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SURFBOARD EVOLUTION Part III
Versatile Shapes and Designs a reprint from International Surfing Magazine 1964
By Carl Ekstrom
ISM: What’s the theory behind the Asymmetrical?
Ekstrom: “The asymmetrical theory is centered around the principle that the conventional surfer’s forward turn is different in technique than the same surfer’s back turn: the forward turn being a driving action where the surfer put his weight forward and leans into the turn, as opposed to the surfer’s back turn where he throws his weight to his back leg and turns with much more of a pivoting action. The Asymmetrical surfboard enables the surfer to take full advantage of both turns, instead of just catering to one turn as the symmetrical board does.”
ISM: What’s the difference in your shape over a standard surfboard?
Ekstrom: “To explain how the Asymmetrical surfboard works, I must first explain how it is unique in shape. The standard Asymmetrical, for a left foot forward surfer, is shaped with the generally accepted standard shape on the left side (or right side for a goofy foot) catering to the surfer’s back turn. The rail on the right side of the board (left for a goofy) is pulled in to make for more of a speed shape for the forward turn. From this combination we get a board with a smooth carving forward turn, coupled with a snappy back turn.
This board is opposed to both the symmetrical standard board which is often too temperamental when a surfer is turning his forward way in a fast wave, and the symmetrical speed board which is often too sluggish when a surfer is turning his back way in a fast wave.
Also, to accentuate the features of the Asymmetrical, the tail block is built on a slant. This make for the equivalent of a longer board with a small tail block on the pulled-in side, as opposed to a shorter board with a wide tail block for the hippier side.”
ISM: What gave you the idea for this shape?
Ekstrom: “I first got the idea about 3 years ago, It stemmed from my surfboard experiences in bigger waves at Windansea. In the past, I’ve never had a board that felt equally well on both turns on the same wave. Either I had a standard board with a good feeling snappy back turn that felt like it was going to come unglued on my forward turn, or a speed board with a good carving forward turn that had a sluggish back turn. Finally I got the idea to combine the good characteristics of these 2 types of boards. I still didn’t realize how good an idea it was until I actually built the first Asymmetrical and got exactly what I had always wanted out of a board.”
ISM: Is the Asymmetrical still experimental?
Ekstrom: “I feel that we are definitely past the experimental stage, in the respect that the theory has been proven. But I do still think that it can be developed much further into different combinations for specialized characteristics, and I intend to do a lot more with it.”
ISM: What sort of waves are they best in?
Ekstrom: “Like any other custom board, this board can be built to order for any type of surf in which the rider wishes to use it. But from my past experience, I feel that the Asymmetrical board really excels in a faster wave, as design is much less critical in a slower wave.”
ISM: How has the board been accepted?
Ekstrom: “When people first look at the board, they don’t know what to think, but once the principle is explained they are usually quick to accept it. About two-thirds or our orders are for Asymmetricals, and we have been building them for about a year. Out of this number, we have not gotten any back, even though some of the first experimental models were really radical.
People have been completely satisfied with them, and are coming back for seconds and thirds. The results have been so good that we have taken out a patent on the Asymmetrical.”
