Stretch Boards blog for product reviews, team updates and factory news.
Nathan Fletcher is human. He faces challenges like you and I but perhaps on a different scale…
Follow Your Mission With Nathan Fletcher, Presented by Nixon
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
Nixon | Welcome William Aliotti to the Team from NIXON Europe on Vimeo.
Not too unlike motorcycle clubs compelling you to work for that 3-piece patch, showing your worth and earning the respect of the vanguard, you can’t just join the Nixon team. One has to be voted in by the other members in order to join the elite Pro ranks of the tight knit family.
Through years of support from Nixon Europe, William’s hard work and commendable attitude both in and out of the water allowed him to prove his mettle to the surfing world. He’s just been voted in to be a full fledged member of the Nixon Family. Congratulations William!
Benjamin Sanchis, a.k.a.- “Sancho” has the grueling task of traveling around the world to hunt down mind bending barrels for the enjoyment of your viewing pleasure.
WHERE IS SANCHO l KANDUI from FTR Films on Vimeo.
Buzzsaw 5’10.5″ x 19.35″ x 2.5″ bat tail CFT med. construction FCSII quad with “feathered brush fade” colorwork by Sandy.
Thing v2 6’2″ x 19.2″ x 2.5″ round pin CFT med. construction FCSII 5-fin with “vert brush fade” colorwork by Sandy.
Andrew Doheney slid down south of the border to get filthy on his 5’6″ Buzzsaw SK8.
SK8 deck concave + front foot traction = Gumby laybacks!
“You Only Tell the Truth in the Dark” documents a journey through the Chilean landscape with William Aliotti and Sebastien Zanella of Desillusion Magazine. This video is a somber and introspective look at what drives us into exploring the unknown. It reflects the urgency in each of us to go out of our comfort zone, whether that’s paddling into massive slabs while undergunned or traveling in a camper van for a month with no access to your electronic devices. What we make of the moment defines who we are. We often can’t see well when heading into the fog. In this case, Willy clearly found his way.
Nixon | You only tell the truth in the dark: William Aliotti from NIXON Europe on Vimeo.
If you get lost in the fog tonight,
will you cry?
If you go out and you cannot see,
will you die?
If you get swallowed by clouds tonight,
will you wake up in your own skin?Or will you become someone else?
Maybe him.
The fast flying, slab hunting frenchman capped off his Chile sojourn with a win at the 2016 Arica Pro presented by Maui and Sons.
William Aliotti Arica Final from Stretch Boards on Vimeo.
1st place in Chile. photo courtesy WSL
Willy was knifing frontside bombs on his CFT medium 5’10” x 18.187″ x 2.187″ Lil Buddy model. His final heat against friend and competitor Dean Bowen found him scoring a perfect 10 which sealed the deal and gave an unforgettable end to his to Chilean road trip adventure!
William had this to comment on how he felt after winning the event:
“Without the board you make me I would of never won this contest ! In my first heat I took a set on the head and I thinks if you board wasn’t strong I would of break my board for sure . I was soo confidant on the 5,10 lil buddy and the 6,2 2×4 there were amazing! flying every football !”
(Yeah, not sure what he means by “flying every football” either. It’s all good! Maybe it’s a french thing or something he learned while in Chile… William speaks English 100x’s better than I speak French but I still blame the autospell correct on his iphone!)
Congratulations WIlliam!
check out more on the 2016 Arica Pro and WIlliam’s perfect 10 ride here
William Aliotti and Dean Bowen atop the podium in Arica, Chile.
Acclimating to the Chilean surf during his road trip with Desilllusion magazine allowed William to get acquainted with gutting lefts prior to the contest. photo: Sebzanella
Buzzsaw sk8 with Darshan Gooch from Stretch Boards on Vimeo.
Name: Darshan Gooch
Height/weight: 6’4″ 185 lbs
Board model/dimensions: Buzz Saw sk8 6’0″ x 19.5″ x 2.25″ vol.31.8L (straight off the stock board rack!)
Construction type: CFT std (1/8″ bamboo stringer, marko foam 2.1pcf compression molded EPS, deck channels, 45º bias weave S-glass and RWG) + striped carbon tail strips
Fins used: Futures Timmy Patterson (sides) with Fins Unlimited S2 Stretch fiberglass 4.25″ quad rear pair
Conditions tested: Point breaks, reefs and beachbreaks,. Average to good waves, from slopey / mushy, and into hollow barreling waves as well.
Background (general skill level, current board(s), misc. other factors):
Just another working class parent from around the way. Continuing to remain passionate about riding waves, while keeping those kids fed and bills paid. 25 years surfing experience.
Initial thoughts/expectations (was this really what you thought you were getting?):
This was actually a stock board that was sitting in the factory. Initially I was drawn to this board looking for a daily driver to fill a few places where my quiver was lacking. Although the volume was a little towards the full side for my comfort, I previously had really enjoyed my experiences with the Super Buzz and was interested in going further down the rabbit hole prior to our El Niño season of 2015/16.
What wave types do you imagine surfing when viewing this design? (full spectrum and size range):
Since this board is coming from the daily driver sector I would imagine this board to cover a wide range of waves / conditions from average to good waves.
Ride experience:
Perhaps due to new board excitement, I found my first wave to actually be one of the best waves I ever caught on this board. The Buzz Saw paddled very comfortably and with my feet slipping right into the sweet spot of the concave SK8 deck I was ready to dig in at first draw. Over time I found this board to fit and work best in the pocket or curvature of the waves face. Also having great tube riding capabilities, there were a number of sessions were I took the Buzz Saw into waves outside of what I perceived to be it’s preferred size range. More often than not, I was surprised at Buzz Saw’s capacity to adapt and conquer in good waves in the overhead range.
Likes/Dislikes:
The Buzz Saw thrives to fit and be pushed through turns in tight/round places on the wave where your standard shortboard might not fit. Perhaps my stubbornness to only ride this board as a quad made for times when I struggled or fought the extra volume of the skate deck in slopey or mushy parts of the wave. Considering my size 13 foot, I may have found my width limit for preferable SK8 deck options here.
General observations:
The Buzz Saw has an uncanny ability to be very adaptable from average everyday fun, into great waves that would be more performance oriented.
Summary (synopsis, recommendations or overall feeling you would tell a friend):
Lively daily driver that loves to be ridden in the pocket and also thrives in the decent to good waves category.
voluptuous curves deserve something to feast on. gooch nurtures the buzzsaw sk8’s voracious open face appetite. photo: chachi
“baby got BACK!” the butt tail is the default stock template off the rack. nice curves! chemically transformed image sharing courtesy of: darshan gooch
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