Category Archives: Board Reviews

Board Reviews, First Ride, Team
Video

Test Drive “5150+” featuring Nate Zoller

 

Not many can say they had a year like Nate Zoller for 2023. Featured in Roark X Surfline’s recent “Travelers” series “Going where you haven’t been” Nate travels all over the world absorbing different cultures and scoring a ton of different waves.

One might ask “What is living the dream?” All signs pointing that this might be the blueprint. Nate is on a screamer with no signs of slowing down.

We caught up with Nate early in the year with a couple board ideas and from his past “Test Drive” on the 5150, it only seemed right to do a sequel with the more traditional outline 5150+

Enjoy this rail clinic from Nate and for the less traveled viewer, your next surf trip is one click away!

Video/Edit: Isaac Zoller

 

Model/Dims:

5150+ 5’7 x 18.5 x 2.15 – Vol. 27 liters

 

Height/Weight

5’8”/165

 

Fins used:

Stretch Quad and True Ames KC Hex-Core Thruster 

 

Initial thoughts/Expectations?

 

I had high expectations for the 5150 from all the praise Nathan Fletcher gave the board. But after my first wave I knew what he was talking about. Right away the 5150 seemed like it had an extra gear of speed when transitioning in between turns. The board would go where my mind wanted it to, which is an immediate indication of a magic board.  My second board, the 5150+ in CFT, took a little more getting used to. Once I learned how to adjust for the lateral flex I started to understand how good the board was on rail, especially coming out of turns.

 

Ride experience?

 

I rode both boards all over California and it feels like it really comes to life in waves under head high. 

 

Likes/Dislikes?

 

I love how fast the board is right when I stand up. The board feels really solid under my feet when I am approaching a section. My only dislike of the board is that once the waves get to a certain size and power it gets a little hard to control the bottom contour. 

 

5150/5150+ Comparisons and differences?

 

The 5150 feels more like a skateboard style board, the 5150+ is more traditional looking from the POV paddle perspective. Both boards are really good on rail, but I feel the 5150 is better in the air for me. 

 

Summary (synopsis, recommendations or overall feeling you would tell a friend)

 

I ride the 5150 and 5150+ almost every session around home in California and they don’t even have any pressure dings yet. If you are after something totally unique to spice up your surfing the 5150 is the board. The 5150+ is awesome for when you need a little more paddle power. I recommend this board to all my friends. 

 

More nose, more rocker

Photo: Nate Zoller

 

Photo: Nate Zoller

 

Board Reviews, Construction, Design, First Ride
Video

Test Drive “5150” featuring Nate Zoller

 

Nate Zoller goes mental at Lowers on the “5150”

“I did an interview with Nathan Fletcher a few years ago, where he said this “5150” is the best shortboard he has ever had. I finally got around to ordering one and after one Lowers session I think its my new favorite board too!” – Nate Zoller

Board: 5150 : 5’3 x 18.5 x 2.1 – Vol: 26 liters

Video/Edit: Issac Zoller

 

Learn more about the “5150” here

Board Reviews, Design, Family, Team

Darshan Gooch keeping things loose

Surfer: Darshan Gooch

Height/weight: 6’4″ 185lbs.

When did you start surfing twins?

One of my first subscriptions to Surfing magazine in the early nineties, there was a feature on a variety of different fish’s ( I believe it was before Lost’s 5’5” x 19 1/4” video.) Probably in my early teens that whole fish revolution wave came through. And then again down the road in the early 2000’s. Luckily I had some friends that allowed me access to some classic twin keel type boards that really freaked me out a little bit.

There has been some dabbling through the years.

When did you switch to surfing twins exclusively?

Probably 2 plus years ago now. I purged all my thrusters and just went head first into a twin fin exploration.

Reason for the change?

Well, I think I was just having so much fun! Originally I had this mind set that I was riding twins because they thrived in small surf and it was something different. Then I kinda got to this place where I only wanted to ride contemporary short boards when the waves were really good.

But honestly, the first 2WIN I got from Stretch started shining in decent waves as well. I just felt some electricity and excitement, so there was an eagerness to keep going / learning!

