Mini-Widget II is born...

I think this shape provides an insight into the benefits of ordering a custom surfboard. Early this past Sept., new customer, Gordon B., saw the ad for my 5-4 Mini-Widget on Craigslist, and after a long discussion via emails, he arranged to take it for a couple of weeks as a demo. When he returned it, he reported really liking the shape’s performance in small, mushy surf, but wanted to make a couple of tweaks to the design. First, he wanted to add a couple of inches in length to gain a little more paddling power, and then he wanted to pull in the nose a bit so that it would be less likely to catch in the wave face on steep drops. The rocker was tweaked just slightly at both ends to accommodate the added length, but the belly-to-flat-to-concave bottom was left unchanged, as was the outline of the back-half of the board. This is what we came up with:
Dims: 5'6"  17-1/2" x 22-1/2" x 18-3/8"  2-5/8"

The end result I’m now calling the Mini-Widget II, and it’s aimed at those surfers who enjoy the fast planing, skatey feel of the mini-Simmons style grovel board, but want to surf more vertically, especially as wave conditions improve.  This board will be fitted with 5 FCS boxes to provide plenty of fin options.

Got a shape you want in mind? Send me a text, email, or give me a call and lets get started!

Mini-Widget rider review...

Here's Justin with his new 5-1 Mini-Widget

This is what he said after his first session a couple of weeks ago:

"I took the mini-widget out today at the point and had a blast!  The waves weren't great, but the mini-widget shined.  I got quite few set waves (waist - maybe chest high) and the thing flew like a bat out of hell.  The way you pulled in the tail with the wing is awesome.  I had another mini simmons with a much wider tail and found it difficult to get it to do quick directional changes.  No such issue with the mini widget.  Turns were effortless and smooth.

The board also performed really well on the smaller waves too (knee high or so).  I'm a goofy foot, and have always found surfing small rights on a short board to be a pain - I'd rather just trim on a longboard.  The mini-widget had all of the glide I like from a longboard in small waves but I could still do turns and get in a few little floaters."

If you love to ride a shortboard and don't want to ride a longboard on small days, you need a Mini-Widget. I have a 5-4x22-3/8"x2-3/8" MW available for you to demo. Just give me a call  805-856-8554