Empire Surfboards
For me, the key elements of board building are function, craftsmanship and aesthetics all of which play a key role in the surfi ng experience. When I started shaping as a teenager, surfi ng for me was a soulful and often solitary pursuit, which I found diffi cult to reconcile with the contemporary surf media. Disenchanted by what I saw I looked elsewhere for inspiration and in the lines drawn by the likes of Wayne Lynch, Terry Fitzgerald and Gerry Lopez I saw something that I felt had been lost in the modern shortboard. Although the shortboard enables impressive performance, there is a cost; planing speed, glide and trim have all been sacrifi ced in the pursuit of manoeuvrability.
Using the pre-thruster boards of the late seventies as a starting point I began building and testing my ideas on glide and fl ow. As I learnt which design elements gave me the performance characteristics I wanted, I made refinements and improvements.
This refinement and progression has been continuing over the last fifteen years and in that time I have been lucky enough to work with and learn from many great shapers. I continue to develop this design ethos through continuous experimentation and evolution; applying modern foiling, rocker and rail theory to alternative templates and designs, some of which were all but discarded thirty to forty years ago. My aim is not to recapture the past but to reexamine it with thirty years of hindsight and advancement to produce something that is both forward thinking and unique.
www.empiresurfboards.com
info@empiresurfboards.com
+44 (0)7734 526337
The Spectro
Future orientated, Swift/Simmons infl uenced, hybrid, stinger Quad. A fast and dynamic board, the effortless speed is balanced by positive control. Designed to perform in hollow surf from waist high upwards, the planing area has been reduced and the fin area split to increase control. Sensitive to fine rail adjustments, this board is capable of holding a high line in a barrel. To reach it’s full potential this board should be ridden short.
5’11” x 20 3/8 x 2 5/8”
(5’2” to 6’2” Custom built to suit the rider)
The #9
This board is a true mid-length and its gunny template belies it’s flow and maneuverability. The excellent paddling and glide helps you cruise into waves earlier. Smooth curves and long lines give speed, whilst the quad fins give precise control in the most critical conditions. The bottom shape is a subtle concave that runs into a vee through the back third of the board. This board excels in hollow surf from shoulder high upwards, and is one of the fastest most controlled boards that I have ridden.
7’7”x 21” x 2 ¾”
(7’ to 8’ Custom built to suit the rider)
The Mode
The Mode has it’s influences and origins in the pig longboards of the sixties, but this is no replica. The modern foiling and high aspect ratio flex fin improve maneuverability without sacrificing stability. This is a very versatile board that performs extremely well in all small to medium surf. A light nose concave, kicked up tail and soft down to up rail provide plenty of lift and hold. With great turning, swift paddling and good stability on the nose, this board is an essential addition to your quiver.
9’6” x 23” x 3”.
(9’2” to 9’8” Custom built to suit the rider)
