Tag Archives: fcs2

“What’s he riding?” Sancho’s 3 board quiver

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)

height/weight:
1.80m  by 86 KG
(5’11” 190lbs.)

 

Mr. Buzz sk8 bat tail – 5’6″ x 19.65″ x 2.4″ vol. 32.8L
CFT std construction
FCSII quad with fiberglass Split Keel quads

 

2×4 round pin – 6’0″ x 19.25″ x 2.5″ vol. 32.0L
2.375″ adjusted rail profile
CFT med construction
FCSII 5-fin convertible with Stretch template WR large quad PC carbon 4.625″/4.125″

 

2win double wing swallow – 5’6″ x 20.35″ x 2.65″ vol. ???
nose “pugged 4″ from a 5’10”
CFT med construction
FCSII twin with MR PC twins (plugs for twin trailer were retrofitted but not yet used)

 

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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

sancho slips into a goodie to evaluate quad fin placement back home. photo: manu migueles

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through the looking glass. sancho fins his 2×4 round pin getting the hero shot.

7’0″ IT Round Pin CFT std with Darshan Gooch

In this “First ride impressions” piece, the featured board happens to be none other than the most under stated, longest continually offered and most inquired board in the Stretch model line.

Darshan really wanted to wrap his head around the IT and what the mystifying board design was meant to do, where it could go on the wave and how it fits in to a surfer’s quiver.

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Stretch would sum up the IT model as longboard paddle and stability up front with control and maneuverability out the back. It’s got rocker, it’s got foil, it can be pushed harder than you may think. Over the past 20-something years since it’s inception the IT has turned heads and put smiles on every person who rides one.

The stock size dimensions for Darshan’s 7’0″ IT show a nose width of 17.8″ and a tail width of 15.1″. That’s loosely calling it a “not so pointy” Super Buzz nose width spliced onto a tail width the same as a THING v2!

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The IT comes standard with a 5-fin convertible set up. Available in either Futures or FCS systems.

The IT really isn’t a down-sized longboard. It’s not an up-sized shortboard. It’s not really fair to call it a “funboard” or “mini-mal” or “micro HPLB”. The IT is so much of an anomaly we couldn’t come up with a more descriptive name!

I would’ve called it the “Surf Mullet” if someone had asked but i think that name was already taken. The IT has been around longer than i have so we’ll just leave it at that.  “Business in the front, party in the back!” Makes sense to me!

Name: Darshan Gooch

Height/weight: 6’4″ 180lbs

Model/size/fin set up:

IT round pin 7’0” x 21.5″ x 2.65″ vol. 43.2L CFT std construction. Ridden as a quad with Firewire template (Futures)

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Location/conditions:

Steamer Lane: Fairly clean, 4-6 ft waves off the slot and inside middle peak., a little challenging with the higher tide wobble and refractions..

Pleasure Point: 4-6 ft, North westerly slopey walls with lots of people/ obstacles.

Rider background (general skill level, current board(s), misc. other factors):

Goofy looking regular footer, 25 years surfing experience.

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

Considering this board is fairly different than the boards I usually ride on a regular basis, I tried to approach this particular board with an open mind.

Ride experience:

The first thing I noticed when I jumped off the cliff and onto this board was it’s incredible paddling abilities. It was almost like I had to wipe the smirk off my face once I discovered the advantages I was gaining.

Strengths:

Paddling! There was a huge advantage that opened up in the accessibility of catching waves I wouldn’t usually consider paddling for. Great down the line speed and maneuverability.

Weaknesses:

The only weakness that comes to mind might be the amount of people you may upset if you take full advantage of this boards wave catching abilities.

Summary (your best one sentence description, recommendations or overall feeling):

The IT : A very user-friendly board for a wide variety of waves and skill levels.

 

Check out the available stock IT models for sale at: store.stretchboards.com. As always, each board is made custom and individual.

Not seeing exactly what you are looking for? Choose from the “fast track” options in the pull down menu to put down a deposit and build up the stock dimensions with color, fins, logos, tail template and construction specs to your own personal preference!

There’s been a set of commonly asked questions in regards to the IT model i’ve encountered over the years. Darshan responds back after gaining some insight:

Can you duck dive it?

DG: At 7’0” I found the IT reasonably easy to duckdive in the 4-6 waves IT was tested. I think in bigger / more powerful surf or in larger sizes the IT could get challenging to push under waves unless you could over power it.

