Snow Sharks

Corduroy Lines

Empire Surfboards feature in the printed Autumn issue of Corduroy Lines.

Thanks to Simon for supporting UK surfing and for a great read.

if you don't already have it, you can pick up a copy here.

Complete

6'0" for Jackson of Finisterre

6'0" x 19 1/2 x 2 3/8 thruster

http://www.finisterreuk.com/

Second hand Mode for Sale!

9'3" Mode £380

9'3" x 22 1/2 x 2 3/4

Alexa is selling her Mode. this is a beautiful, functional board with a full resin tint, gloss polish and glassed in flex fin. the board is in excellent condition with only minor deck compressions. The Mode represents a modern evolution of a traditional noserider. This very maneuverable board with it's light and narrow nose turns quickly from the tail to keep you positioned in the pocket. It excels in knee to shoulder high surf, A light nose concave and kicked up tail provides lift and suction while the single fin and soft rails stop the board from drifting while you are perched on the nose. With pivotal turning, swift paddling and good stability on the nose this board is an essential addition to your quiver. this is a unique opportunity to grab a fantastic board at a bargain price.

you can either buy it through the shop here, drop me an e-mail or message Alexa direct here

any questions, just ask.

Fresh from the glassing room

5'10" Resin tinted Lumus with handmade bamboo fins for James in Guernsey

Diablo

6'2" Diablo quad for Nick Radford

true

nabbed this from Dave at http://www.surfhog.com

i imagine that every shaper has had this conversation or something similar.

The origins of a design

Raspberry and Sky Blue Lumus with bamboo fins for Joe

After much deliberation i have finally settled on a name for the four finned Bonzer “The Lumus”.

The Lumus represents a collection of ideas and inspiration that extend far beyond my own work.

My role as a shaper is to blend all of these ideas into a shape that has the performance characteristics that best suit how I want to ride. The result is the Lumus which although surfing is a subjective experience, is the most exciting board that I have ridden.

The Lumus is hyper drive fast generating speed from nowhere. With a bonzers precise control and drive it will carve big arcing turns with no loss of speed. It flies in the mush planing over the flat sections but still feels positive and comfortable in hollow powerful surf. If i had just one board in my quiver this would be it. i have never ridden any wide tailed board that will drive off the bottom as well as this. You can really commit, lean on it hard and push though the turn as the rail and fins take the load and keep biting, turning all of that energy into speed and distance. The Lumus really excels at fast, powerful, carving surfing across a wide range of conditions. it feels responsive but not twitchy and i find that lines that it draws perfectly suited to my style of surfing.

if you have any questions or comments please give me a shout.

info@empiresurfboards.com

6'0" for Finisterre's Jackson

6'0" high energy thruster for Finisterre's Jackson

In France

A couple of shots from Alexa and Mark's recent trip to France.

thanks for the photos.

In the glassing room

Shelter from the storm

Nick Radford sheltering from the recent winds on his Vulcan.

initial report:

"Loving the new board. The bladey rails give the board a nice trim and make it really responsive - feels smaller than a 9'8", and you can turn it around much quicker, or take a higher line than your average egg-railed log. I really like the compromise it creates between a traditional board, and something you can still push off the tail, yet retaining the all important nose-riding characteristics. Been riding it with the flex fin, which produces some nice carving arcs and projected bottom turns with the pintail. It's a slightly different trip on the nose from what I'm used to, but there's a sweet spot where you can feel a sort of stall and lift which extends tip-time."

the photos where taken by Dave of http://www.surfhog.com/

thanks to Dave for the shots and nick for the feedback.

Alexa takes 2nd in the Jesus Longboard Classic

Congratulations to team rider Alexa Poppe who took 2nd place in the Jesus Longboard Classic at the weekend. hip hip hooray!

there are photos of the event on the 360 photography site.

http://www.360photography.co.uk/lightbox/index.php?module=media&pId=102&id=320409&category=gallery/SurfingGallery/CORWALL/POLZEATH/October%202010/Jesus%202010%20Longboard%20Classic/1.15%20pm&start=90/

Shiny things

I've been making things flat and shiny for the good people at the Foam Asylum.

http://foamasylum.blogspot.com/

Polishing my way through a batch of Campbell brothers bonzers at the moment.

for more info on Bonzers from the master visit http://houseofbonzer.blogspot.com/

five fintastic

Nick's Diablo

resin stripe by Jason of the foam asylum.

Nice things

Know when you stumble across something that is really nice...

bamboo iphone case by Grove with art work by Damion Silver.

Thrusters

6'2" swallow tail and 6'4" rounded pin for Marco

Welcome

welcome to our family new team rider Nick Radford.

Nick's ride: Vulcan 9'8" x 23 x 3 1/8

For Nick I have reworked the Vulcan. pulled in the nose, straightened the middle and made it a little more hippie in the tail.

6'0" for Tom

6'0" thruster for Tom with a free lap tint by Jason of the Foam Asylum and handmade Bamboo fins.

waiting for fins

Stripes for Tom

four fin again

Four fin Bonzer for James

More bamboo fins

Four fins for Joe

In the rack

6'2" swallow tail, 6'4" round pin, 5'10" four fin quad and 9'8" Vulcan.

Tangerine Jekyll

Epoxy/EPS Jekyll for Antony

Bamboo fins

Bamboo fins for Tom's board.

Yes

No

Images borrowed from magic seaweed

Four is the Magic number

Four Fin Bonzer for Joe

Without Thought

without thought trailer from Ollie Banks on Vimeo.

New work from Ollie and friends available from 1st August

Genius

Four Fin Bonzer

All contemporary board designs have a strong lineage and are the sum of everything that has gone before. As shapers we are in the privileged position of having a rich of history to draw on.

Surfing Magazine Feb 89