Summer 2006 - Summer 2007

June 24, 2007

Summer is here again, so lots of light wind orders. And instead of the trend of larger twin tips which has been typical in the past, surfboards have been filling that slot. Boards around 6 foot and as wide as 21 inches..

All Quads with different levels of volume.

Been doing a lot of investigation into course racing boards too.Many different prototypes. I will post some pictures when the time is right, but for now, I have been requested to not divulge too much info about these protopypes designs. All I can say is that these boards have to point high, run low off the wind and fast!! Yea, the sweet mystic of competitive racing. Nice to see the excitement of a new direction in our sport. It is getting a lot of interest from the sponsors and main stream sailing media.... I will keep you posted.
Been getting some great feedback from the KITEBOARDER MAG interview. Thanks to all that took the time to listen.

Through all that, I still have my loyal THUG riders just hitting anything that moves and doesn't move in the water.. Tearing up more sliders than ACLs I hope : )....

I get some awesome emails from stoked riders... I will leave you with one from Hyde: > "Bro ahhhhh...............Holy sh!t...............Dat board is so f^cken Dope!!!!!! Oh my god da pop, da control, da.................Holy sh!t Bro!!!!!!!!!! Your da man."

ATTENTION: I will be out of the shaping room the end of June until the middle of July. I am heading to Barbados so if anyone will be there look out for me and we'll ride! So I apologize in advance if I take a little longer to respond, but I will be taking orders as soon as I return... Thanks...

May 29, 2007

Hey guys, a lot has been going on. Getting caught up on summer orders. My numbers are increasing. That's good!!!
FIrst of all, I just completed a pod cast for 'the Kiteboarder' magazine. Ryan ( the editor) and his panel of questions from the 'lounge' asked some very good questions including everything from 'squirts in the eye' to specialized speed and course racing boards. We went over design elements for surfboards and talked a lot about flex and production boards. Also talked about the new kites and how it effects board design. So thanks to the folks at The Kiteboarder for putting it all together. Ck it out if you are so inclined...

Next,

is the latest 'Kiteboarding' Magazine, there is an article by Paul Menta about speed kiting and he is featured using the infamous 'Carbon Taco' in the flats of Key West Florida. If you find a copy on you news stands, flick through and ck out the article.....

The DC word seems to be getting out. Thanks for riding and if you stumble upon a DC board at your beach, have a chat with the rider, get some feedback , take it for a test drive and feel free to contact me if you have any questions....

Lastly, before I sign off this week, here is a picture sent to me by a customer in Miami. Antoine just got his new 4play and sent in this shot of him testing his new stick as his daughter watches on...

THanks all

DC

May 14, 2007

I've been quiet on the web, but not so in the shaping room. The Quads continue to head out in good numbers. Most common size continues to be around 5'10"- 6' X 18 1/2" to 21". So I am glad to see the guys getting a proper size for surfing and not going too small..

Testing both round pin AND swallow tails with the quads. The results are encouraging. The rounder pin tails makes the rail out line more rounded from the hip of the board to the tail. What this does is it makes the board a little more turney. Better rail to rail riding ideal for riding more organized waves in side on/ side /side off down the line riding. It does not settle on edge as good as the swallow tail Quads. The Swallow tails allows me to keep the rails more parallel which tracks better and is generally better for sloppier surf, light wind and on shore riding in a variety of conditions. It all really depends on what type of conditions you will be riding in and your style of riding. The round pin carves amazing. The swallow slashes with ease.
With all the 4PLAYs going out my shop, I have not forgotten about my twin tips. I am still making lots and there is a spike in THUG orders for May and June for some reason. Being custom, I am always tweaking the design of the Player and Thug. Just small changes to take advantage of the changes in the kites riders are using. Due to the increased control of power in the bow kites, this has caused the designers for even the 'c' kites to have more de power and control designed in the kites. So with this increased power control, the boards do not have to be able to kill power like it used to. When we had kites that did not de power very much, we used our boards to edge in and force the kite to the front of the window and control the power. If the tips were too wide and the rail too sharp, we had difficulty holding edge, causing us to feel out of control. So the tips of the board were narrower and the rails softer to control this power. Now the power can be spilled from the kite more in 'C' kite, hybrids and bows, so I can increase the tip width of the boards and thin the rails a bit without loosing the control. The wider tips increases POP and stabilizes the board on edge. With this detail to rails and tips, I am still going stiffer in the boards, way more still than most of the production boards available, allowing for wide stances and a more lively custom feel.
(tweaked Player being ridden in Barbados by local rider Jason.)