After spending nearly 25 years forcing thrusters in all types of conditions, I think it just felt good to be a little more loose and free in the approach. It kinda became a quest for me to see if we could get the twins adapted to good surf, even though others had already done it before.

One of the things I appreciate about Stretch’s approach is he doesn’t want to take the shortcut and see what or how others are doing it with their equipment, he insists on honoring the process and finding his own way. Further down the road, Stretch explained to me that these twins were basically a modern version of the boards he was ridding at some of the beloved home spots years ago.

What boards do you opt for during winter swells? 

All depending of coarse, but mostly ranging from 6’1” to 6’10” single or double wing round pins . All twins, no trailer fin. Tazy has been ridding twin fins at Mavericks for some years now.

Has surfing twins limited any of your performance surfing?

Good question! On this twin fin journey, I have basically relinquished my mental association with “performance surfing”. It’s all just been learning a new dance. You can do everything as one would on a three or four fin surfboard. There is no limitations, it’s just an altered approach I think. Part of it is learning to engage in your rails a little more and utilizing the outline of your board. Naturally twin fins are fast, so you are giving less effort and receiving more. Tighter angled trajectories become a little different because you are usually working on bleeding speed just as a race car might be down shifting into a turn before accelerating .

What do you want to improve on design/surfing with the current boards?

It’s been great fun! Mostly I am happy with my boards and where we are at right now in the process. We have been working on various flex patterns and playing with different constructions. Also, Now we have kinda moved into some different outlines as well. Basically just keep the learning and passion moving forward. That’s where the fun is at for me.

What’s next? 

Well, I think we are in a pretty good place. I don’t think I will be going back to thrusters at this point personally.

More recently Stretch and I have moved into some more classic type twin fish’s. Perhaps there is some opportunity to explore the balance between performance capabilities within that particular genre of the twin keel fish.

Cheers Darshan!

 

Board model: 2win – 5’11 x 19.75 x 2.4 – Vol:  31.1L.

2WIN- 5'11 X 19.75 X 2.4 - VOL: 31.1L.

“INSTANT CLASSIC” ALONG SIDE ONE OF STRETCH’S OLD SHAPES VIA 1982

 

Board model: Retro 2win Fish – 5’10 x 20.5 x 2.4 – Vol:  34.6L.

“A perfect fit for open face waves or pointbreaks, A bit cruisier and fun than serious.” – Darshan

 

Board model: Double Wing RP 2WIN – 5’11 X 19.25 X 2.38 – Vol: 31.13L.

 

2WIN DFT- 5’11 X 19.25 X 2.38 photo: DARSHAN GOOCH

 

“covers all the bases from average to decent waves, and fitting nicely into waves with tighter transitions.” – Darshan

 

 

 

Board model: 2WIN Step Up – 6’1 x 19.25 x 2.35 – Vol: 30.64L.

“Ideal for slightly larger waves,  either covering more ground (down the line speed) or a little more hold in the North / Central Ca winter beach breaks.” – Darshan

 

Board Reviews, Construction, Coverage, Design, Industry, Team, Uncategorized

Nic Von Rupp in “BRUSCO”

 

Nic Von Rupp has had a BIG year. He has endured cold water, heavy poundings and big barrels from Nazaré, Mavericks, Mullaghmore to Jaws. His ability to travel and surf anything is what sets him apart from the crowds. Making a huge push towards why he should be included on the 2019 WSL Big Wave Tour roster. Cant wait to see what is in store for next year! Enjoy!

Watch Nic and his 2018/19 XXL campaign below in “BRUSCO”. Music by Mars Red Sky – Strong Reflection
Edit by Felix Gansicke

Brusco from Nic von Rupp on Vimeo.

Nic’s 2018/19 XXL Quiver

CompGun – 9’0 x 20 x 2.65 – Vol: 69.4l.

CompGun – 9’6 x 20 x 3.5 – Vol: 70.8l.

