I think my relationship with Dave has opened my eyes to the way different boards can change your approach to surfing and what you get back from it.

Its not all about the latest 6’1 world best thruster. Shaping for Rasta I am having flashbacks to my favourite boards when I was a kid and i am talking the seventies!

Growing up when the last shortboard revolution happened, and now it’s coming around again, but this time I get to relive my childhood through design and throw in a modern twist with all the experimentation in materials and blending old with new and the eco element is exciting, so I am stoked like a grommet with the direction Formula Energy is heading.

Gary McNeill (shaper/innovator)

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Frequently Ask Questions 

Below please find some queries/questions and comments, asked  by surfers about the boards. Perhaps it can shed some light on a query you may have ?

(TWIN,QUAD OR THRUSTER)

G’day Gary, earlier this year I bought a 5’11″ Mung Bean twinnie from Golden Breed (it looks like the one you have on the website with the space theme).

It has been sensational.  I live in Victoria and have ridden the board in all conditions.  It’s my favourite board to ride and I’m a huge fan of the planshape, rocker and rails.  With the wave types in Victoria there are times where I’d like just a bit more hold for winter conditions and reef breaks.  I plan to order a custom 6’0″ version shortly but I’m struggling to decide whether to order a thruster or a quaddie.  I like future fins and I’m wary of the extra weight in the tail if I go with 5 fin boxes.

I’ve traditionally surfed thrusters and the time I had a  another shapers quaddie. I found it difficult to do snaps and other moves in the top of the wave.  Although this may have been due to board width or any number of variables.  With my current Mung Bean twinnie I surf it similar to how I approach a thruster, but with a bit more restraint out of the bottom. The down the line speed is what I’m really impressed with.

I see from many of your shapes a strong focus on quad fins, thus I wanted to get your thoughts on your preference for the fin set-up in the Mung Bean shape.  With what you’re trying to achieve would you go with the quad fin set-up?

Cheers, and thanks for the advice.

Doug.

Gday, Doug good questions, you seem to like the speed and that what the twins and quads deliver. The thrusters work fine they just have a more pivotal feel thru transitional turns where the quad will feel smoother and have a less drag quality.

Regarding hold in size most shapers over look the fact that a quad with slightly larger fins will  have more drive and hold than a thruster in overhead waves its just getting that balance right without making the board too tight  Kelly slater is a good example in Fiji he was riding a 5.9 quad and was smashing everyone  hope this helps,  regards Gary.

(FINS FOR ME TWIN)

G’day Gary,

I have purchased a 5’9×19 1/2×2 7/16 yeti twin from sanbah in newy but it didnt come with any fins. I was wondering what your reccomendation would be?? i have noticed that the fin cluster seems to  be much closer together, eg the front fins seem to be closer to the tail than i have seen on thrusters and quads. 

I have also picked up a second hand 5’6×19 3/4x 2 7/16 nemo squirt. This is hands down the best bloody board i have ever ridden!!! Something just clicked the first wave/whole session. only thing is that i would like something that performs as well as the squirt when it gets around 4-5′. it just seems to lack some paddle power for the crappy waves we often get around here in port stephens. i was considering something like 5’10×19 1/4×2 7/16ish round tail quad?? 

Ive been suring for about 6-7 years now i weigh around 70-75 kgs and am reasonably fit. I don’t often surf much over 4-5′ as there isn’t much that holds around here at that size and I lack some experience in surf bigger than that anyway. I ride everything I can get a hold of, single fins, twins, thrusters, quads, logs, midlengths ect.. but i cant go past the speed that ive felt from that nemo squirt. dead set the best board ever, there are a few neglected boards in my garage now because of it hahaha

Thanks,

Pat 

Gday, Pat you sound like a board slut for sure I love it when guys are open minded to everything , if its futures try to get some akila aipa twins they are the bomb for that board hands down or soon we will be getting some twin fin that will work well , if you can give me the board number from that nemo squirt I can reproduce it and maybe just bump up the middle volume to give you more paddle power  all possible  when your ready any more qs feel free kind regards Gary

(FISH THINKING)

Hi, Gary

I’m thinking of a new board. My current one is an Alien #311. 6’4 x 21 x 2/34.

I’m thinking more fish for waves up to 4 maybe 5 foot. But increased foam as i’m now creaping up over 95kg.

I like the Empress idea of a twin / quad option, but with a fuller nose, maybe out to nemoish. How are the fins set up for an empress? are the front ones moved back a bit to make it work as a twin? I’ve ridden my Alien a couple of times with keels and could feel the potential on a few turns, but just a bit to loose / washy to work all the time. Have you guys been doing much like this for bigger guys? What do you think.

I’m thinking 6’2 x 21 x 2&3/4 holding the foam up front / chest area with full rails  (but not boxy) grading to mid through the tail. 

Rocker I think a little flatter than normal up front and normal through the tail (does this sound like A-Z?) I think i’d ride with keels mostly & have it as a quad aslo… I’m a a big fan of quads. Futures.

Thanks Jack

Gday, Jack sounds like your getting your $$ worth from that board may I suggest 6.0 x21x27/8 id drop the length and increase the volume a tad as you say its for up to 4 foot only ive done this for my mate he is 105 kilos I made his 3, thick he loves it  the nemo will give you the fuller planshape up front,, the fins I can tweak if you want to run a twin option I just pull the front ones back a tad to compensate for the keels like I do on the empress model that model also has a wider tail at 12 up from the tail  so being custom all is possible , anymore shaping qs feel free I love a challenge !! so go for it kind regards gary