Kelly Slater's Latest Experiment
By Col Bernasconi | 30 January 2010


Water is compressed over the hole. As it passes over, it draws air into the Chunnel (channel/tunnel). It is the principal of the U class racing boats on pontoons. Each side panel is veed out with hard concaves toward the rails. Check out the pic of the hole.

How do you think this one is going to go? Will it make it’s debut at Snapper Rocks?
 
Comments (19)
Saturday, 27 February 2010 08:08
19 Kevin07
Interesting theory...Would like to see the manufacture of it ie.Shaping Glassing/Sanding.Would be interested to see how it would be glassed.Also I doubt that it would work in all conditions I can imagine it being poor in mushy waves.Cannot be long till we see a revolution in surfboards..!!
Thursday, 25 February 2010 02:33
18 taipan
Concaves in one form or another have been around for some time. This is just another reincarnation.
Monday, 22 February 2010 15:03
17 aka
nice cover did he make the drop?
Sunday, 21 February 2010 11:43
16 adam sadler
it is wicked that kelly and al go at new designs, do things differantly, just weird how people are so negative on change, read about geoff mccoy and cheyne and how people couldnt get there heads around the lazer zap and now the nuggets, all of it crazy. Get on something new and go off on it- magic!
Tuesday, 16 February 2010 18:10
15 Dave Cooper
Who knows? it might make the average punter surf a little better? more waves = more fun! Dont fall victim to the 6'1 pro model you cant surf on, get the right board for you ie width/thickness/and lenght!!
Tuesday, 16 February 2010 15:46
14 Druncan
Its good to experiment,been seeing the same boards im going to copy it and use it for kitesurfing/surfing in the waves,but i should thank al merick
Monday, 15 February 2010 00:47
13 bo bo
This is pure "we're bored and too wealthy" stuff for the average surfer. Props to Mr. Slater for his directions. True and honest thanks for helping us open up and innovate but the way it gets spun is like organic food or Apple-everyone in the world can be different as long as they follow and buy. Kelly designs and it says Channel Islands. Merrick designs and it says Slater. I say two letters, PR. Respect a quiet storm over a hurricane...
Saturday, 13 February 2010 19:13
12 sm
cou;ld do with a layer of rubber on the whole bottom to absord the shocks of the wave similar to the way that a cars tyres normal size and not those skinny low profiles absorb the road bumps to make for a smooth ride. Then again the skinn of rubber might ruin or improve or ruin the whole experience.
Thursday, 11 February 2010 09:44
11 jimmy
about fucking time we see some more ingenuity and experimentation, the standard 6'2 PU thruster, is soooooooooooooo FUCKING BORING. Keep going kelly, i'm with you.
Monday, 08 February 2010 10:16
10 @ngu$
sweet, i want 1 so bad!!!kelly shreads anything but, and this will be the same
Monday, 08 February 2010 06:09
9 Haynesy
the guy could ride a log and make it look good.
Wednesday, 03 February 2010 11:31
8 Editor
Just heard from Kelly that he hasn't ridden this board yet and he had little to do with the design. But he assured me that (apart from riding this one) on the Gold Coast, he'll also be testing an even weirder one. Quote: "Wait til you see the one we are working on for the future. Gonna be really out there!"

Mmm...
Tuesday, 02 February 2010 14:44
7 Azza son of "DA KING"
Coool,If it works send me one.Your mate Azza
Sunday, 31 January 2010 16:44
6 Nolo
I rode channel surfboards during the 80's when they were cool and I loved them. (needed a decent wave though to make a diff!)

There is no doubt that the Kelly design is totally rad - but then again it's a 'concept' design. We've all seen those cool but totally rad 'concept cars' at the motor shows... but reality is we don't ever end up driving them to work. Usually the concept is taken onboard and the final general public version is a very mild comparison.

So, let's wait n see... in optimium conditions in the hands of a true pro the board could be a winner, but in average Jo's control in the regular 3 foot beach break, the actual diff might be mostly 'between the ears'.

Anyway, I'm the first to say that channels will be the 2010 'new big thing'! I'll just go and dust off my 80's channel board now for a great 'vintage' resale price.

Nolo
Sunday, 31 January 2010 07:29
5 bender altinel
no...too much water turbulence around the fins during turns...i guess?
Saturday, 30 January 2010 19:51
4 jay man
kool i just got a super fish and its sick
Saturday, 30 January 2010 17:35
3 Tom
If he uses this at snapper, he is seriously taking the piss out of all the other surfers...
Saturday, 30 January 2010 17:14
2 jG
groovy man
Saturday, 30 January 2010 12:21
1 billy jones
very wierd kelly but will work , not 2 mention he could ride a ironing board as good

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