CompGun – 9’9 Nathan’s Mav’s Knife

CompGun – 10’4 x 20.75 x 3.7 – Vol: 84.5

BuzzGun  – 9’6 x 19.25 x 3.5 – Vol: 70L.

BuzzGun – 10’4 x 20.25 x 3.8 – Vol: 85.7l.

 

NIC’S Nazaré 9’6 AND 10’4 BUZZGUN’S

9’6 AND 10’4 COMPGUN’S

NEW DFT 9’0 KNIFE

Board Reviews, Construction, Coverage, Design, Industry, Products, Team, Uncategorized

The 2×4 is the Ultimate Travel Board

“The 2×4 will increase your top speed, no doubt about that. There is a particular flex that you get when you are projecting down the line. A sensation that I obsess about” – @noamizuno

‘If you know, then you know’ is basically how word gets around about our 2×4 model. Without much exposure, it has continued to become surfers top choice of equipment for the hopeful mysteries of waves like Skeleton bay, Teahapoo, Pipeline, Honolua Bay, Kandui lefts and pretty much any wave on earth that one must push the limits of what’s possible.

Noa Mizuno’s 2×4 Legacy – 5’7 x 18.5 x 2.25 Vol: 25.1l.

With Koa Smith and Benji Brand both winning big paychecks from GoPro on matching equipment in Namibia, this board has been put to the ultimate test in stamina barrel riding and has came out victorious.

“I definitely couldn’t have made that wave without that board” – Koa Smith

Koa’s $35,000 GoPro winner Photo: Alan Van Gysen

“This thing helped me get drained all over the globe… 20 second barrels in Africa, 10ft Newport Beach, Nicaragua, Tahiti, Mexico and Hawaii. I need copies of this “2X4″ asap” – @koasmith

Koa Smith’s 2×4 Legacy – 5’9” x 18.65” x 2.3” Vol: 26.4l.

Koa Smith Photo: Alan Van Gysen

Benji Brand’s $20,000 GoPro Winner

“Fastest board around.” – @benjibrand

Brand brothers. 2×4 Legacy’ – 5’8″ x 18.5″ x 2.3″  Vol: 25.9l.

This past year Noa Mizuno and Nate Behl put on an absolute show at Kandui Lefts riding none other than their trusty 2×4’s. Again making it a tried and true choice of board for the “unknown” that surfers are faced with when traveling to places with no idea what to expect.

“I’ll never ride anything else ever again at Kandui Left.  Boards are literally like cheating out there compared to anything else I’ve ridden in 12 years ” – @justisstjohn

 

“That board as a quad seriously felt like a Tesla on autopilot cruising a foam ball.” – @natemcnasty

 

Noa Mizuno in the drivers seat. Photo: Justis St John

Nate Behl on a nasty one. Kandui Lefts Photo: Justis St John

Nate’s 2×4 CFT round pin – 6’0 x 19 x 2.3 Vol: 28.7l.

 

“Want to make own your own?”

order a new custom board with 3-5 week turnaround time*

$865 = EPS/EPOXY (2.0pcf Marko foam core glassed with EPOXY resin)
$965 = CFT (eps/epoxy with deck channels, bamboo stringer, bias weave S-glass)
$1,025 = DFT (eps/epoxy with deck channels, vacuum bagged bamboo inlay stringer, bias weave S-glass)
$1,550 = LEGACY (CFT with cork deck/rails and bamboo bottom)

 

Contact: info@stretchboards.com for orders/questions

 

Board Reviews, First Ride, Team

“Whats he riding?” Kevin Cortez

 

“What’s he riding?” Kevin Cortez on his Buzzsaw Sk8 from Stretch Boards on Vimeo.

 

Name: Kevin Cortez

Height/weight:

5’6 “/ 150 lbs.

Model/size/fin set up:

Buzzsaw Sk8 – 5’7″ x 18.63″ x 2″     Vol: 25.83L.

Location/conditions:

Playa Colorados / Pumping

Rider background

Hurley Team Manager quote on quote: “Yes, this kid freaking rips. Good style, progressive, and great barrel rider.” -Asher Nolan

Initial thoughts/expectations

Bizarre, weird with no rocker, felt weird at first on a high tide session but after two waves the flow came in and the combos came too!

