Stretch Boards blog for product reviews, team updates and factory news.
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
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
“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
Darshan and his new 2win in “DFT” Construction
Dampened Flex Technology
$750 standard + $235 upgrade = $985
DFT from Stretch Boards on Vimeo.
Couple of “DFT”s for Jamie O’brien
Benji Brand on his recent trip to Namibia. Taking his 5’8″ x 18.5″ x 2.3″ 2×4 Legacy in hand and daydream barrels in mind. Watch “Sleepwalker”
SLEEPWALKER from From The Basin on Vimeo.
The globe trotting Frenchman seemingly finds himself sliding into more fun waves every time we look. Here’s what he’s been getting his feet into lately:
Benjamin Sanchis (a.k.a.- Sancho)
laundry day quiver shoot. photo: manu migueles photography
“Where do you like to surf these models?”
i really enjoy more on reef breaks and points. i can surf the 2×4 6’0″ on an everyday basis in the canaries from slabs to fun powerful reefs.
i surf the mr. buzz everyday also when the waves are small, or fun little waves where my chick surfs.
also in points but work good in little slabs. same for the twins.
“What is it that you like or don’t like about any of these boards?”
the 6’0″ can feel a bit stiff at the drop sometimes. works a lot better in glassy/offshore conditions. but, is the fastest board ever! feels really confident. goes good for turn. (stretch should stop bothering putting the 5 fins set up…heheheh) if i had to choose one board to go on trip will be this one.
the Mr Buzz ,
really really user friendly. goes really good with those fins, got lots of flow.
sometimes feels a bit short on the back hand.
perfect for summertime but hold the rail in points also. good for carving.
here’s some fun follow cam footage of the 5’6″ mr. buzz sk8 carving:
the twin is a little devil.
it’s crazy fast! holds the rail in turn but also super loose in turn.
rare for a twin but good on the backhand.
check the video below to see Sancho laying rail on his 5’6″ pugged 2win.
“Are there any comparisons to other boards?”
no. riding those boards is like riding something different which makes it cool. it’s a different vibe.
i have your boards that i have been riding for the last 3 years. no other boards last that long!
“If you had the chance to change anything, what would it be?”
i’d put the factory in europe so it will be easier for me to get boards 🙂 then i could bug stretch all the time in person and talk to him about fins.
sancho slips into a goodie to evaluate quad fin placement back home. photo: manu migueles
through the looking glass. sancho fins his 2×4 round pin getting the hero shot.
Two fins in it to 2win it from Stretch Boards on Vimeo.
What comes to mind when checking out this design?
the importance of rail profile, rocker, edge and fin placement are amplified in twin-fin designs. stretch and darshan examine the minute details.
Considering this is Stretch’s version of a modern twin-fin, it stands alone. Channel Islands has an updated version of the Merrick Twin but i don’t feel that these boards are comparable.
Where do you think this board will shine?
I imagine this board to be very adaptable in an assortment of different waves, mostly waves I wouldn’t consider riding a standard or contemporary shortboard. Most ideally this would be for waves in the thigh to head high range that would be lacking in quality or substantial curve throughout the wave face.
Location/conditions surfed:
Sub average to decently good waves and everything in between: beachbreaks, mushy to decent point waves, wedgey and fairly hollow reefs. This board can be a real “go-getter”!
Initial thoughts/expectations:
Originally I had ordered this board amidst our 2016 summer season in hopes of finding a fun and user-friendly board that would get me excited to surf an assortment of sub-average summer-type waves.
darshan bleeding speed via active rail engagement. photo: Kookson@aol.com santacruzwaves.com
Ride experience:
The “2WIN” immediately turned me into a 14 year old frothing grom again! Like experiencing the excitement of a fish for the first time, there was an immediate spark and sensibility of speed and freedom as soon as you hit your feet. One of my favorite things about the 2WIN is riding that line between casual flow and radicalness. Naturally this board goes fast without the struggle of having to create your speed. It’s up to you where and how you want to use or bleed all that forward trajectory. For me the art of twin-fin surfing is learning how to use and engage the rails more actively, while exploring those boundaries of speed and control.
