My specific design requirements are based on my experience of what gives the best speeds at West Kirby and Southend. These venues are good but not perfect….and let’s face it, nowhere is perfect! Conditions can change fast and to come away with the best speeds you need to catch the gust of the day. You need a board that can get you to the right place at the right time and get lots of runs in.

To get a fast 10 seconds control is key because if conditions are fast there is every chance you are going to finish up in chop. Ironically this brings me to acceleration…if you can accelerate and get up to speed faster the less you have to venture into the chop.

Each speed run has a start, a middle and an end…and then it’s back to the start! My board has to be able to perform on each of these four points…all with about 12kg of lead on my back.

All of this translates to:

Fast rocker line – Speed

Longer nose – Starts

Thicker profile – Starts/upwind

Moderate deck scoop – Control

Thin, narrow tail – Control/speed

Softer rails – Control