Category Archives: Team

Updates and news about Team Stretch

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

 

Family, Team
Video

GRISTLE | Keanu Miller

Keanu Miller takes us along for the ride re-capping his travels from this past year. From Hawaii, Indonesia and back home in OZ he certainly held nothing back and should be primed for a even heavier 2023. Visuals pieced together by Tai Jennison, sit back and enjoy!

Additional Footage: Dav Fox James Kates Tim Bonython Mikey Conlon Hannah Anderson Andrew Kaineder Davis Koorey Sam Tolhurst Tyg

Photo Soundtrack: Fire on the Mountain (I-II-III) – by Wand

 

Keanu’s 2022 Quiver (Stretch Australia) Glass Hut

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Square One- 6’1 x 19 x 2.5 – Vol. 31.1l.

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Square One- 6’2 x 19 x 2.5 – Vol. 31.57l.

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Square One- 6’4 x 19 x 2.65 – Vol. 34.3l.

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5150+ 5’10 x 19.25 x 2.3 – Vol. 31.4l.

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IWNW- 6’0 x 19 x 2.5 – Vol. 31.5l.

 

Picking up some Freshies from the boys at Glass Hut (Stretch Australia)

“Stocked, locked and loaded” Hawaii Quiver

 

Coverage, Family, Industry, Team
Video

Eimeo Czermak’s New Edit “Bloom”

“Meet The Gnarliest Unsponsored Sixteen-Year-Old On The Planet”- Stab Magazine

Team rider Eimeo Czermak starts 2020 off with a coming of age re-cap highlighting his past year back home in Tahiti and his time training on the North Shore of Hawaii.To those who have seen his progression over the past 3 years its no secret…. Eimeo is an absolute animal and is only getting better with a tenacious work ethic and incredible support surrounding him in and out of the water in Tahiti. Originally coined “One of the worlds most tubed 13-year olds on earth”  from Surfline in 2017 for his edit at the time called “ROOTS”. Its only natural to progress into his most recent stage fittingly named “BLOOM”. Sit back and enjoy, 3 years from now you will be happy you did!

P.S. if you are wondering who filmed and edited this visual montage look no farther then the Czermak family themselves,

VIDEO: Jeremie Czermak

EDIT: Eimeo Czermak

 

Eimeo’s 2019 Quiver

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Buzzsaw Sk8- 5’7 x 18.3 x 2.05 

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2×4 Legacy-5’8 x 18 x 2.25

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IWNW- 5’9 x 18.1 x 2.2

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Square One- 5’9 x 18.1 x 2.2

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2×4 Legacy RP-5’10 x 18 x 2.25

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Lil’Buddy- 5’10 x 18.25 x 2.25

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Square One- 5’10 x 18.2 x 2.25

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SemiGun- 6’0 x 18 x 2.3

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2×4- 6’1 x 18.25 x 2.35 

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Semi Gun- 6’3 x 18.2 x 2.4

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Semi Gun- 6’5 x 18.3 x 2.5

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SemiGun- 6’6 x 18.2 x 2.4

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Semi-Gun- 6’6 x 18.4 x 2.6 

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Semi-Gun- 6’8 x 18.5 x 2.7 

Coverage, First Ride, Products, Team, Uncategorized

Nic Von Rupp’s New Edit “INDO DREAMS” + Q&A

2X4 LEAGACY – 5’10 X 18.65 X 2.38 PHOTO:@MENDODORNELLAS

 

 

Hey Nic! How is it being back home prepping for the upcoming big wave season?

“Yo Yo! The Boys! I feel like during winter time its a hassle here in euprope running around, cold water, heavy beatings”

 

Happy to trade in the big boards and wetsuits for some warm water barrels?

“Feels good to go to Indo, I have been going since a young age and just feels awesome to go to Deserts get barreled, not have a single worry, surfing in board shorts and just frothing out!”

 

What boards did you use during your recent trip in Indonesia?

“I was using the 2×4’s. I used the 5’10 on the smaller days as a 3 fin and the 6’2 on the bigger days. Boards felt really amazing! I really enjoyed how it rode in the barrel with speed and how fast it would pump through those sections”

 

Happy with the equipment and overall trip?

“It was a dream trip! I had never really “scored” Deserts and it was like two swells in a row. Epic waves, just as good as it gets. I was super stoked with the equipment”

 

How do you like the WSL’s idea sending surfers on more “strike mission” type of trips for coverage?

