MyPaipoBoards Forums

Took delivery a bit ago of a new 'out-sized' Prone Flyer, another in a my genre of 6-3 x 29" wide platters. Kirk McGinty of L41 up in Santa Cruz worked his magic on it, utilizing much of what he's developed using the Simmons inspired SUP's (that have since translated down to 'regular' surfboards, longboards, kneeboards, etc...) as a base line.

The basic design concept is this: huge double concaves that serve as the 'engine', the quad system that has been successfully implemented on other boards of this type, severe sharp chines that fall off starting about a third up the board, working towards the nose, and a decided 'hull' roll to the forward half. The double concaves disguise a huge vee that inhabits most of the bottom of this board. In many ways, this board is very similar to the bottom concept found on Wilderness 'edge' boards out of Santa Barbara, which are a direct decendant of Greenough edge spoons, which I've been told are all that he rode though the latter part of his involvement with spoons before he abandoned that to move forward with his mat fixation.

So far, I've ridden it in some pretty good waves, and I'm declaring it a total success and a big step forward on my Mega Platter design explorations, which was funny, as I'd thought I was past any major innovations and content to just whittle away on the details of it? But this L41 has jumped a few levels up, and I can see that there is much more to be learned and explored. I picked the color combo as a sort of 'nod' to the board Greenough took to Panama long ago, and it's all turned out better than I could have hoped for.

The following photos should detail the double concave in the rear, as well as the severe chines that I think are key to this design-

That's a very interesting board!!

So am i right in saying 6ft 3" and 29" wide. how thick? How tall are you and what do you weigh.

It sounds huge to me for a prone board. Can you turn it? of is it just a flyer?

My own board has the chine rails, V and a single concave but No fins, have to tried it finless? it should hold a rail with out them and be super fast.

Is it stringerless? and can you feel it flex?

found it here http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid= ... =1&theater

Krusher, Well, yes, it IS huge for what most people think of as a 'paipo', but I'm not sure that word even really applies to what I'm doing here or these boards in particular....? It turns extremely well, I find that the quad fins really generate speed out of the turns, and for what I want to do, it's a solid 'plus'. I've had guys ride the board that weight from 140-250 lbs, and for all of them, they report back the same basic circumstances: does not die on dead spots, lots of carry through, tons of speed, your legs when ridden are mostly out of the water, and it floats like a dream. This concept is not really something that you proportionalize up or down according to the rider's weight? It's all about that big flat surface on the bottom, and those dims are what I've evolved at after some 12 years and dozens of prototypes. I think it's 3.25" thick, though of course that dim changes depending on where along the board you take the measurement? Anyway, lots of this is gone over in the interview that Dr. Robert and I had that's posted up elsewhere on this site. Yes, it's different. Yes, it bears little resemblance to what's been done before. Yes, it's more like 'prone surfing' than traditional paipo riding. And yes, it's fun as hell. I've ridden it in point breaks, reef waves, and peaky beachbeack peaks. So far........................all fun, all good.

The photo below? An earlier incarnation of the concept. I've ridden twins and single fins, and up to now, I had determined that the big Greenough paddle fin seemed to work best for me? But the new board's quad setup is rapidly changing my mind on that, so we'll see what the next coming Winter months either confirm or deny for me.

Quick addition- Yes, it's stringerless, no, it doesn't flex, and no I haven't tried it without the fins yet. I'm really enjoying the quad, so I'll probably continue that beta testing trail for the foreseeable future.

That's all very interesting to read.

I've found with boards there are two ways to go.

1: I want aboard that lets me surf how I want to surf

2: I will surf the board I get how it best wants to be surfed.

I know if i surfed a board of the huge volume of yours I would have to surf it the way it wanted to be surfed and not the way I normally surf, I have found this a fun new concept for me in trying out a loaner wood paipoglide and my new fiberglass/foam board.

After 19 years of similar riding on my bodyboards I now have some tangential horizons through the paipo.

Your board would be a whole new dimension!

After 19 years of similar riding on my bodyboards I not have some tangential horizons through the paipo.

What now?

skiff, you forgot to mention that you're 7'4" and weigh 3fiddy!

kage wrote:

After 19 years of similar riding on my bodyboards I now have some tangential horizons through the paipo.

What now?

That was supposed to read " I now have" (edited it)

So was your question what now directed at what board next or what riding goals next?

Have you got in the tube on your board yet, how does it handle that?

Bwahahahahahahahahahaha! Classic. Here's some photos from a recent session, thought it might help illuminate a few things...

Great photos and a beautiful backdrop.

Bob

Flying high!

dr robert wrote:Flying high!

No kidding. The board appears to track very high out of the water. Look like some fun waves, too. My S&S RPM would enjoy those

Looks like nice early entry and extension down the line.

Cool photo's, beautiful location!

I would not guess the boards size from the pictures.