Pyzel Surfboards: Freeride Surfskate
Pyzel ambassador Elliot Paerata-Reid putting his craft to the test out on the rugged West Coast. Photo: Cory
www.freeridesurfskate.co.nz for Pyzel stock and custom requirements.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOaMAC64GAY Review 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LccYkOon3kM Review 2
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The Shadow: The new high-performance shortboard addition to the Ghost family.
Already a favourite of John John Florence, Jack Freestone and the rest of our team, it’s the board that lets you surf how you want in a wide range of wave conditions and size.
Knowing that the Phantom is a great board for many types of conditions, Jon decided to start with there and redesign it as a more refined, high performance board, while still keeping the added flow and glide that defines the Phantom.
The Shadow is designed to give all surfers the advantages of a wider, forward outlined type of board, but in a sleek, High Performance package.
✪ Modern foil/outline brings improved stability, paddle power, easy speed/flow in weaker waves.
✪ Rocker and bottom contours combine to generate speed and allow tight, powerful turning in all conditions.
✪ Great for all types of waves from beach breaks to points, reefs and even slabs.
✪ Will help Intermediate surfers elevate their performance levels, while also bringing out the best in more advanced surfers.
The Shadow features a high performance outline, the wide point at centre not behind as is typical of most other HPSBs. We pulled in the nose by almost a ½ inch and added rocker through the last 12’’ in the nose to keep it freed up through critical turns.
It has a gentle hip for added sensitivity and looseness, and the squash tail is pulled in a touch to tighten the turning radius and improve vertical surfing capability.
Tail rocker and bottom concave remain similar to the Phantom, already proven to work well in everyday conditions around the world.
The thickness flow sets the Shadow apart from other HPSBs, keeping the volume more forward of centre but not overly exaggerated. Added foam under the chest area helps add paddle power and gives extra float under your front foot in slower sections, meaning easy speed and flow.
Ride the Shadow your height to an inch over, in your favourite high performance dimensions.
Pyzel Phantom
www.freeridesurfskate.co.nz for Pyzel stock and customs requirements
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8qKNfdnG-c Review 1
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYwV02zhyqg Review 2
When we first brought out the Ghost we had no idea that its unique design would come to be embraced by so many people in so many different types of waves. However, the one bit of feedback we kept hearing, was that it works best in waves shoulder-high and up, so we looked at making a step-down board that would bring that same feel to the head-high and under days that make up most of our daily surf sessions.
The Phantom is a Ghost squashed down, souped-up, and with added volume, great for your everyday sessions in less than epic conditions.
We left the same Ghost rocker but added more single concave to flatten it out through the centre, helping to create speed and flow without taking away from the overall performance or feel of the original design.
The added width in the tail and nose create a more parallel, fuller outline that helps keep speed up through slower sections and tight turns.
The rails are full but not chunky, giving you more floatation and speed without taking away the sensitivity that we all love in our boards.
Best in waist-high to overhead waves of all types the Phantom is your daily driver with a high-performance edge.
Ride it around your height, a touch wider and about the same thickness as your Ghost
DAILY DRIVERS
2-5FT
BEGINNER, INTERMEDIATE, ADVANCED, PROFESSIONAL
Pyzel Astro Pop
www.freeridesurfskate.co.nz for Pyzel stock or custom requirements
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLm80QqUuW0 Jon Pyzel word up.
Built off of the Astro, the retro fish we’ve been making for years, the Astro Pop has a more pulled in nose and tail, with a little wing to help pull in the last 4 inches of the tail which creates a lot of curve in the outline, adding manoeuvrability without sacrificing any speed.
The bottom has a deep double concave running through to vee off the tail which makes the board get up on top of the water in even slower, weaker waves and still easily tip over onto the rail at high speeds.
A mild beak nose helps keep the thickness up into the nose, but it’s not overly chunky, more like a daily driver type board but with easy paddling aided by the flatter entry rocker.
We recommend the Astro Pop as a quad, for speed, but it comes stock with a 5-fin setup to maximize versatility.
Ride it short as you want (mine is 5ʼ5) and about ¾ʼʼ to 1ʼʼ wider, with a thickness that
gives you a bit more volume than your everyday shortboard.
“From surfing at home at Piha to chasing swells over on the East Coast and around the world while on WQS duties the Pyzel shapes perform for me in a variety of conditions, with my two faves being.
Pyzel shadow – this is my favourite all-rounder from Pyzel. It has a squash tail which is pretty much good for every condition. It has a flat rocker which makes it go really fast and carries speed through flat, fat sections well. You can pull up to the beach on any given day with only this board in your car and you’ll be in for a good time.
Pyzel Phantom – this board is what I lean on when it’s small. I have an epoxy squash tail but they come in PU and round tails as well. Super responsive and fast, which is really all you want when it’s small. Goes well in up to 3-4 foot too. Recommended for all you East siders!” – Elliot Paerata-Reid: WQS Top 100 surfer.
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