re vs. v

Heyo!  I thought I'd take a minute here to explain a few differences between two shapes that I've been getting tons and tons of questions about - the v.Bowls, and the re.Bowls.  'The v.B' being the veteran here, and the 're.B' being the newcomer to the party; hopefully you're decently keen on the characteristics of what the v.B does and why its become so popular (really solid paddle power for their dimensions, extra loose ball-bearing kinda roll rail to rail, locked in trim from the center with insane drive off the back foot).
The Trimcraft brand/project has become a little bit of an outlet for some new and old designs that haven't gotten enough of my attention due to how busy my shapign scheudle has been the past year or so, and I was excited to lend the re.Bowls design to the shapers as a bit of a technical challenge, and a really good design to master a few difficult curves that I've found extremely useful.
So with that all said,  its important to note that the re.B was designed as a compliment, not as a substitute or replacement for the v.B and hopefully the following notes are helpful in learning the differences and why they exist:

Deck Shape:
v.B:  Super dome from the center to tail, long flat nose (this is where a lot of the extreme foiling of the shape comes into play).
re.B: Flatter under the back foot, slightly more nose rocker (more forgiving, less ball bearing feel).


Bottom
v.B:  Mellow belly/roll from the nose through the middle, with the curve apexing into a panel vee or spiral vee in the last 1/3 of the board (super fast in trim, lots of smooth and long projection off the bottom).re.B:  Mellow roll in the first 2' of the board, transitioning quickly into a triplane bottom with double concave through the back foot (quicker release when 'pumping', quicker transitions and better trim speed on flat sections of a wave; again, this plays into the lessening of the magical narrow-stance ball-bearing effect while adding to the shapes useability for beginner/intermediate surfers). 


Rails
v.B:  High in the nose, pinched 50/50 at middle, low/down in the tail with hard edge (important for the super fast trim they are known for).re.B:  High in the nose, transitioning quickly into 70/30 down rails through the rest of the board, down rail with hard edge in the tail (good speed on flat waves, quicker to release the rail from the face of the wave, more forgiving for beginners/intermediate surfers).



Rocker
v.B:  Long and low, with accelerating curve in the last 1/3 of the board.

re.B:  Same base-line rocker, slightly more nose flip, and slightly less tail kick.


Outline
v.B:  Narrow round nose, widepoint back, round-pin or round/thumb tail (more extreme penetration in the pocket, more 'round' feel of the back foot).re.B:  Narrow round nose, widepoint centered, narrow round tail (more neutral handling, responds better to mistakes for beginners/intermediates).


If I had to sum in up, I would say the re.Bowls is going to be a better board for all around "eggy" surfing - its slightly more conventional, and lends itself well to a really wide audience of surfers - whereas the v.Bowls is more difficult to master in your first few sessions, but holds an extremely unique mind-opening ability in the long run which is why its developed such a cult following. Hopefully they are gateway drugs into each other, as any good pairing is!
-Ryan

v.Bowls Fin Placement Notes

After 5 years of v.Bowling in anything and everything, here is my best advice for fin placement and sizing on most v.bowls at this time.  I have a few variations on the v.Bowls fin - the 8.5" and the 9", both in thick or thin foil, this blurb covers those four options.  This is not a list of commandments, but a reference for you from my experience and talking with others.  Suitable substitutions in a pinch are also the Greenough 4a, and Skip Frye 8.5" flex fin from true ames.

For lighter to medium weight surfers or shorter, quick waves (beach break, weird reefs, or most any windswell waves) use the 8.5” thin foil v.bowls fin placed in the center or towards the back 1/3 of the box (for boards up to 7’6).  for boards over 7’6 go to the 9”.  for boards 7’2 and under add the FCS bonzer side bites to the thin foil 8.5” if you have the option for more release off the top and more response from quicker pumps.

use the thick foil versions for heavier surfers or more powerful carving in good waves.  Place the 9” in the center to slightly forward of center in the box.

Use the 9’ thick (heavy footers) or thin (most surfers) foil in all v.bowls over 7’10.  

For reference, I’m 6’2 and 195 lbs - I ride the thick foil 8.5” plus fcs bonzer side bites in my 7’2; thick foil 8.5” in my 7’4 (single fin), and thin foil 9” in my 8’ (single fin).  

Two great rules of thumb for fin placement to start:  place the trailing edge of the fin, in inches, the distance that the fin is tall; so for a 9” fin, go 9” off the tail.  This is a good rough starting point.  

If the board feels too loose or like its letting go from the bottom turn too soon, move the fin back.  if the board feels like it doesn’t release when you lay off the bottom turn, or like its tracking/has a mind of its own or a small anchor under it, move the fin forwards.  Move it in increments of 1/4” until it feels like a rocket ship thats reading your mind.

  

 

Undeveloped California Coast --- Save that ish!

People of California:

Come rally for our protected Gaviota coastline at the Coastal Commission’s public hearing in Morro Bay! The more people that show up, the louder our voice. Help save our coastline from development for our and future generations by going to the public hearing and supporting Dr. Lester in his position as Executive Director of the Coastal Commission. Appointees to the Coastal Commission are attempting to fire Dr. Lester. This would open the door for multi-million dollar housing and potentially CLOSE the coastline to public access and endangered species. If we don’t act now, over 1,000 MILES of protected coastline is in danger of development and closure.

Wednesday February 10^th in Morro Bay at 10am at the Morro Bay Community Center Auditorium the future of OUR coastline is being decided. An astounding 1,000 miles of our beloved coastline is in danger if appointees to the Coastal Commission get their way. The public hearing this Wednesday is to possibly fire Dr. Charles Lester the Executive Director of the Coastal Commission who has protected our coast from development and closure.

Dr. Lester is the predecessor of the late Peter Douglas. Peter Douglas was “an aggressive and hard-nosed environmentalist, who spent more than 25 years running the commission and advocating forcefully for its independence. Months before his death in 2012, Douglas chose Lester from within the ranks of the agency as his successor, and the commission appointed him unanimously in 2011”.  Dr. Lester has maintained what Peter fought for: “Public access to the coast so that it wasn't just something that belonged to the rich," said Warner Chabot, former executive director of the California League of Conservation Voters. "Probably his greatest achievement wasn't what you see," he added, "but rather a political achievement  … He created a commission that enabled citizens to take direct action to protect their coast and be seen as equals with the very rich and powerful landowners along the coast” (Woo, Elaine).

IF Dr. Lester is fired the coastal commission will move forward with:
“Estate development on the bluff east of Naples that would obliterate a prolific white tail kite nesting site, disturb one of only two harbor seal rookeries on the Santa Barbara South Coast, destroy longstanding public access, and directly facilitate a 10 lot subdivision on antiquated Naples lots” (Gaviota Coast Conservancy).  

The more people who can attend the meeting or write in a comment to the commission will make a difference. Come Wednesday the 10^th at 10AM to the Morro Bay Community Center Auditorium where the coastal commission is holding a public hearing to decide the fate of Dr. Charles Lester’s job and the fate and future of our coastline.

PLEASE come and save Dr. Charles Lester’s job and OUR coast!

WE NEED YOUR HELP!

Wednesday Location Changed to

Morro Bay Community
Center Auditorium
1001 Kennedy Way
Morro Bay, CA 93442

Email the Commission at StatusOfExecutiveDirector@coastal.ca.gov

Fist of 2016

Spent the first week of 2016 building this 7'4 pin-tail start to finish so work out a few ideas I had floating around - mainly the tinted gradient resin panels fading over a fabric inlay; this textile was designed by my girlfriend Katie McLean for an upcoming line for her company, Psychedelic Honey.