Well, back to the shaping room. I am getting busier and busier and I would like to thank those of you that put some faith in me to make you a board.

DC.

April 16, 2007

Hey all, Got back from Barbados. Even thou the weather was not typical of Barbados this time of the year ( which is windy windy windy!) apart from a few showers, I did get some awesome sessions in. Barbados is a Kite heaven for wave riders. I shaped a couple surfboards to take down for testing and had A great time.
I do not think I know of a better place for all out fun in waves and wind. SO many different spots and beaches. When the wind was not blowing there was surf, so no time was wasted. I will be writing an article for a mag. about my trip so stay tuned and I will let you know when it comes out.
Here is a picture. To give you an idea, this day I kited all by myself until about 4pm when Kevin got off work and then we ripped it up until dark then it was a short 100m walk up the road to Brian Talma's house where I stayed.

This the famous soup Bowl Surf spot on the East coast.

Below is local Kevin Talma smacking some lip.

I love Barbados!!!! Can't you tell by my smile!!!! Thanks to my wife for taking the photos!. I will post more pictures soon.....

I am back in the shaping room catching up and taking orders for May.

While I was in sunny warm Barbados, here is a shot from a rider up in the UK. Richard taking his quad to the air! thanks for the pic Richard!

Anyway, back to work.... for now ! : )

thanks for your support...

DC.

March 28, 2007

Out of town for a week.

Hey all, just want to let you know I am trying to head down you hang with Brian Talma in Barbados for a week starting this friday the 30th.. Get some R&D in on some surfboards and some warm winds and surf : ). Anyway, I will try and stay in touch but if I am not able to I will return any emails as soon as I get back. I will be able to take some more orders as soon as I return but I am filling up fast for April. So drop me a line if you are interested in a slot. Taking a couple different surfboards to test. I jsut finished a round pin 4PLAY quad for some down the line riding. Was able to give it quick test yesterday and it difinately has a smooth loose feel.... I will post more info on it and hopefully some aciton photographs when I get back..
Take care.
D.

March 18, 2007

Sorry guys, I have been away for a while. I was on a course for 4 weeks. By now I have tried to contact everyone that contacted me and was waiting for a time frame for a new board. If you have not heard from me and you tried to contact me please drop me a like and say "hey Dereck! waz up!" and I promise I will get back to you.

Before I forget, with the quad surfboards spreading like a bad rash, I gotta give props to one of my team riders Ian McKeonw (aka Big Ian!) . Ian first asked me about a year and a half ago to take a look at 4 fins for kiting. And he got me going...So thanks bro! On the subject of team riders, welcome Florida rider Kevin Oneal (below) as a DC team rider. Kevin rides a 133 THUG finless in the Ft Lauderdale area.

Been getting a lot of questions about surfboard sizes. How long should you go when it comes to riding surfboards with kites. I mostly recommend riding a similar size that you would surf. Isn't that the reason you want a surfboard? To get that surfy feel with a kite? This shocks a few people, because you will find most people at first will elect a much smaller board. Typically in the 5' range. Even most of the production companies are producing boards in the 4'11" to 5'2" range for the kiting line. I believe this is because of a few reasons. First of all, the beleif is that the smaller the board the more control you have because you have all that drag. But I find you end up back to riding the surfboard like a twin tip. Less glide and the need for more kite. You totally loose that nice surfy feel. I did not want to have to reduce board size to gain control. That is what got me researching different rocker lines and the Quad fin set up. The Quads and faster rocker line is what allows me to keep the length AND the control. Also a lot has to do with style. I find on a longer board with more glide, the riders look a lot more fluid and flowing. It takes for more body positioning and weight distribution to put the board where you want to and that to me just makes for a sweeter style. Hey, if we going to enter the surfer world on a kite, why not do it their way, with style! : ) Next time you see a couple guys out with surfboards, ck out the difference in styles. Very interesting.... That's it for now. I will be back here soon....

DC.

February 15, 2007 ........So! I am not that crazy after all!

Ck out the latest SURFING magazine. titled: "4 reasons why your 3 fin is obsolete" I have been trying to tell people that 'QUADS' is something new and not a Retro through back. For me it has opened a whole lot of design and performance possibilities and I was glad to see some main stream exposure and see the even big guns like Kelly 'the champ' Slater are looking into it. I know guys that are riding my boards agree that you loose nothing with 4 fins and gain a whole lot more.

The article is in the 'DESIGN FORUM' section of the March 2007 addition and lists "5 areas where 4 fins are better than 3,2 or 1." Here they are:

1. 4 fins are not retro
2. 4 fins are faster
3. 4 fins can and should be put on the rail (great for kiting I might add)
4. 4 fins are more responsive
5. 4 fins are more versatile.

