Midlength Madness

I've been all about midlengths for a few years now and it's been a little quest of mine (amongst too many others) to nail a couple of designs that just plain stoke people out every time they ride 'em.

Midlengths are tricky business and I finally feel like I've nailed two designs pretty hard...One for juicier waves, and one for head high and under days, both get my blood going just thinking about the lines they've been drawing recently...a really smooth mix of powerful flow, glide and some deep carves to top it off.

Call me stoked.

Here's Travers Adler showing us how it's done on v.Bowls...Step 1, the planning:

step 2, the execution:

step 3, rejoice:

For me, the coolest thing about these is that everyone who snags a few waves handles them with some serious conviction right off the bat...heres Connor getting finding some time in the slot on the same board:

...shape it and they will trim. Greg Swanson poised for success on Silky Love:

red fin for the win.

sloppy lotus deck...

Flex Bowls

Connor | 9' d.Bowls with a Velzy Classic fin:

I've been wanting to try this setup for a loooong time on this exact d.Bowls in particular, which is pretty transition-era-y, with a narrower nose, shorter than average length and a lighter glass job...This little puppy has inspired a few new ideas I'm pretty excited to explore in the next few months, especially heading into summer.

1967-1971 In Motion

Here's something that's been captivating me lately. If you have the curiosity and can see the subtleties you'll hopefully find the same...

Watch this clip from the Hot Generation (1967), watch the way they use their rails and surf the wave; the lines they're drawing and the TYPES of waves they're surfing. the subtle (and sometimes not) style and flow.

Then watch this...TWO years later. thats TWO seasons of surfing, check the DRASTIC change in the same surfers, same general waves and check out the progression this crew was making.

Notice the edges and shapes that were catching in the first video, then check the changes in shape and curves in these boards...still longer shapes, flat rockers, more curvaceous and more flow. In particular check out 1:30-1:38, the bottom turn to top, then deep cutback...gnarly:

THEN this. Ted Spencer is a good one to watch through the three videos, same basic style; different use of the wave all together. Same stance, knees, hands everything...different rythm and flow.

Only 4 years apart. It blows my mind what these guys did. Also notice that through all 3 videos different guys used shared the same board... Indicating to ME that they weren't just popping out boards, they thought them through, crafted them together, and rode them together.

A seriously beautiful way to do it and a really interesting progression and way to see it in a visual form which I don't see too often; articles and photos are great but to see it so plainly really paints a clear picture for someone that has a more visual thought process.