“With the tour their was only three events so we would appear only three days in the whole year so I think its great the WSL is sending people on strike missions and trying to promote the big wave scene. I think its positive you know, WSL always does a great job and I think its going in the right direction.”

 

You are pretty familiar with the whole “get up and go” type of travels this past year filming for “ON IT” and staring in your movie “RAIL ROAD”. Seems like this platform might be perfect?

“Thats it man, big waves, slabs and chasing swells. A contest just doesn’t do justice what our life is so its exciting times! I feel like their needs to be a tour as well as the WSL doing content around us is also really good. To have WSL support is awesome. Even though there is no event at Mavericks I see Mavericks as one of the biggest challenges. Thats my goal, I wanna push it out there, try and ride bigger barrels on the left, I feel like Mavericks is gonna have an impact on my career and thats where I want to put my efforts into.”

 

Thanks so much Nic! Hoping for yet another successful year for you and even though Mavericks will not be on the BWT schedule we hope to see some epic free surfs to come!

“Having you guys in Santa Cruz and having Stretch’s support for example giving me that 9’9 and all the insight its definitely one of the places I want to base myself and push the limits. Yeeewww!”

2X4 STEP UP – 6’2 X 18.65 X 2.45 PHOTO: @MENDODORNELLAS

 

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

 

Coverage, Family, Industry, Team

William Aliotti’s Film “NEW RELIGION”

William Aliotti is proud to release his first movie “New Religion” by Manuel Claudeville Morell. Over the past year these two have traveled far and wide to give you something special under 15 minutes. This movie represents both surfer and filmmaker in the artistic direction both William and Manuel had envisioned. With an original soundtrack from Manuel Claudeville Morell and other musicians Adrien Legrand and Arthur Labbaye. This video is one for the eyes and ears. Shot on Red Digital Cinema their is nothing left to do than sit back and Enjoy!!!! Congrats William and Manuel on the hard work this past year and for many more to come. Cheers!!

Locations: Tahiti, Canaries, Indo, France, Barbados, Chile and Ireland.

 

Family, First Ride, Industry, Products, Team

William Aliotti’s week in Santa Cruz

Your favorite frenchy William Aliotti and talented videographer Manuel Claudeville-Morell came through Santa Cruz a while back and got straight to work. With a surf, eat, surf, eat and a little sleep schedule it was one for the books. Talk about a well balanced team, you could always count on William surfing 3-4 times a day and Manuel dumping sand out of his shoes at least twice that amount.

 

Willy’s Asym-unicorn 6’0/5’6 x 18.4 x 2.25 photo: Dylan Andrews

A couple months ago William mentioned he wanted to try a new Asymmetrical. Stretch caved in pretty quickly and shaped him a magic stick. Forget the wallet, on Willy’s first go he dropped the entire bank account at a local beach break with fellow team rider Darshan Gooch.

PICKING FUNGI photo: Manuel Claudeville-Morell

SIDE SHOW photo: Manuel Claudeville-Morell

 

“Big thanks to Darshan Gooch and Stretch for the accommodation in the most relaxing place in Santa Cruz” -William Aliotti

 

WILLIAM WAS HAVING A BLAST TRADING PUNTS AT THIS LEFT WITH LOCAL AUSTIN SMITH-FORD. photo: Manuel Claudeville-Morell

 

“Probably one of the most powerful spots around this area! It’s an epic wave for airs!” -William Aliotti

 

INSTANT CLASSIC photo: Manuel Claudeville-Morell

WOLVES EYE VIEW photo: Manuel Claudeville-Morell

THE MAN BEHIND THE LENS, Manuel Claudeville-Morell 

L to R

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5150- 5’4 x 18.4 x 2

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Asym- 6’0/5’6 x 18.4 x 2.25

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Lil’ Buddy- 5’9.5 x 18.4 x 2.3

 

TAIL TYPES photo: Manuel Claudeville-Morell

 

“Definitely coming back! Epic vibes, good waves! Nice people and the best Mexican food!” -William Aliotti

We will see you again soon boys!!!! – Stretch Family

 

TILL NEXT TIME photo: Manuel Claudeville-Morell

 

Want to see what William has been working on? Stay tuned for William’s new movie “NEW RELIGION” premiering June 6th at La Ruche Moderne in Anglet, France. Its gonna be a party!

 

 

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