Ride experience:

Works in everything pretty much any conditions, I like how you do airs sometimes and you disappear in the whitewash the board has enough volume to get you in front of the white wash again and complete a maneuver with good flow. That’s my first thought on my first good ride.

 

Strengths: Volume gives you extra pop and it’s fast on rail works really good on rail!

 

Weaknesses: No complaints just like any board loses its spice as I use it more and more but I surf A LOT!!

 

Summary Helps you with rhythm and flow between rail turns, it’s fast, maintains!!!

Social

follow Kevin on Instagram

 

photo: @gerardo_photo

Kevin at home photo: Brian Scott

 

 

 

Board Reviews, Construction, Design, Products
Video

“DFT” Construction Explained

Darshan and his new 2win in “DFT” Construction

DFT

Dampened Flex Technology

  • stringerless 2.0 pcf. Marko blank
  • Vacuum bagged bamboo veneer inlay
  • Epoxy lamination with 4oz. direct sized RWG E-glass deck and bottom
  • 4oz. S-glass deck and bottom layer 45º off-axis quadrilateral cloth matrix
  • Individually hand-shaped deck channels

$750 standard + $235 upgrade = $985

Get a custom quote

DFT from Stretch Boards on Vimeo.

Couple of “DFT”s for Jamie O’brien

 

 

Board Reviews, First Ride, Products, Team

2×4 round pin Ride Review with Darshan

2×4 round pin first ride review with darshan gooch from Stretch Boards on Vimeo.

Height/weight:

6’4″ 180-185 lbs

2×4 round pin 6’2″ x 19.25″ x 2.375″ vol. 32.0L

darshan testing the 2×4 round pin barrel riding capabilities photo: Bryan Garrison @wetfeetphoto

Construction type:

6’2″ x 19.25″ x 2.375″ shown with abstract color lamination and futures AM2 techflex thruster set.

CFT std with uni-directional carbon tail strips and with the exception of the abstract color lam bottom, features duplicate CFT std glassing as seen in previous Thing v2 round pin ride review seen here

Fins used:

Futures AM2 thruster set:

fronts: 4.73” deep by 4.64” base – flat foil

center: 4.49” deep x 4.63” base – symmetrical foil

Fins Unlimited custom Stretch Generation 2 quad set:

Fronts: 4.75” deep by 4.625” base – custom stretch inside foil

Quad rears: 4.25” deep by 4.25” base – symmetrical foil

Conditions tested:

Wintery types of CA waves varying from chest high to several feet overhead.

Initial thoughts/expectations (was this really what you thought you were getting?):

The initial idea when ordering this particular 2×4 model was to find the performance differences between the THINGv2 and 2×4. We basically kept the dimensions and construction completely the same. I would imagine a fair portion of people ordering the 2×4 may have ridden it a little bit shorter. Considering the time of year and lack of any contemporary tri or quad fins available in my quiver, I thought I better get with a board that could not only fill a missing link in my quiver, but also a board that would be adaptable in the decent to good wave category.

What 3 board models come to mind when checking out this design?:

Stretch’s THINGv2, Matt Biolos’ Mini Driver, Channel Islands Fred Rubble?…

What wave types do you imagine surfing when viewing this design? (full spectrum and size range):

One of the strong points of this particular board is it’s fairly adaptable. Beach breaks, Reef’s, Point breaks, anything with enough juice to get you going and some space to move around. I had a couple great surfs on this board in hollower/down the line type of waves where I rode it as a quad. The majority of the time i rode this board as a tri fin as the waves on offer around town this time of year seemed most suitable.

Ride experience:

In all honesty this was a slight adjustment and exercise in remembering how to ride a contemporary shortboard again. My experience was a little humbling at times considering this past year I have mostly been surfing with twin-fins and singles. Similar to the THINGv2 I tested last year, I found the 2×4 to have a vague familiarity and user-friendly characteristics. Immediately there was an ease or comfort factor when standing up and getting moving. My personal challenge was making the subtle adjustment of stepping further back and finding that sweet spot towards the back fin. (Which isn’t quite the same with a twin fin in particular.)

