderatley crowned. Neutral nose and wide point. Low in the tail.

FINS 2 + 1, thruster, or quad.


CLASS | EGGS | STUB EGGS | THE "STUB EGG"

DESCRIPTION & RANGE of CONDITIONS Designed for knee high to overhead waves and all conditions. The Stub Egg is the shortest board in the Egg class and offers many of the performance features of a shortboard.

ROCKER Low entry rocker, short speed box, and moderate tail rocker.

PROFILE & FOIL Moderate foil. Moderately crowned deck.

OUTLINE Clean full templated RPT. Shorter (4" to 6") than the Rocket Egg with fuller nose and tail.

BOTTOM CONTOURS Classic tri plane to rolled panel vee or tri plane to rolled panel vee to spiral vee the tail.

RAILS Moderatley crowned. Neutral nose and wide point. Low in the tail.

FINS 2 + 1, thruster, or quad.


CLASS | MID LENGTH | SUB CLASS PERFORMANCE | THE "PEREGRINE EGG"

DESCRIPTION & RANGE of CONDITIONS Designed for knee high to overhead waves and all conditions. The Peregrine Egg is the Formula 1 of Mid Length designs. It integrates components from modern shortboards and contemporary eggs into a surfboard with significant surface area and volume. Contemporary design elements facilitate easy board management combining the thrill of carve and trim.

ROCKER Relaxed entry rocker, powerful speed box mid board, and moderate tail rocker.

PROFILE & FOIL Drawn out mellow foil. Crowned deck.

OUTLINE Round Pin Tail.

BOTTOM CONTOURS Classic tri plane to rolled panel vee or tri plane to rolled panel vee to spiral vee the tail.

RAILS Moderatley crowned. Neutral nose and wide point. Low in the tail.

FINS 2 + 1, thruster, or quad.
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CLASS | LONGBOARDS

LONGBOARDS | CLASSIC LBs

DESCRIPTION & RANGE of CONDITIONS Designed for flat to head high waves and all conditions. Classic longboards carve, trim, ride the nose and stall in a variety of conditions. Timing and positioning are the keys to successfully riding a classic longboard.

ROCKER Low continuous curve with moderate tail rocker.

PROFILE & FOIL Long subtle foil. Thin in the nose and tail. Moderate crowned deck.

OUTLINE Clean full template with curve. RPT, Pin Tail, Squash, or Square.

BOTTOM CONTOURS Classic rolled or tri plane to rolled panel vee.

RAILS Neutral nose and wide point. Low in the tail.

FINS Single fin.


LONGBOARDS | GLIDERS

DESCRIPTION & RANGE of CONDITIONS Gliders are the ultimate trimming machines. It is a classic design for classic surfing. A Glider's length, volume, foil, outline, and bottom contours provide great paddling mobility, catch waves effortlessly, offer smooth flowing turns and trims through every section a wave may offer. Gliders open a wide range of surfing possibilities and magic moments.

ROCKER Low continuous curve with moderate tail rocker.

PROFILE & FOIL Long subtle foil. Thin in the nose and tail. Moderately crowned deck.

OUTLINE Clean full template with curve for release and maneuverability. RPT, Pin Tail, Squash, or Square.

BOTTOM CONTOURS Tri plane entry and wide point with rolled panel vee wide pont to tail.

RAILS Neutral nose and wide point. Low in the tail.

FINS Single fin.


LONGBOARDS | CONTEMPORARY LBs

DESCRIPTION & RANGE of CONDITIONS Designed for flat to overhead waves and all conditions. Contemporary longboards carve, trim, ride the nose and stall in the same manner as a classic longboard. The additional rocker throughout, curve in the outline, and shortboard rails offer greater opportunity to carve turns in demanding waves.

ROCKER Low continuous curve with moderate tail rocker.

PROFILE & FOIL Long subtle foil. Thin in the nose and tail. Moderately crowned deck.

OUTLINE Clean full template with curve. RPT, Pin Tail, Squash, or Square.

BOTTOM CONTOURS Classic tri plane to rolled panel vee.

RAILS Mimic shortboard rails. Neutral nose, neutral wide point, and low in the tail.

FINS 2 + 1, thruster, or quad.


LONGBOARDS | FUN GUN LBs | THE "MAKAHA FUN GUN"

DESCRIPTION & RANGE of CONDITIONS Designed for chest high to double overhead waves and good to heavy water conditions. Fun Guns carve, trim, ride the nose and stall in the same manner as all longboards. The rocker, outline, and rails offer the control required to carve turns in demanding waves.

