however the performance is much better with the Proxy – the flex characterstics are very springy and lively under the feet and they keep their life much longer than a polyester

Hey Todd,

I really like the look of your proxy boards. I currently ride a 6’6” Webber afterburner surftech and a 6’8” JC Hawaii PMM surftech here in NorCal – I love the shapes, the lightness and the strength of these surfboards but dislike the stiffness.

What would you suggest in your line of proxy shapes to keep the good characteristics of what I like about the surftechs but with flex? Do the proxy surfboards have stringers? (I ask this because I duck-dive with my knee and destroy fiberglass board’s glassing along the stringer)

Here is basically what I like;

6’6” to 6’8” length

Single to double-concave bottom contour

19 ¼” to 19 5/8” width

The surftechs I have are almost 2 ½” thick (about 2.44”) so I presume a 2 ½” proxy would work?

Medium entry rocker and moderate tail rocker

Also I’m an intermediate surfer (surfing for 15 years but I’m almost 40) and I mostly surf beach breaks like Ocean Beach, SF (2-8ft)

Any help appreciated.

Thanks a lot,
Dave.

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Hi Dave,

Apologies for not getting back with you sooner…..have been very busy….

If you are still looking for that magic board, here is what I recommend: 6’7” x 19 ½” x 2 ½” Groveler IV.p. The Proxy has a stringer, but the construction of these boards is such that they are as strong as the molded boards that you are accustomed to…..however the performance is much better with the Proxy – the flex characterstics are very springy and lively under the feet and they keep their life much longer than a polyester. You may want to think about upgrading to the Kevlar compression patch for extra strength

Not knowing your height or weight, and strictly going off the dimensions you detailed out of the Surftech construction, I think splitting the dims right down the center would be the way to go. The Proxy is more buoyant than polyesters, but not corky and on top of the water like a Surftech…..so go with something just a slight bump up from what you’ve been getting, but not quite as thick as you would go for a polyester.

As for the design, the Groveler IV.p has a single to double concave bottom which makes for a very drivey board with a wide open sweet spot. The entry rocker is moderate to get into waves with ease and for quick bursts of speed down the line. There is a flatter area between the feet which gives the board a good engine to fly through flat sections….and the tail rocker is moderate, but with enough bend in it to respond like lightning when thrown into a turn. This design generates its own speed in small waves, yet holds in and surfs fast, top-to-bottom and in the pocket on the punchier days…..this is what makes it my most versatile performance shortboard design. Ocean Beach has a lot of different faces to it given the day, so that is why I think this board would be the magic for you. Please feel free to ask any other questions you may have. I know you would be stoked on a custom Proctor Groveler IV.p.

Looking forward to your reply (and I will get back to you quicker this time),

Aloha,

Todd

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~ by shapingboards on October 13, 2007.