The Setup & Board Progression

In September 2022 I placed a custom order at BGS in Uluwatu with the legendary Komang; if you get the chance to get a custom in Bali, definitely go through him. I went with the 6’2 stock dims but added 4+4/4 S-cloth glassing and requested a “heavy blank.” I’m not sure of the specific density or manufacturer, but the board still feels very light. I chose a 5-fin FCS-2 setup for the option to ride it as a quad. I also picked up the Shapers S7 Core-Plus Cork—a versatile, large-template 5-fin set utilizing a natural cork core to provide a unique, dampened flex that absorbs chatter. The guys at the store said this would work perfectly in both choppy Dutch surf and the waves in Bali.

This was a significant step down in volume from my 6’4 (44L) CI Rocket Wide copy, coming in at 35.9L. I first surfed it at Batu Bolong in Canggu before that break went absolutely mental with surf schools and "death by a thousand soft tops," and I never missed the extra volume.

After bringing it back to the Netherlands, I found the board performs amazingly in choppy Dutch conditions as well. On those rare occasions when the surf gets shoulder-high or above, this board is absolutely all you need. It covers conditions from thigh-high to overhead in the Netherlands; while it can almost grovel, you will notice as soon as the waves lose their punch.

Is this a board for intermediates?

Yes, this board is incredibly easy to get to know and has become my trusted "surf buddy" in nearly any conditions. I’ve reached the point where I genuinely miss it if I travel without it—a mistake I made on trips to Morocco and Bali. I take it out in everything from knee-high to the biggest stuff I’m capable of surfing (which, to be fair, means nothing in Dutch surf). But when that perfect storm hits and the days surrounding it offer clean, head-high to overhead walls, this is the board you want by your side.

Coming from a 6'4" (44L) board, the transition was seamless. Pyzel nailed the paddle power here; the generous volume under the chest provides plenty of float and forgiveness for an awkward pop-up. The only adjustment I had to make was adding one or two extra strokes compared to my bigger board to really lock into the wave.

One thing to watch for: this board is amazing when you're centered, but it’s honest with you. If your foot placement is too far forward or back, it will stall, and the wave will let you know it. You have to be ready to quickly micro-adjust your stance right after the pop-up, or you’ll lose the ride.

Durability & The Rail Incident

The wizards on Swaylocks don’t think S-cloth alone does much for durability, but for an extra 20 euros, I was willing to buy the peace of mind that I’d done my best to toughen it up. Between that and the "heavy blank," the board still looks great today after 3,5 years of use. It has survived quite some time, though not without a few "battle scars"—including the time my wife dropped it and took a desk-shaped bite out of the rail.

Discovering a desk-shaped bite out of my rail while unsleeving the board was not a happy moment, but as a dad of two (at the time, 3 now), I quickly realized I’d just been handed a 'get out of parenting free' card. In the delicate balance of family time vs surfing time, a damaged board is the ultimate currency. I didn’t just swap boards; I swapped my wife’s guilt for a few extra hours of 'trauma recovery' in the water. Saltwater meditations and all ;).

Visual status of the heavy blank and S-cloth deck shell after 3.5 years of solid use.