General observations:
I found it very suiting for the types of waves I surf regularly around Santa Cruz. With uncanny accessibility to an abundance of speed and a natural sense of user friendliness, the 2WIN proved to be very adaptable. What i had initially ordered for so-so summer days, turned into a board I felt confident bringing into larger overhead barreling waves. This is now a board I am having a hard time putting down.
Eventually when I pushed this board into waves that became too steep or square (far outside of it’s intended capabilities) the tail could begin to drift or slide. Sometimes if I mis-stepped behind the fins the board became a bit too squirrely and directionally challenged.
At times I found it challenging to project vertically in tight places, and sporadic situations. I don’t think this board is vertically challenged as much as it needs the appropriate time and space to find it’s optimum line.
Likes/Dislikes:
Strengths = natural speed and user-friendly characteristics.
Weaknesses = Not a “do-it-all” design for me. Need to pay attention to what that back foot is doing.
“If I could choose between this and one other model, I would get the …..
In a perfect world I would choose a 2WIN 2.0 version geared for the winter season and better waves in mind. And have the current 2WIN for a variety of average, to sub average conditions.
Summary:
“Twin it “2-WIN” it!” This board is sure to put a smile on your face especially if you are feeling tired of your conventional shortboards and stuck in the rigidity of habits and routines.
How did the difference in foam core affect performance?
The “2WIN” is the second Varial Foam blank I have tested. Initially Stretch made me two THING’s, a version with a 2.1pcf Marko foam EPS blank with 1/8″ bamboo stringer, and a duplicate THING using Varial Foam, both in CFT construction glassing.
During the sessions where I compared both THING’s, I first noticed a subtle damping effect when surfing the Varial board in semi-chattery conditions. In cleaner conditions there were times when I could feel the board loading up in turns and almost having some subtle springiness qualities as you are unloading pressure. Almost like a rubber band on a very small scale.
My feeling is that Varial could have a lively, more natural – multi dimensional flex pattern as it interacts with the wave and different weight distribution. The subtleties of Varial had proven very hard for me to pick up on immediately, so I was interested in trying it in a summer type surfboard such as the “2WIN”.
Both these boards built with Varial cores were and still are durable. Outside of foot dents, I am amazed that neither boards have had any legitimate dings on them.
Compared to my CFT constructed boards with EPS/EPOXY, both of these Varial foam versions were not “lighter”. The THING built with the Varial foam actually weighed 6oz. more than the Marko foam and bamboo stringer version. There are a lot of variables in surfboard construction of course. Personally I’m not a “team light” kind of person and I don’t mind a little weight and these boards seemed appropriate to me. Not heavy in the slightest degree.
Honestly, I think a custom built surfboard with a longer lifespan is a step in the right direction. Some may find it a challenge to notice the performance differences but maybe that’s where the fun is at, learning and experimentation. Enjoy!
photo: brian garrison
It’s summertime!!! Crowds, “so-so” waves and the pervasive struggle to get your slash on could use a good remedy. The “NO FRIENDS” model is your answer!
learn more about the NO FRIENDS model by clicking here
No Friends model ride review with Andrew Bennett from Stretch Boards on Vimeo.
check available NO FRIENDS models on our webstore or contact info@stretchboards.com to get dialed in on a new custom!
Name: Andrew Bennett
Height/weight: 5’10” 180 lbs
Board model/dimensions:
No Friends 5’4” x 21″ x 2.25″ vol.32.3L
Construction type:
EPS/EPOXY
Fins used:
Fins Unlimited custom hand foiled BUZZ template 4.875″/4.0″ fcs base with FCSII plugs and tab in-fill kit
Conditions tested:
The Hook, Chest high. Weak and crowded.
Background (general skill level, current board(s), misc. other factors):
I typically ride much better, but still summer style CA waves on my 5’6” PU/CFT glassed Super Buzz with Buzz Quads.
Initial thoughts/expectations (was this really what you thought you were getting?):
It felt like a lot of volume under my arm especially with the amount of width.
What board models come to mind when checking out this design?
I rode the Dominator model by Firewire and it was similar. The No Friends model felt like it wanted to turn in a shorter radius though. I never rode the Average Joe by Channel Islands but maybe that would be similar.
What wave types do you imagine surfing when viewing this design? (full spectrum and size range):
I think the board was ideal for the weak chest high conditions that I took it out in. It gave me a reason to paddle out.
