Lumus

6'0" Lumus for Nick Radford

Testing the new shape

New 9'4" for Nick Radford

Initial report....

The combination of vee, hips, and wide diamond tail makes for really nice transitions off the top and into a cutback, and the softer rails are still responsive with them being bladed out more in the tail. The lower widepoint seems to have a number of advantages - for general maneuverability and responsiveness surfing off the tail (with the widepoint by your front foot), or initiating turns further up the board with the roll, but mainly noseriding...

It creates a really solid trim when it locks in. This might be a combination of the kick in the tail and slightly turned down rails in the nose also, but it really holds my weight (14 odd stone) on the nose - because of the increased weight / volume in the tail with the lower widepoint and heavy glass job, and the resulting counterbalance when locked in for a noseride. it makes a solid platform for walking, and the softer rails are more forgiving in this respect. In my 15 years of riding longboards, I'd go as far as to say this is one of the best noseriders I've ever had, maybe the best! And it still goes good off the tail.

I've been riding it with a big Hynson red fin, which creates really nice drive and hold. Seems like a good fin for it, or maybe a big pivot fin. Anything too small or flexy I might be concerned the wide tail would ping out. I can give more detailed feedback when I've surfed it more, but for now it feels spot on!

Feedback

Feedback for Nick after his recent trip.

7'2" custom 2+1

I love this board! Tipping the balance between a shortboard and mid-length, I was a little concerned it felt too small when paddling out for the first time on a big day (being 6'4" and 14-odd stone), but it then proceeded to easily paddle into good size, powerful waves, and feel really comfortable in such conditions. On smaller / mid size days too, the board goes great, picking up waves you might otherwise miss with the extra length, but not compromising on maneuverability. I love the arcing turns you can do with the rounded pin and fin setup.

I took the board to Panama, where I got to try it out in some hollower waves, and the thing goes great in the barrel, locking in nicely with the rounded pin. You can draw some nice lines too, going as minimal as you like in trim, or pushing it pretty vertical, the tail holds in and the rails are nice and responsive. I've been riding it with a 7" centre and FCS GX sides, which carve beautifully, but I'm yet to experiment with different fin setups. So it's an ideal travel board, and something to ride on the overhead days here, but don't underestimate it's potential in smaller waves too.

2+1 for Nick Radford

7'2" opaque white with cream spot

Diablo

6'2" Diablo quad for Nick Radford

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.

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.