At Narrabeen Beach with the Tuflite 6'4 x 20 1/4 x 2 5/8 Mollusc, surf conditions 1 to 2 feet clean rights.
I used the green Simon FCS big size glass flex fins, I like to keep the fins consistent from board to board so I'm testing the board not the fin.
At home - the Tuflite 6'6 x 20 x 2 11/16 XFC surfed at Newport Peak.
SURFTECH
I have signed up to do a few models through Surftech in the Tuflite sandwich construction and also the Ultraflx high density foam rail and Epoxy combination.
For technical information on these alternative technology boards you can go to the Surftech Australia website:
http://www.surftechaustralia.com.au/
or
Recently I've tested a couple of the Tuflite Simon's, mainly the
XFC 6'6 x 20"wide x 2 11/16 " thick rounded square tail with single to double concave, and the Mollusc 6'4 x 20 1/4 x 2 5/8 roundtail with single to double concave.
The main difference with my Tuflite boards compared to normal Simon PU boards is that I've made them a little thinner generally with the rails a little lower. The reason for this is the Tuflite technology is essentially an Epoxy foam feel board, so that's more buoyant and on top of the water feeling, so it's good to have a nice lowish rail to cut into the water nice and deep on your power carve turns if you have them. If not it should still be a nice balance and feel about right in the water anyway.
I surfed the XFC 6'6 at Newport Peak on a 2 to 4 feet day with a couple of solid sets coming in now and then, the wind was a bit onshore with a good amount of bump on the surface. This can be a problem for an Epoxy feel board, but I found the 6'6 managed the chop pretty well. There were a few sketchy moments on the bigger waves but anyone who has surfed The Peak like this will attest it is difficult at times holding a rail during full throttle turns on the face. The board performed like an XFC but with perhaps a little more life associated with the Tuflite lightness and buoyancy. So, good speed down the line, connected well through the turns, lively but predictable off the top. This board is a little small for me at 100 kilos or 210 lbs, but I was well pleased with this first surf.
The 6'4 Mollusc, again this board feels a little small generally, but I surfed it in 1 to 2 feet clean and good right handers back into the Alley at Narrabeen. Given that the waves were good I was able to give this board a good working over. The first 2 waves had me feeling that the rail is a little low, but once I got used to it it seemed to allow the board to really get up on the rail, a little like that famous old frame grab from Morning of the Earth of Michael Peterson. The buoyancy and lightness seemed to combine to give you really good speed down the line when you put your foot down. I would say this is the fastest board I've surfed in quite a while in waves of that size. The 6'4 fit nicely into the little pockets and performed all manner of cutback from roundhouse to carve down. Going into these sort of turns with that little more speed was a good feeling. I had a great surf on this board and it has made me excited to be involved with Surftech.
My full range of Tuflite is 3 XFC's all with rounded square tails, single to double concave and FCS fin plugs, including the 6'6, also a 6'4 x 19 x 2 1/2 and a 6'2 x 18 3/4 x 2 3/8.
3 Mollusc models all with FCS and single to double concave, including the 6'4, as well as a 6'2 x 20 x 2 1/2 roundtail and a 6'10 x 21 x 2 3/4 swallow tail with a little vee in the bottom at the swallow area.
These boards are available now, they have the durability Tuflite is renowned for, not denting at all after the first surf, the flex pattern is slightly different to regular PU boards but feels right none the less.
If you are a fan of the technology maybe one of these boards may freshen up your quiver. Or if you need a light board that won't dent on the deck, this also fits the bill.
I hope to have some test info on the Ultraflx Simon boards soon. Simon Anderson