Ride experience:
The board felt like it wanted to turn quickly/pivot. It was very buoyant and responsive so it made it easy to squeeze in a bunch of turns without any help from the wave.
Likes/Dislikes:
The board didn’t feel like it wanted to project and create any lateral speed. I notice my super buzz has much more drive in comparison so it wants to go super fast down the line. But the No Friends felt like it was designed to keep turning in a tight radius.
General observations:
It’s a worthy board to have in the quiver for really gutless waves that are chest high and under.
“If I could choose between this and one other model, I would get the (fill in the blank)
I think for completely gutless tiny waves this would be the right board to jump on. My G-Buzz worked in a little bigger surf than the No Friends model and had more projection. But I think they both have their place in different surf.
How well does this board match up to it’s model description?
The model name is definitely spot on. It was a “no friends” kind of session at the hook. Without bogging at all the board catches anything and turns on a dime.
Summary (synopsis, recommendations or overall feeling you would tell a friend):
The no friends model takes the struggle out of summer flat spells.
outline and volume comparison of G-buzz sk8 vs. NO FRIENDS built with same dimensions.
No Friends is fully customizable in CFT, PU/PE, or EPS/EPOXY construction options. Dimensions, logos and all options offered through Stretch Boards are just a phone call or e-mail away!
4 different model logo options available!
The THING v2 round pin with Darshan Gooch from Stretch Boards on Vimeo.
Height/weight:
6’4″ 185 lbs
Thing v2 round pin 6’2″ x 19.25″ x 2.375″ vol. 31.4L
Construction type:
CFT std with uni-directional carbon tail strips and duplicate CFT std glassing substituted with Varial foam for testing performance differences between foam types.
Fins used:
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:
I’ve taken this board through a wide assortment of waves and conditions from average 3-5 ft beachbreaks, to pumping sand / cobblestone points, and even hollow barreling waves.
What wave types do you imagine surfing when viewing this design? (full spectrum and size range):
One of the great strengths about this board is how it can handle the large variety of the wave types and conditions. I would ride the THINGv2 in an assortment of 4-6ft waves as a tri fin. When the surf gets into the excellent range or you may be considering a step up for additional down the line speed, riding the THINGv2 will give you the extra boost of confidence you may be looking for.
Ride experience:
Considering that these boards showed up right as we were trending into an active El Niño season, there was no shortage of days to get well acquainted with these two boards. Initially, I had these boards set up as tri fins. As soon as I jumped onto these boards there was a sense of comfort, flow, and control. Considering there wasn’t much of an adaptation process, I immediately felt that the THING would be my trusty new companion for the season ahead.
In good to excellent waves I found the quad fin setup to be the icing on the cake. It was like having another gear that allowed me to unlock some previously unseen potentials in a board that I was already very happy with.
Likes/Dislikes:
All likes here. The only dislikes worth listing would be trying to ride the THINGv2 as a quad in mediocre surf after having great success in good waves as a quad. I’m very curious to ride the 2X4 now and compare the differences and concaves in these two models.
Summary (synopsis, recommendations or overall feeling you would tell a friend):
The THING is your best bet for getting the most “bang for your buck!” and the most versatile shortboard that will allow you adaptability in a range of average to an excellent waves.
Thing v2 explained from Stretch Boards on Vimeo.
The Thing v2 can be custom ordered to excel in small wave conditions, used as a step up board, tuned for aggressive performance surfing or ordered with our stock configuration for all around daily driver duties.
Check out the Thing models in stock on our webstore or contact info@stretchboards.com to get dialed in on a new custom!
Marko core on the left. Varial core on the right. Although glassed exactly the same, the weight difference between them was 310grams or 0.68lbs with the Varial packing in the slight extra heft.
Wouldn’t you like to be the R&D guy in this instance? Darshan tests the relationship between bottom contours and rail profiles on the THING v2 for the benefit of us all. photo: Jeff Gideon @santacruzwaves
Construction specs, fins, overall weight, rails, design versatility……
Nic and Stretch share some winter time shaping room banter over the latest addition to the quiver.
Nic Lamb and Stretch Boards Gun design from Stretch Boards on Vimeo.