Stretch Boards 983 Tower Place Santa Cruz, California 95062

The last 4 months have had some discussion revolving around the newest addition to the Stretch board line. Among all the chit chat the comes with designing a board, the biggest issue we had was whether or not we should call it the “Sphere” or the “One-Two!”. The team feedback was unreal. “This is the best tri-fin I’ve ever had!”, “He’s surfing better than I’ve ever seen!”. “It’s almost not worth surfing today if I can’t have this board with me.”, are among the ringing dialogues that have tweetered into our ears. The real dillema with the board ended up figuring out what to call it.

Stretch’s idea of calling it the “Sphere” is to iterate the elaborate simplicity of the design. Centered around progressive new school maneuvers, the conceptual basis for this model is the extremely round and symmetrical curves featured in the board. It really is like taking a compass and drawing an arc. In a nutshell, you get a narrower tail, fuller mid-section rails and a ton of continuous rocker. The result is an unbelievably quick turning, “in the pocket”, tweaked rotational madness, lip-bashing, ramp-out machine. Which leads to the other half of the argument, calling it the “One-Two!”.

Creating a model name based off connotations of how it performs is the complimentary dispute. Seeing the board perform is explosive, calculated and awe-inspiring. It’s like being ringside at a boxing match and watching it all go down. It’s the combo you pull out when you’re pumping with adrenalin. When you’re poised and ready to strike, all you gotta do is let it all out. Quickness, agility and supercharged surfing antics never had a better vessel for destruction. When you see a fat lip, give it the ole “one-two!”

Until we get the product stand up onto the website, here’s a sneak peak at the specs for the new board. Whether we call it the “Sphere” or the “One-Two!”, it doesn’t matter, just ask for the latest and greatest. We’ll know what you mean.
“Sphere”

Recommended sizes: 5’8” – 7’6”

The newest addition to the Stretch board line is an elaborately simple assassin. It’s the kind of board that feeds off progression and supports you in positions above and beyond all those surf fantasies you’ve conjured up in your head. In the right hands, it’s an unmistakable instrument playing a crisp note. If the Fletcher Four-fin is a trumpet and the S-10 is a flute, then the S12 is surely a violin.

The Sphere is recommended for intermediate to advanced surfers. It is designed for fast beach breaks and reefs and also serves as an excellent step-up board for racey walls and quick, ledgy slabs. Order this board 1/16” thinner than your normal EPS/Epoxy Stretch tri-fin.

Tail options:

The Sphere’s tail is nearly identical to its opposing nose template offering a uniquely predictable and narrow platform. Any tail configuration is solid.

Swallow: looks really cool.

Thumb: probably looks weirder on this model than anything else.

Round pin: is narrow and best suited for front footed rippers.

Fin options:

The Sphere comes standard as a tri. We recommend this board with smaller yet fuller, high aspect ratio fins from 4 ¼”-4 1/2”.

Tech specs:

Outline: The Sphere has the wide point exact center. The template is an even curve, akin to an arc drawn with a compass. The Sphere’s extremely consistent outline blends nose characteristics similar to the S2 towards a much narrower tail. The result is an extremely predictable board allowing you to maneuver top to bottom with lightning speed.

Rocker: A key element to the Sphere is the extremely consistent and continuous rocker from nose to tail. Unique to every other model in the Stretch board line, the Sphere’s amplified rocker provides stability in extremely critical positions. A predictable feel and a broad “sweet spot”, increases turning ability and quick snaps under the lip.

Bottom: Slight vee in the nose feeds into the deepest single concave Stretch has ever offered. A relatively straighter center-line rocker combined with the increased rail rocker maximizes planing efficiency and maneuverability while providing the quickest turning board possible. The Sphere’s bottom is accentuated with a light vee out the tail.

Rails: The Sphere features a proportionately fuller rail in the mid section and supports a thinner tail. Combining Stretch’s round, spherical rails in a fuller mid section and nose allows for more forgiveness and “follow through”. A stable landing pad under your front foot, the repositioned volume combined with the thinner tail means you’ll be digging your rails less often and coming away clean.

When a surfboard shaper who has decades of experience in various watercrafts can come along and provide all that experience into a specific fin design, it’s pretty unique.

stretch fins

Creating a fin design is a careful recipe much like designing a surfboard. It requires an understanding of hydrodynamics, geometry, construction and the forces acting upon it at all times. Furthermore, it delves into details such as lift to drag ratios, aspect ratios, chord length, draft, camber, tow, laminar and turbulent flow, angle of attack among other things. Choosing fins, much like ordering a custom surfboard is all about purpose and ultimate performance. We have different boards for different waves and conditions just as there are different styles of boards for different styles of surfers. Fins are no different. It should only be appropriate that you try the proper fins designed by the same person who designed your board.

Stretch has over the years produced sailboards, kiteboards, surfboards, boats, towboards, and among other things, has developed a signature fin based off his understanding of getting the most out of your complete surfing experience. His research and collaboration with NACA airfoil data and designers such as George Greenough and Curtis Hesslegrave have been more than revealing. It even goes as far as observing fish swimming in a stream to analyze their body type and natural efficiency in utilizing dynamic flow. Not merely a template design, Stretch’s fin incorporates years of research and development to determine the sizes, camber (inside foil), aspect ratio, rake and foil. A Stretch fin has been tested to be as efficient as possible in order to reduce drag, provide speed, drive, grip and release in the most effective way possible.

stretch-fins-thruster-centre

The leading edge has been designed to induce fluid cohesion and not shear water at high speeds causing fin stall. It is relatively wide and rounded to provide multiple angles of attack. Stretch also designed his fin with a full, arcing tip with a sharp point to allow water to exit the trailing edge reducing turbulent flow and tip effect. The thickness flow from base to tip is designed to increase flow and low pressure as the fin passes through the water allowing for more speed and lift. The tip of the fin is flat to remain neutral while being thin so that as pressure is applied, the excess force will allow the flow to twist off much like a birds wing in flight.

Stretch’s fin design is offered in a variety of sizes and constructions. Whether, it’s glass, composite, RTM, G-10 glass, or even bamboo, there’s a Stretch fin that’s waiting for you. Available in Future, FCS or Lokbox fin systems. Contact Stretch Boards to locate a dealer near you or to upgrade your fin set on any custom order.