Likes/Dislikes:

I think there is something to be said here about adaptability and having a board you know you can rely on. The only dislikes worthy of mention would be my own personal limitations from prior lack of interest in contemporary shortboards, This resulted in issues of the balance, timing and rhythm department of my own physical doing.

General observations:

In comparison to the single concave throughout the THINGv2 , I felt there was a little more excitement or eagerness of availability on the back foot that felt like quicker rail to rail transitions.

“If I could choose between this and one other model, I would get the ….. (can be a different stretch model or any other shaper/design):

I’m torn between the 2×4 and the THINGv2 at this point. If I primarily rode contemporary shortboards on a regular basis, I may be leaning towards the 2×4 due to the liveliness available off the back foot. At this point in my limited use and interest in “shortboarding” on a regular basis, I would probably lean more on the predictability and control that the THINGv2 offers.

How well does this board match up to it’s model description?:

I can only account for the slightly longer version being consistent with it’s description. Perhaps a slightly shorter/wider version might be the perfect adjustment in the small to medium sized waves category if you are primarily a conventional “shortboard” type surfer.

Summary (synopsis, recommendations or overall feeling you would tell a friend):

The 2×4 is highly adaptable, user-friendly, performance shortboard. Daily driver certified*

Check out the Stretch Boards webstore for available stock 2×4 models or contact orders@stretchboards.com to get started on a new custom!

Exactly the same construction as the previous Thing v2 round pin, CFT std with marko EPS, bamboo stringer, 6oz. RWG bottom and deck with 4oz. bias S-glass and carbon tail strips.

 

Board Reviews, Coverage, Design, Team, Uncategorized

“What’s he riding?” Willy Aliotti’s blacked out quiver

Check out what models William Aliotti regularly packs into his bag for travel.

height/weight:
1.75m  by 70 KG
(5’8″ 165lbs.)

 

All boards built with:
CFT medium construction
  • 4oz. RWG + 4oz. bias S-glass bottom / 4oz. bias S-glass + 6oz. RWG deck
  • 2.1pcf Marko Foam EPS core
  • 1/8″ bamboo stringer
  • deck channels

3k uni-directional carbon fiber tail strip reinforcements

Future ILT fin system with Jordy Smith Medium HC 4.54″ height by 4.59″ base

Whether threading through gutting tubes on his frontside or wafting tail-free drifts in small points on his backhand, Willy finds the Lil Buddy as his “go-to” board. photo: david aumentado

 

Lil Buddy squash tail – 5’10” x 18.187″ x 2.13″ vol. 24.3L

“personally the Lil Buddy is the board for me that i can take on any trip ! for any kind of condition like proper barrel 4 to 6 ft and in normal and mellow waves from 2 to 4 ft ( the lil buddy model will be the first one in the board bag”

Willy cracks a frontside ollie on his 5’8″ skate. photo: @laurentpujol

Skate swallow tail – 5’8″ x 18.25″ x 2.187″ vol. 24.5L

“the second board that i will always take on a trip is the Skate ! when the wind swoop on shore this board become amazing and really skatey on shity waves”

thing v2 CFT 5’9″ x 18.187″ x 2.13″

Thing v2 squash tail – 5’9″ x 18.187″ x 2.13″ vol. 24.8L

2×4 step up round pin – 6’4″ x 18.25″ x 2.4″ vol. 29.5L * modified nose outline and tail rocker

“…and to finish my perfect  last boards of the quiver on barrel destination i will always the 2X4 step up and normal short board”

aiming for the cosmos on his cosmic color lam thing v2. photo: @chroniclesofchristie

 “i trust stretch surfboard more then any other! i just thinks they are super solid and so performance! they stay magic forever and never get old”

Willy has switched from his rocket red airbrushes into the dark side. Apparently Stretch didn’t get the memo when he decided to surprise Willy with this neon twinnie!