A STUDY IN ASYMMETRY: UPDATED

October 16, 2018

A high performance asymmetric surfboard design by Ryan Glover. Inspired by the work of Ryan Burch with Carl Ekstrom. Three factors considered: rail, tail and fin set up. The toe side rail leads into a broad flat tail simulating a twin swallow, and implementing the broad planing surface and speed one generates from the twin keels and mini-simmons hulls we have been enjoying lately. The fin set up on this side is that of a twin fin with a classic early seventies fin shape and size. The heel side rail flows down into a rounded tail similar to that of a high performance thruster. The fin setup on the heel side is that of a quad with a normal sized performance fin and a slightly smaller trailing fin. The final result creates an off-centred thruster. The idea is that one has all the speed and benefits of a twin fin, coming off the toe side bottom, or high line, but then transitioning the board onto the heal rail one has the response and reliability of a normal performance board thruster.

Board construction uses eps carbon technology and epoxy lamination to achieve a light and responsive feel. We look forward to developing this model and keeping you updated. Any questions don't hesitate to ask.

UPDATE 6/1/2019:

Ryan Glover Testing his Big Sun Asymmetrical. Film Still by Kent Belcher.

"Incredibly happy with the outcome of the asymmetrical. The board is lively, responsive and very, very fast. It has all the high line jazz of a twin fin on the toe rail, but combined with the reliability and response of a thruster on the heal. So far I've tested it in 1-2 foot slop, along with 4-5 foot barrels. Unbelievably it works just as well going left just as much as going right. The board really likes to turn with the rail engaged in the wave. I found myself being drawn to more arching turns as they feel so good, rather than trying to release the fins out of the lip.

I only found one part of the wave that the board didn't respond well too and that was speeding out in between sections with neither rail engage, board flat, and when I leaned forward to pump, it suddenly bucked me off. My thoughts on this are two things: Firstly, the board responds better to a more upright position, shoulders back with a healthy amount of weight on the back foot placed nicely over the fins - I think this is an inherited quirk from the twin fin. Secondly, the asymmetric rails, the asymmetric fin set up, are designed to respond to the curve of the wave, the design elementents perform best here, as does the best surfing. I have a bad habit from my performance surfing days of racing way out trying looking for a punt on the next section. Many times I should have been doing turns to generate speed, keeping in the best part of the wave, and let the section come to me. What I'm saying is, it's probably not so much the board as more it's a part of the the wave I shouldn't be.

My first board at 5'11 x 19' x 2'1/4 @29L rode smaller compared to my equivalent thruster (which makes sense as the shortest rail is more like 5'9 ft). So I went straight back and shaped a 6'1 x 18'3/4 x 2'1/4 @ 29.5L as a step up. Looking forward to testing this out in the 4-6ft cyclone swells we can get at this time of year. I can't think of anything more exciting than getting these boards into good surf with large open faces."

If anyone wants to try a Big Sun Asymmetrical board please get in contact with us. Ryan's boards are regular set ups. We also have shaped a 6'0 x 19' x 2'1/4 @29.8L goofy set up for people to try along with a mini-simmons hybrid 5'4 x 22' x 2'5/16 @31.5L.