The Asymmetrical surfboard is nothing new, dating as far back to the 60's and the Ekstrom design. I have done forum searches on here, found one old thread, that didn't really go anywhere. At any rate, I have been gearing up to make, originally, two fish boards. A dialer and a keel. I thought this might be a great opprotunity take a crack at an asymmetrical board of my own, half dialer, half keel. Backside dialer,frontside keel.
At any rate, thought I'd throw some pics out there, and maybe open this up to get some inspiration and hopefully good conversation on asymmetrical board design.
Thanks,
T.
awesome thread.
I just inherited a new block of XPS and have been noodling on what to do...
I'm thinking assymetrical open-faced sandwhich...use up the last of my balsa.
that thruster is out there.
Hey. I'm really interested in this. Not sure I'm ready to jump off the cliff and design a full on asymetrical until I understand more. However, I am ready to experiment with asym fin placement and maybe a little extra length on one rail. I have some text I pulled from somewhere talking about outline and to be honest, it seemed exactly backwards to me. I'll drop it in tomorrow.
Personally I'm always ready to learn, although I do not always like being taught. - Winston Churchill
What I've read about this idea of design boils down to this: Take two boards, in similar design like the fish for example, one board that rides really well for you backside, and one that works really well for you frontside and combine them. The rail outline, tail kick, fin set up and all that is specific to one half of the board. The only information I've found on this has come from surfer mag, tsj, and a few online sources.
At any rate, I think that since most of the time people ride their boards rail to rail, backside to frontside, it makes perfect sense that the design should follow function, not fashion. Symmetrical boards are more pleasing to the eye, but may very well be not as functional. It's all up to the rider really, but you never know until you try right?
Since I'm making a dialer and keel, I thought it would be really cool to make a hybrid asymm. version of the two.
Note to China: Call back those moldmakers.
Sickdog
I've made a few asymetricals. Wasn't my intent, though(attempt at humor). These boards make me go cross-eyed. Fish boards go well backside. If a board surf's well one direction and it's symetrical, it should go the other direction, too. It's just an adjustment. Perhaps surfers that have grown up planting their feet on a rubber pad and not needing to adjust foot position don't transition to fish boards. I don't know, just a thought. Anyway, hope yah'all have fun with the idea. Mike
I think I might be WAY too obsessive compulsive for this thread!
Well, they work.
http://hydrodynamica.blogspot.com/2009/05/1st-sesh-on-60-ekstrom-asym.html
and we have Carl on the job
[img_assist|nid=1043032|title=model|desc=|link=none|align=center|width=640|height=480]
Finally! I've been sucking up all available info on asymetrical boards after reading the TSJ article, bounced the concept of my freind and brother, who have owned asym snowboards and sailboards in the eigthies, they said they worked, but got taken of the market because you basically need to produce two boards instead of one(goofy/regular) and fashsion/ trends also sadly seem outweigh function.
The keel dialer concept sounds great but tricky, the fin placement and the split rocker sounds a bit complicated. Keep them pics coming!
Get in there Todd. You got a guy that test rides those boards for you. Take one of you test blanks and get with that rider, have him give you feedback on his fav board for lefts and rights and combine the outlines!
Thanks for the hydrodynamica blogspot link. I knew there was another online source that I had seen before but couldn't recall.
Thought this would be of interrest, The only asymetric snowboard still being built:
http://www.pureboarding.com/index.php?id=one&L=1
Anyone out there actually ridden an asymetrical surfboard, ekström or any other shapers?
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