I am right now pinching my own sallow behind to make sure this is real. Being virtually sure I woke up this morning for real, I will continue tapping these cherry mx caps (keys). It appears that a huge part of board design and testing for the average surfer has been solved. Not by a big Firewire type company but instead inside the mind of one exceptional shaper. Welcome to the future, welcome to a board with interchangeable tails. Let's start at the beginning.
David Barr is the man behind the aptly named Shapeshifter Surfboards. It was from his very own mind ten years ago that this idea was born and now it is a reality that any of us can purchase. One board, seven tail options and you can interchange them in a matter of under a minute. I know, I know, and yes you read that correctly. If you doubt us check out Noal Salas testing the board and swapping tails as easily as if it were fins. #gamechanger
Apart from the obvious tomfoolery that can be had on this board imagine the testing and advancement in being able to really understand how different tails affect performance. The implications for us plebs that are not pros are truly game-changing.
To spell this out it seems, that thanks to David there is a way we can surf the exact same surfboard on the same(ish) wave, change the tail and make up your mind what tail does what. As a wise man once said, "the only way to know is to do".
Well now, we can all do.
One surfboard with seven different tail options.
Yes, I know, the ramafacations are hard to fathom.
Could this be the breath of fresh air the industry needs?