When you make surfboards the opportunity to make yourself a
surfboard is ever present. So it’s possible to find yourself with a decent size quiver
of boards over time.
Years ago when surfboards were evolving I never really had
more than one surfboard at a time. Reason being designs were going through
changes, so I would make a surfboard, surf it, determine what I’d like to
change, make another board with the changes, surf it until determining what
needed to be changed. The idea being at some point one could refine a design
until you were ultimately happy and didn’t make any more changes. That’s how a
surfboard model was born.
On my web sites surfboards page I have 16 different models
listed. And me being me, I’ve got to surf the boards I make. So at one time or
another I’ve had each one of those models…. except one. I’ve surfed the
"except one” but haven’t had one of my own. And I want one really bad.
Currently I’ve got a ’67, Tip Tool, PSQ, Dream Cycle, H2, Stubbie Quad, a Seventies Single… I don’t have that one listed and Blinky’s Mega Fish, which isn’t a model I make. Every one of these boards I like a lot. Each board has its own characteristics and I could be happy if I only had one. Any one would be fine. But hey, I make surfboards so why would I settle for just one? Maybe I’d have just one or maybe two if they weren’t so hard to part with. The last board I let go of was my Gadget. I loved that board but this guy kept asking me to sell it to him. Finally I gave in and sold it to him. He was barely out of the drive way when I started regretting my decision to sell. Lesson learned all be it the hard way.
Ok, the one board model I haven’t had for myself is the
T&G. The T is for trim and the G is for Glide. Trim and Glide is the new
fun in long board surfing. You want them long. A minimum of 4” longer than the
long board you usually ride or even 10’6 to 11’. Though I’ve made mini versions, I want the
long version.
Not only do you have great glide on the wave the board paddles so well you glide into waves too. Fast in trim, casual turning and turn backs, down the line speed, stable under your feet. I’ve got to make myself one of these.
The problem with having a quiver of boards to surf is
sometimes when you’re at the beach the board you have with you is not the one
you wish you had with you. I’ve got a van and sometimes I’ll have 4 boards in
my van when I get to the beach. I look at the surf and think dang I should have
brought the Tip Tool. Yeah, that’s just surf crazy.
D.R
Steve with his 11’1 T&G
