Smorgasboarder_16_March-2013

“I have been playing with the ratios of the tail width and the
tail height as well as the concave trimming platform through
to the convex control. I always look to put a good stringer in
them so they have a good bit of internal heft as well. It gives
you good paddle speed so you can get a nice early line into
the wave.
“The main thing with these boards is you have to free your
mind of how you would normally ride a surfboard. You ride the
boards really far forward and your feet are closer together in
a traditional stance or you place them parallel to the stringer.
You surf more from leaning on your rails. The board pivots off
the forward rail curve and you steer it. The tail then comes in
behind your line and pushes you in that direction.
“Moves are the opposite of what you
would normally be accustomed to. A cross
step, with weight transferring to your
front foot, will swing the board away from
the wave and set up a cutback or reset
the board into the pocket.
“They sit really well in the pocket.
The weight in the tail acts as a
counterweight and a bit of a driving
force. My 9’ noserider also has a decent
chunk of wood in the tail so it has a
more neutral buoyancy than the foam,
which has a tendency to float up the
wave. I am experimenting with various
hypotheticals.”
MY PERSPECTIVE ON IT: I am always
after a different ride sensation. Not only
did the Fastback satisfy my desire but it
delivered one of the most fun surfs I have
had in months. Whilst the boards may look
difficult to ride, they are far from it and were perfect for the
little sliders we had on the day. Plus with a thick blanket of
seaweed on the shoreline, no fins meant no entanglement.
IF THAT WASN’T ENOUGH we finished 3-4 hours surfing
with a few beers, okay maybe more than a few, and
homemade pizza at the Waipu Pizza Barn. Not only were the
pizzas sensational and their own home brew addictive, the
brothers who run this unbelievably funky little bar/ restaurant
Clayton and Jeff were absolute classic blokes and a lot of
fun, as were all the staff. I will return, there is nothing surer.
An absolute cracker of a night. As I said, one of the most fun
days of my life.
BOARDS, LESSONS, ADVICE, CLOTHING & MORE!
RETRO
BOARDS
& GEAR
On the way to Fitzroy Beach, the Beach Street Surf
Shop is modelled on yesteryear, not the glass boutiques that masquerade as surf shops! Real
chrome-andsurfers
offering real advice, plus the best selection of
boards on the coast. Open every day, all hours, surf
dependent - as they should BEACH ITS ALL
be! STREET ABOUT
We also offer lessons from beginner SURFING!
to advanced.
Our surf coach, Daisy Day, is also Like the Beach region’s Street Surf Shop on Facebook!
best and most famous surf photographer. The
shop is home to Lost in the 60’s Surfwear and the
BlackSand label and we have a good range of
secondhand boards on offer.
39 BEACH ST, FITZROY, NEW PLYMOUTH, NZ
P: +64 (06) 7580400
E: beachstreet@xtra.co.nz
LOCAL
CLOTHING
BRANDS
MAR/APR 2013 | SMORGASBOARDER 47