The History of Area Back

The introduction of the Twin Fin design bought with it area in the back half of the object, this in turn bought with it a new speed and looseness like never before. From the beginning of the Twin Fin concept, it has been the increase in tail area that has been the common denominator in the refinement of the Twin Fin and my wide tailed Lazor Zap designs all had wider more area tails than the earlier single fin designs.

It was my wide tailed Lazor Zap that Simon Anderson tested his first Thruster with and by his own admission the board was a cracker! As design has gone on there have been 4 and even 5 fin combinations all have a valid function and all the designs have wider more area tails, the common denominator right through. My wide single fin concept is the only design that gives a single fin the same and even more tail area than the multi fin designs for the first time since the Lazor Zap was cried down out of pure ignorance.

I have proven on all levels of design and performance, that the single fin with wide thick tail design is very valid throughout the whole range of wave conditions shapes and size. It is the wider tail area that has been the one constant throughout the multi fin eras success, it is the wider area in the back half of the object that has given the extra speed, looseness and control; it gets back to plain logic that making the single fin object wider would also work and I have proven this point beyond question. The wide tail narrow nose plan shape balance allows the board to trim tail high on the wave which puts the object in the main energy source consistently, naturally; this is because the widest point on the object will be elevated naturally by the waves energy no matter where it is located front, middle or tail, By using an object that harmonises with the energy it allows the object to harvest the rewards the energy offers.

The actual surfing becomes easier as you flow with the free running object which offers much more control to the surfer. These objects are designed to give constant speed and flow through the use of the wave’s energy, also the use of only one fin (stabilizer) it minimises drag and enhances the hulls ability to function uninhibited by side fins in the major performance area of the object.

By using tail area in the object and only one fin it allows the object to run freer with less effort required to manoeuvre and control, as there is much less reaction (drag) under the water with only one fin, it also offers a shorter less effort turning arc, more control on deep tubes because the fin has only one point of resistance against the natural drawing up and over motion of a tubing wave. These advantages become available by increasing the tail area of the Single Fin Design.

“THE MISSSING LINK” has given the object equal say with the multi fin design, the design change has not only given the single fin equal footing with multi fins. It is now a superior performing object to surf on. This design is capable of real carving surfing, on rails with power and drive, short or long arcs with constant flow and speed, the modern short board is basically not designed to turn and flow, because of its anorexic design, it is not capable of power carving surfing with constant flow; the lack of proper dynamics and lack of volume create the stop start repetitive surfing that the pro’s throw at us, you look at 1 guy for 5 minutes and the rest of the video is the same moves by different surfers, how boring !! Or should I say, how restricted in performance those “old fashioned” short boards are.

The fake moves just do not cut it, square corners, small fins, concaves sliding through turns with no power, loosing drive and flow, I agree it all looks quite spectacular, but that does not mean it is “real” surfing, it only means that is the best they can do on the restricted old fashioned equipment they ride.

The wave dictates good surfing the natural flow of the energy and harmonizing with it on the object determines the manoeuvre and timing required to harvest the best ride by each individual at various levels of surfing ability. It is critical the object is capable of carrying the surfer’s weight to obtain maximum performance at all times, regardless of the surfer’s ability.

By combining area back with thickness, the Board is able to provide more resistance which in turn gives quicker reaction, a superior positioning of the object on the wave, more overall speed, drive, flow and overall control. My designs are all about the object being able to build and sustain constant pressure through out the whole ride. As the pressure moves constantly I found it better to allow the transfer from bottom to rail be done as smoothly as possible.

This in turn allows the object to sustain the pressure more evenly, which allows the object to have more flow and drive instantly allowing for a smooth flowing style of surfing. The old fashioned anorexic designs do not have enough resistance to support the surfer resulting in a stop start low energy very physical approach to surfing, to compensate for the objects lack of design features.

These old fashioned maximum release and resistant designs cannot build or hold pressure as they constantly shed the waves natural energy this results in the bee bop ugly bouncing of the object by the surfer struggling to build and retain the necessary energy from the wave Why would you want to ride an object with all these design faults, when the Astron Zot design offers so much more to the surfer. Designs to free your mind.