So everyone knows now that Graham Smith Surfboards got to the Stab in the Dark finalist shapers. Pretty soon we’ll have the 44 available for orders so more details in a few days.
This 44-model came about by cracking the nod for the Stab Mag “Stab in the Dark” surfboard campaign. The volume was set at 32 litres, so I decided to go for a versatile performing board focusing on speed, power and flow. I wanted to create something forgiving, with a little more lift in both the nose and tail areas, but still sticking to a basic design and keeping it simple. Added with a consistent distribution, and thinning out in the tail. I really put my emphasis on getting the rails to perform well, and to be more responsive and forgiving, without catching or bogging. Having a little more curve on the rail-line which is worked in towards having a rail that allows you to accelerate in and out of turns. Basically a wider bottom edge shoulder that’s not so pinched!
Other aspects I focused on, was to keep the concave deepest between the feet, as this area is where surfers apply the most pressure, it also flattens the bottom curve a bit, and having an even concave-distribution, fanning out towards the nose and the tail. All in all, I just wanted to shape a sexy beast!!
Big shout out to Stab for getting me involved!
Graham Smith
For now you can watch it here
All photo credits to Alan van Gysen