ROCKER Low continuous curve with moderate tail rocker.

PROFILE & FOIL Long subtle foil. Thin in the nose and tail. Moderate crowned deck.

OUTLINE Clean template with narrower nose and tail. RPT or Squash.

BOTTOM CONTOURS Classic tri plane to rolled panel vee.

RAILS Full crowned or moderately crowned. Mimic shortboard rails. Neutral nose, neutral wide point, and low in the tail.

FINS 2 + 1, thruster, or quad.
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CLASS | FISH

FISH | CLASSIC FISH

DESCRIPTION & RANGE of CONDITIONS Designed for flat to overhead waves and all conditions. Fish are a relatively short surfboard with a full nose, particularly straight outline, and a wide deep cut swallow tail. The subtle foil carries thickness throughout. The significant surface area and volume in a Fish offers excellent opportunities to surf small and marginal waves, The design performs well in overhead waves as well. Speed, paddling, and performance make Classic Fish a very attractive design.

ROCKER Notably low continuous curve.

PROFILE & FOIL: Very subtle foil. Full crown deck, flat deck, or concave deck.

OUTLINE Full throughout. Deep cut swallow tail.

BOTTOM CONTOURS Classic tri plane to rolled panel, tri plane to spiral vee, or tri plane to subtle single to double concave.

RAILS Moderately chiseled or chiseled and low - but not too thin.

FINS Keel twin fins.


FISH | QUAD FISH

DESCRIPTION & RANGE of CONDITIONS Designed for flat to overhead waves and all conditions. Quad Fish are also a relatively short surfboard with a full nose and a wide deep cut swallow tail. The outline has more curve than the Classic Fish. The foil carries moderate thickness throughout. The notable surface area and volume in a Quad Fish also offers excellent opportunities to surf small and marginal waves. The additional curve in the outline, moderate foil, and quad fin set up yield a Fish with great control in head high to overhead waves.

ROCKER Low continuous curve.

PROFILE & FOIL Moderate foil. Full crown deck, flat deck, or concave deck.

OUTLINE Full throughout. Deep cut swallow tail.

BOTTOM CONTOURS Classic tri plane to rolled panel, tri plane to spiral vee, or tri plane to subtle single to double concave.

RAILS: Moderately chiseled or chiseled and low - but not too thin.

FINS Quad.


FISH | ROCKET FISH

DESCRIPTION & RANGE of CONDITIONS Designed for waist high to double overhead waves and all conditions. Rocket Fish are the Step Up or Semi Gun of the Fish Class. The outline has the most curve of all Fish, reducing surface area in the nose and tail. The foil carries moderate thickness throughout. The surface area and volume in a Rocket Fish offer excellent paddling and great speed. The curve in the outline, moderate foil, and quad fin set up yield a Fish with great control in significant waves.

ROCKER Low continuous rocker.

PROFILE & FOIL Moderately well foiled. Full crown deck, flat deck, or concave deck.

OUTLINE Full with curve throughout. Deep cut swallow tail.

BOTTOM CONTOURS Classic tri plane to rolled panel, tri plane to spiral vee, or tri plane to subtle single to double concave.

RAILS Moderately chiseled or chiseled and low - but not too thin.

FINS Twin or Quad.
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CLASS | SPECIALTY BOARDS

SPECIALTY BOARDS | ERA RETRO BOARDS

DESCRIPTION & RANGE of CONDITIONS Era Retro boards are shortboard designs from the 60s, 70s, and 80s for the whole spectrum of surf conditions. The seductive feeling of a surfboard gliding like a pelican on the updraft of a moving wave risks being lost in some lower volume designs. Shortboards from the late 60s to the late 80s maintained the glide and trim performnce of the longboards that proceeded them. Retro boards feature low rocker profiles, fuller outlines, mellow bottom contours, and a complete variety of fin configurations.

ROCKER Low with some variation by the design.

PROFILE & FOILS Moderate foils. Various decks depending on the design.

OUTLINE Fuller than most contemporary shortboards.

BOTTOM CONTOURS Varies by the design - convex and concave.

RAILS Full crowned or moderately crowned. Varies by the design.

FINS Single Fins, 2 + 1s, Twin Fins, Bonzers, Thrusters, and Quads.