Anyway, ck it out..good reading.

Here a couple pics of Ribin in Ft. Lauderdale on his DC.

Keep sending picures in guys!!!

Thanks.. DC.

February 4, 2007

I continue to shape a lot of surfboards. What is interesting, is that I am lucky that I get orders from all over the world. Places where I never thought anyone knew about dc boardz. Just sent a Player off to a small remote island in Tahiti. Wish I could go there to deliver personally : )! It is just interesting to see where my boards reach..Here is a photo of 3 wave 4'plays sent in by a customer over looking the Manhattan skyline! I hope they make to the surf soon ! : )

I remember doing the Skull graphics a few weeks ago. Struggled with it as I was using my left hand for most of it. I snapped a picture of it before I sent it off cus I thought it came out kind of cool... it was refreshing using my left hand as it added a twist to how I normally do paintings. It was as if someone else was doing it.. Kind of strange, but I liked how it came out..

Good news, my hand thing is over and I am just trying to get back full motion of movement which I have been told will take time ..Anyway, That means that I can get back in the water. What better way of stretching my hand than hanging off a kite bar!?

Paul Menta from www.thekitehouse.com continues to work his way to the top of the speed world with the GPS recordings on his board that he so apply call 'the carbon TACO'. You can track his progress here (GPS-kitesurfing) . He has been climbing up the ladder fast so hopefully with some good strong winds in the Keys, he could get up there near the top.If not the actual top! I am working on some new fins for him at the moment.

Just ordered some DCboardz tee shirts so I will have them available soon.

Thanks all.. DC

January 26, 2007

Hi all, Here is a quick update. I have had inquires about the skateboards progress. Here is the latest. The boards are in production as I type and should be ready with in the next month. The graphics are looking sick. There will be a limited amount produced so we will have to see how fast they go. Basically, there will be a bunch for Alex to ride and the rest will be for sale. I will offer 3 different deck sizes. Also at the same time I will have available the custom carbon pro model. I know the guys in Europe that saw Alex using it last year will be glad to hear that they will finally be available. So stay tune for that.

More speed requests.. High wind speed and low wind speed boards.. Has me studying a lot of different rocker patterns.. Mainly using carbon because a speed board has to be stiff stiff!! Also some interesting profiles too! All in the attempt to reduce aerodynamic drag and improve handling. Ballast seems to be a must. As much as 3-5 pounds carefully placed to stabilize the board. Working on some speed fins now to just squeeze that little bit of extra speed out.. I have not found a production fin with the foil that has a fast profile. This board in the picture here is 100% carbon with a fast rocker bottom and edge. Multi placement options for weights and super stiff.

Board in action. I will post some GPS speeds posted here soon!

later for now....

January 14, 2007

sorry, it has been a while since I updated my blog, but lots going on and I am now getting better at typing and operating a mouse with my left hand...

First of all, the wind still continues to BLOW!! I definitely think this is the windiest Florida has been..yep, And I am still not able to take advantage of any of it... I did get my fiberglass cast taken off, got a removable splint and began therapy on my right hand...so there is progress.. Ck out the hardware in the xray.. looks like I could have done that myself! : ).. Thank full that they don't have to go back in take them out .

Surfboards are still moving through my shaping room. mostly 5'8" to 6' for kiting. All Quads.. dam, with all this wind I miss using mine! Got a couple pictures from Tim, a customer that was lucky enough to bring in the new year with wind and his 4play in Barbados.

I am not changing too much with my quad shapes. I have some templates I find really works. Got requests for both stubbed noses and regular noses. Comments I still get is at first they do not think they could control a 5'10" - 6' board in higher winds. I agree, with a thruster this may be true, but the Quad really opens up where the thruster stops in kiting. You can keep the extra length to keep that surf feel AND still rip around with your 7.o kite! ...Below is Tim's girlfriend Gerie getting some use out of his quad as well! "keep your
non-kitesurfing girlfriend happy during a long day at the beach"...Tim..With back muscles like that, I don't think Tim can catch her even if he tried! : ) Thanks Tim..

I mentioned I was doing some work on speed boards. Paul Manta from www.thekitehouse.com in Key West and myself have been working on a design to enter him into the GPS speed trails around the world. (More info on this later) Anyway, he is been doing some testing in the keys (thanks again to the great windy season we have been having!!! : (..did I mention it has been windy! ) and the results are very promising. I will get some pictures and info together and post more on this board.

On the right, Paul doing some testing in the flats in Key West.. Not a bad day in the office for Paul.

