Matt Pearson contact me to publish some information about is project - THE GLIDE.
Enjoy!!!
THE GLIDE
"Most surfers can probably remember back to the time when they caught their first ride on the unbroken face of a wave, and almost certainly can all recall that first stoke inducing feeling. This is
THE GLIDE.
As time goes on, though, and we seemingly progress as surfers, things tend to get a little more complicated.
Influences ranging from fellow surfers at the beach to pro-surfers, and the surfing industry may have affected our attitude and side-track us into ways of surfing which has made us lose touch with the simple pleasure that we seek - that of effortlessly gliding along a wave. I have seen how riding equipment not designed for local conditions (e.g. trying to surf on boards with elf-shoe rocker in the gutless British surf) just leads to frustration and a sense of failure.
Taking inspiration from shapers and surfers such as Bob Simmons, Richard Kenvin, Joel Tudor and many more modern cutting edge shapers, I have tried to reach a happy medium between classic speed and critical turning capability, enabling the rider to engage with The Glide, whilst pushing the limits of performance.
Handcrafted
Although beautiful and environmentally friendly, wooden surfboards in the past have not given the same performance characteristics as the modern foam and fibreglass surfboard. They were heavier and stiffer which had an adverse effect on performance.
After extensive experimentation and testing I have designed a wooden board, using only natural materials, that overcomes these two negative traits. My boards are as light and as flexible as the synthetic foam and fibreglass boards.
The paulownia wood and the loofah that is used in the construction is made up of the cellulose fibres, the only difference being the density of the fibres. Mimicking the foam and fibreglass construction, low density loofah is used on the inside of the board as a lightweight, but incredibly strong load-bearing material. The combination of loofah and the more dense paulownia wood outer shell creates a solid , yet light, entirely cellulose, natural structure.
Cross Grain flex
After achieving the task of making the boards light, it was still apparent when riding them that, though being very fast, they lacked the lively feeling of a foam board, due to the lack of flex. Having the right balance between stiffness and flexibility is of course vital in producing a board and that is fast but also responsive.
I found the perfect solution by taking into account the natural characteristics of wood in relation to grain and flex. Wood naturally flexes more across the grain than along it. I kept the front 2/3rds of the board with the grain running lengthways but achieved the flexibility I was looking for by routing out the wood in the tail area and replacing it with crosswise running grain.
Eco-friendly
By combining all of these features, I have achieved my aim to produce an eco-friendly surfboard which is as light and as flexible as a foam and fibreglass one, that gives you a perfect ride without the bummer of toxic materials on your conscience."