SPECIALTY BOARDS | SINGLE FINS

DESCRIPTION & RANGE of CONDITIONS Surfboards during the first two decades of the shortboard revolution (with the exception of the development of the Fish in the 70s and Twin fins in the 80s) were single fins. Rockers, profiles, and outlines varied by the design, but they all had one fin. Employing contemporary rockers, profiles, outlines, bottom contours, and rails – adjusting them for various conditions and a single fin – yields a "bitchn" Specialty Board.

ROCKER Varies by the design. Lower than contemporary shortboards.

PROFILE & FOIL Various foils and decks depending on the design.

OUTLINE RPT, Swallow, Squash, Square, or Diamond, or winged versions of these tails. Varies by the design.

BOTTOM CONTOURS Varies by the design - convex or concave.

RAILS Full box, crowned, or moderately crowned. Varies by the design.

FINS Single fin.


SPECIALTY BOARDS | TWIN FINS

DESCRIPTION & RANGE of CONDITIONS Designed for knee high to overhead waves and all conditions. Twin fins first developed in the late 60s, but were somewhat overlooked until Mark Richards embraced the design in the late 70s and early 80s. The narrow tails of single fins could limit performance with their lack of surface area. The extra tail width of the twin fin offered more surface area and flotation, and the twin fin configuration produced a fast loose and responsive surfboard. Twin fin design is a combination of rocker, outline, tail shape, fin positioning, and fin shape.

ROCKER Low entry, speed box, and low tail rocker.

PROFILE & FOIL Moderate foil. Crown, flat deck, or concave deck.

OUTLINE Balanced with slightly full nose and tail. RPTs and Swallow tails.

BOTTOM CONTOURS Varies by the design - convex or concave.

RAILS Full crowned or moderately crowned. Varies by the design.

FINS Twin fin.


SPECILTY BOARDS | THE "WIDOW MAKER" 2 + 1

DESCRIPTION & RANGE of CONDITIONS Credit to Dave Parmenter for conceptualizing, evolving, and popularizing the "Widow Maker" design in an era when alternatives to the current standard surfboard were very rare. The "Widow Maker 2 + 1" is a retro design capturing and blending evolved features from the halcyon days of single fin designs and contemporary thrusters. The fin configuration consists of a deeper center fin and smaller side bites than the typically equal sized three fins in a thruster set. This fin set up offers smooth rail to rail transitions and solid acceleration, projection, and speed. The outline, rocker, and profile or foil, and bottom contours are designed to work seamlessly with the 2 + 1 fin configuration. "Widow Maker" concepts and dimensions can be designed for waves from 2 to 20 feet.

ROCKER Relaxed entry, solid speed box mid board extended forward and aft, and moderate tail rocker.

PROFILE & FOIL Moderately foiled. Crown or flat deck depending on surfer's preference.

OUTLINE Fuller than contemporary shortboards with slightly narrower tails.

BOTTOM CONTOURS Convex option - Tri plane entry and wide point to panel vee or spiral vee wide point to tail. Concave option - Vee entry to single concave at wide point to double concave at fins to vee aft of fins.

RAILS Moderately chiseled profile on flat deck versions. Moderately crowned profile on crowned deck versions.

FINS 2 + 1 - 6 1/2" to 7" center fin plus 3" to 3 3/8" side bites.


SPECIALTY BOARDS | BONZERS | THE "BONZER"

DESCRIPTION & RANGE of CONDITIONS Designed for knee high to overhead waves and all conditions. The Bonzer was pioneered and developed by Duncan and Malcom Campbell beginning in 1969 - 70 in response to their perception of the limitations of speed and control of early shortboards particularly in powerful surf. The key elements of their design are the geometric triangular multi keel fin arrays and the single to double concave bottom with moderate to deep channels running parallel to the keel fins. The Bonzer fin configuration and bottom contours can be applied to most surfboard designs.

ROCKER Relaxed entry, speed box, and moderate tail rocker.

PROFILE & FOIL Moderately foiled. Moderately full crowned deck.

OUTLINE Balanced shortboard outlines. RPT, Squash, Thumb, or Swallow.

BOTTOM CONTOURS Single to dominant double concave with peak of double concave under the surfer’s stance or dominant single to double concave with single concave under the surfer’s stance. Two or four channels (depending on the number of keel fins) running parallel to the fins.

RAILS Moderately boxy or moderately crowned depending on surfer's size, skill, style, and preference.

FINS Two or four Bonzer "keel" fins plus 6 1/2" to 7 1/2" single fin.



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