Right, I will be back here soon...

respect!

December 26, 2006

Hope everyone is having a great holiday. I am learning to get by with the limited use of my right hand. And of course, we have had the windiest December I remember for a while! Typical!!! Anyway, I got some request for information on the surfboard I posted in my last blog entry. I worked with Jon Modica to make a board that is more suited for strapless surfing. To get a very loose slashy feel, we went with super thin rails and an extreme amount of concave on the bottom with a flat to slight 'v' tail. So far Jon is really liking how it feels strapless... and with straps.... I did not think this much concave would work at the higher speeds when riding with straps, but it seems to be ok. The difference between designing a board for strapless and straps, is that the strapless board has to be more controllable at a lower speed while a strapped board peaks at higher speeds...

More request coming in for speed boards so I will have information soon..

Have a safe and great new year..

December 20, 2006

seasons greetings. Well, I had surgery last week to install some hardware in my hand ...Couple screws....So I am on my way to recovery now.. I am back in the shaping room, slow, but I am not traveling yet so I am still able to keep up with my orders. Thanks to those of you that have orders in for being patience.

Also, the picture on the right is a board done in the graphics that was the runner up in my skateboard graphics competition. So 'Jahmaze' (from kitescoop) your design lives!!! Looks even cooler glassed and the quad set sticking out the bottom!! (more info on this board to come)

have some request for strait line smooth water speed boards, so I am doing some thinking and developing for an all out custom speed board. Will post updates as they develop.

Have a safe holidays,

December 12, 2006

well, if you don't slow yourself down, nature will find a way of doing it for you. I had the misfortune of breaking my right hand. Bummer. I can still shape, just a lot slower. So I will have to spend some time on adapting my tools for my left hand..

A few of you are wondering how I mangaed to brake my hand, well, when there is no wind and waves, I keep busy with Moto-X. It keeps my edge on. : )

In fact this photo was taken by my wife a few laps before I wiped out... bummer......

Speed / downwind racing boards are moving through my shaping room.

This is Kent of Adventuresports.com speed board.

I have been working with a few different designs with some good feedback. Larger surfboard style directionals seem to be the way to go. They have a concave to slight double concave to flat 'v' tail. fast rocker and speed rails. Anywhere from 5'6" to 6'. There have been some races down the East coast of Florida. Ck here if you want to read a race report and info on future distance races.

keep the questions and comments coming.. I may have more time to reply to my emails now that I limited by my injury.

December 3, 2006

It is the beginning of December and things are still busy. Thanks for the good feedback on the new video. There s a lot of buzz about speed down winder boards.. Looks like long distance racing has gathered a lot of support and I have been working on some designs ranging from a sleek twin tip shapes to surfboard directional's tweaked for off the wind speed.... There have had a few organized races on the west coast of Florida and some more coming up this month on the East coast. I'll get more info and some pics here soon..

This week Jon Modica brought in what he calls he old 'piece of SH!T' board that he finds ides really nice strapless.. It was so thin and had so much concave it looks like a skim board that has warped in the sun ..it looks like a pringle potato ship! never the less, we set out to make something that will replace this and turn it into a slashing machine... so I set out shaping something. lets say ...interesting! to say the least ...Anyway, I will post an update on how this board turns out....

NEW VIDEO!!

Check out new video of Jon Modica playing with a 4play in Florida....as well as some coverage of the shaping process..

October/November '06:

I have been very busy in the shaping room with kite surfboards. I guess the surfboard fever is catching on as surfboards become more than just a light wind option but a vital tool for all riding....

Jon Checking out a composite surfboard

On my destinations list of deliveries the month of september (not including my local Florida orders) includes the Virgin Islands, California, England, Scotland and The Netherlands.

Winter is coming and this means good winds for a lot of us. So good winds to you all!

Alex get's front page coverage on www.skatedaily.net on his Carbon board.

Summer 06 is here and surfboard requests and interest is up. Way more than last year. There is a great discussion recently on kite forum about Surfboards.. Opinions from different shapers and riders ...worth a read if you are think about getting a surfboard.

Epoxies are the way to go. Even the surfing world are seeing the benefits of epoxies over polyesters.

For the expert looking for the best product, there is the custom composite sandwich boards.

Hello and welcome to my blog. I am new at this so bear with me. I will keep everyone informed on the latest news from DCboardz as I try and and expand Dcboardz into something creative and new. Enjoy and please ck back often.

My Highlight of the summer '06 was meeting up with my long time friend Brain 'action man' Talma in Antigua. Brian continues to travel the world promoting Windsurfing and beach culture. "What's de action!"