I did something similar to this back in 1987. Moved the center cor thickness of the board 2" closer to the nose on a 7'2" mini gun for hollow waves, but used the same template I used for other tube boards. Took a lot of foam off a Parrish blank. Board dropped in real good. This is the right way to think with a change in the template. The rails probably need to be full with a flatter deck with the magic Merrick bottom contours. It will work for more than just pros.

Kelly deserves credit. How many pros are really pushing design forward or backwards or anyplace but sideways. One other, Taj Burrow, and that's it. Nice to see they're #1 and #2 in the world. This validates the notion that surfing different boards is fun and keeps your surfing fresh. And that's what it's all about.

It looks like my Flashpoint kneeboard-modern fin forward Australian design with a full nose. They work unreal in hollow surf. Way to go K-9!!

it looks like a mini fun board...

I shot photos and have the official semi final score sheet. The wave you claim is the Ten point ride is not. In all my photos he paddles fine but really puts his weight on his back foot to keep his nose up. He is a magician, thats the bottom line. If u even have to think about it, buy a flyer II and go surf

kellys a freak.. not only is he the best surfer in the world, he is not scared to experiment with his equipment. doing wonders for the sport of surfing. well done

I'm not the best surfer, and far from the worst, but I agree with eddie, it's the magician. I know guys that can make a '60's experimental work beyond your wildest expectations. Go Slater!

Kelly got asked about the board. He's only telling the story about how it came to be made. He's not making any claims that nobody ever created something similar. Let's just leave it that he, plus his friends, create magic in the sea for all of us to enjoy. Enjoy, and admire brilliance, please, and those who make it happen.

Always has to be a miserable hater out there. Not only does Al make great boards, he is a great person as anyone who as ever met him will attest. Never heard a bad word about him - ever. If you lived in Santa Barbara, you would see how accessible and engaged he is in his craft. Pros come to him because he is one of the best shapers. Your fin broke out because you hit something moron. Probably while proning in. Lemme guess, you rip so hard you break fin plugs out...right. Kook.

I think Kelly needs to ride this out at 25 foot Waimea to show that it REALLY does paddle like a 6'10''

does anybody have a picture kelly and chris with their boards side by side on the stage before the final heat. take a good look at the difference in shape,

well back in '75, my mom shaped one just like it out of cookie dough and I ate that sh** up way before Al or Kelly could get their hands on it, Everybody needs to quit claimin!!!!

Al merrick sucks. Ya, thats just it, there for pros who just need a board to break and get a new one to brag about. Yes, I bought one more ugly and broke the fin like a twig.

Very fun looking board,but not sure what all the hype is about.Not dissing Kelly or the concepts behind the board,no doubt there's some finer details to it that go beyond this article,but it seems to be the same basic idea behind a fish,a "piece" of a bigger board,but with less meat in all the right places,perhaps a bit more fine tuned,and with a rounded pin rather than a swallow tail.Flay me alive,but it reminds me of a $250 6'0" Realm fish I got at Maui Costco and rode in up to 12ft faces.

Way to go Kelly and Al been making and riding some 5-10 fat quads for the last 25 years after shaping all kinds of aircraft stuff in the 8o's for Grumman Product Development. Breaking down a board into its working components and then cheating the normal measurements to create more from sometimes less or les from more. It's that R&D part of the Art of Shaping we love most