Surfing Waves

Flex Tails are actually an old concept, but they're making a come back. What's your guys thoughts on them ?

Met a guy who is crazy about his quiver of outer island flex tails.......personally I’ve never tried one.

I'm a small wave longboarder who can only dream about using this technology. Here's the Surf Science view...

Picture this sequence: You drop into a fast, steep bottom turn. As you do so your surfboard's foam will bend into the turn. This results in more rocker and stored energy. As you come out of this turn and aim for the lip the foam snaps back to its original shape, releasing the stored energy and shooting the surfer out of the turn. A seasoned surfer will turn this burst of energy into acceleration, propelling himself into the next maneuver.

http://www.surfscience.com/topics/surfboard-anatomy/stringer/the-importance-of-flex

I think 50 years form now how much the tail flexes or the rest of the board flexes will be part of standard board construction. As it is right now it looks like a dangerous add-on.

Dangerous was my first thought.

http://www.outerislandsurfboards.com/bo ... tails.html

Like a dolphin’s tail , Flextails generate propulsion, drive and acceleration out of the turns. The tail flexes as you apply power, carving a tighter arc. Energy is stored in the carbon tail, and is released out of the turn (reflex) delivering a massive burst of drive and speed, like an arrow from a bow, or a diver launching from a spring board. Unlike conventional boards which are rigid and have one inbuilt set of curves, they feel alive to ride, changing shape while in motion, carving variable arcs and springing out of turns like Formula 1 race car.
Many of our clients will ride nothing but Flextails.... once you discover the feel of flex, there is no turning back! Constructed from Carbon Fibre , Vynel Esters and EVA using most the most advanced technology available on the planet. Invest in Technology!

There's another board for you to buy BigH

oldmansurfer wrote:There's another board for you to buy BigH

Well out of my price range.