How is the design itself geared towards being all around?
Being an all around board means it needs to perform in flat water, be stable enough for entry-level paddles as well as perform in the surf. We put a ton of testing into the entry-level models and are stoked with the result. We made sure the nose and tails are pull in as well as the rails are nice and thin without sacrificing stability. Coming from a surf background and competing in SUP surf events & working on board designs with my brother it is very important to me that if an entry level paddler wants to get out in the surf we want him to have a good experience with our product.
What about the new construction? kevlar? bamboo?
The new construction is much stronger and board weight remains the same and in most cases a bit lighter. This all depends on manufacturing weather conditions; if its cold the resin becomes thicker, so it can vary about 1-2lb. The new bamboo construction makes the layup stronger and the kevlar rails are very impact resistant, meanwhile the performance and stiffness will remain the same. Bamboo is about as strong as 6oz fiberglass and when combined with fiberglass makes a really good bond with a lower chance of delam. We have been using it a lot on the select series and the durability is incredible. They also have a carbon standing patch which will help with deck denting. The bond process is a vacuum mold that ensures the strongest bond possible while the vacuum sucks out any excess resin ensuring the lightest layup.
What about performance: concave and rocker focus?
We go with a single concave throughout the nose and right around the mid point it transitions to a double concave with a slight V out the tail. That allows the larger entry-level boards to have a nice roll through turns and give them a lighter feel. Rocker is 3 1/2" in the tail and 5" in the nose. It allows the board to fit in a wave and also helps a ton with release in flat water.