Quad or Tri?:

DG: I have ridden the IT both with quad and tri fin setups. Personally I have enjoyed quads more recently but trust the tri fin setup to be equally functional. It’s all personal preference in my opinion.

How does it work when the waves are pumping?

DG: If the surf was pumping the IT will open up nicely! In a perfect world I would enjoy this board in some overhead walls where you could get in early with an abundance of speed and push this board down the line and through it’s paces. Top to bottom waves might be a little more challenging of coarse.

What are your intentions?

DG: My intentions with the IT would be: taking a load off and cruising along like a sea bird. Long flowing movements, nothing to serious, just riding like the wind. Enjoy!

Would you travel with it?

The IT is a great travel board for easy locations where the consistency needle is trending to the lower end of the spectrum. It will cover all the bases and when the surf jumps up you won’t necessarily be scrambling for shelter since it has the rocker and foil to handle a bit more punch that the waves will throw at you.

Can you nose ride it?

Cheater 5’s, maybe. For sure in the longer lengths with a steep wall. Perching on the nose in full trim isn’t something that most people can handle on an over rockered longboard let alone a mid-length though.

Can it be ridden as a tri? Single? 2+1?

The IT was originally designed with a thruster set up. In the mid-2000’s  when the quad craze went full tilt we were doing them as convertibles and also 4+1 set up’s with 8.5″ center fin boxes and even 10 1/2″ boxes if the length, width and rocker would accommodate it. This gave the most options for anyone who wanted 2+1, tri (with center box adapter plug for your normal FCS center fin) and yes, even a single if they wanted to get funky. Everyone raves about the quad set up in the IT but tri’s work darn well also! We make them 5-fin convertible so you get the best options to choose from.

Can you get a longer version and surf cowells on one?

You could….. We’ve made them long but the sweet spot is in the 7’0″ to 8’0″+ range. Groms, light footed proficient folks and smaller statured surfers could get away with it in large, slopey, slow moving walls but there’s a reason flat rockered logs dominate longboard zones. Paddling harder and getting less waves doesn’t sound super fun.

What construction would you prefer?

We’ve made them primarily in our CFT construction. EPS/epoxy gives a lively feel and adds the durability and longevity which is paramount in a board design such as the IT. Legacy cork/bamboo builds and funky color laminations are another way to spice things up. Custom builds are what we do so sky is the limit and is all about what your personal preference dictates.

 

Still have questions? Contact us at: info@stretchboards.com

 

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Stretch explains the theory behind the “stinger”to Darshan.

 

 

Check out the groovy IT stylings sans verbage in the edit courtesy of Mike Cochran here:

 

 

Buy a board = get premium fins at discount $

Buy any board (new or used) from store.stretchboards.com and receive 25% off any fin set in stock!

just add to cart and use promo code: UPGRADE

offer expires December 31, 2015

Modern day surfing as we know it wouldn’t be the same without fins. Surfboard design is a whirlwind of design theory and application. The fins on your board as you can imagine are equally as significant. Whether you are adept at dissecting rocker profiles and outlines, chord length and foil sections or just don’t have a clue what the difference is between future and fcs fin systems, don’t you worry… you’re definitely not alone.

Highly sensitive and ultra “tuned-in” surfers may be able to discern the flex difference in their glass job or the extra 1/16″ lift in tail rocker but for everyone single person who surfs, simply swapping out fins can give you insight, perspective, adaptability, confidence, control and (most importantly) the sought after joy that surfing brings.

For a fraction of the $ cost, space, decision making and time it would take to get a new board for that slightly different and elusive magic board sensation, it’s a no brainer to simply swap out your fins into the board you’ve already got.

Simplicity is admirable. Versatility is significant. Having the ability to switch fins with the turn of a screw (or a quick snap out/in) is something previous generations of surfers had only imagined.

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Fins Unlimited custom hand-foiled fiberglass fin sets are made in the USA exclusively for Stretch Boards. They come in 3 different templates and various sizes in both FCS and Future systems. These are limited in supply and are available only from store.stretchboards.com

Now is a good time to be a surfer. A variety of fin templates, sizes, foils, constructions and even matching colors are available to dial in your ride!

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Tri or quad??? Wiggolly has the ability to swap out as conditions warrant, such as these FCS II AM2 Large tri’s in his 6’6″ semi-gun for Pipe.

 

questions???

send a message to: info@stretchboards.com