Kiter.com:
How many boards have you shaped in your lifetime?
Stretch:
Don't know, 4 maybe 5. Something like that.
How long has Stretch Boards been in business?
25 Years
Stretch Boards seem to be everywhere in Northern CA. What about the rest of North America and Internationally?
Puerto Rico, Kauai. Real Kiteboarding in Hatteras has been very supportive.
Do you have any affiliation with the kite companies?
Fatty (Poul Schiebel) and Grandpa (Peter Schiebel) at Caution have been a big help in designing my boards and are doing a line of boards for 2003.
What kind of work have you done with North Shore Inc.?
I designed the anti-binding for them and continue to evolve the design.
Who are some of your Team Riders?
Peter Trow, Dana Pinto, Hommer, Fatty, Grandpa, Dave Broome, Paul C. Glen DeWitt.
What are some of the contest results on a Stretch?
None. My team sucks.
How much of your time do you spend on Kiteboards vs. Surfboards vs. Windsurf boards?
More on surfboards right now. But, I see that changing and kiteboards being the focus soon. What's a windsurf board?
So do you see windsurfing, as we know it fading away and kiting completely taking over?
Kiteboarding is windsurfing. Kiting is just the next evolutionary step in the sport. Think about it. What are you doing when you Kite? You are just windsurfing with different equipment.
Tell us about your 2003 kiteboard line. What are the different models and sizes?
There are 4 boards in the 2003 Kite line. The Trow directional is the board for good waves. The rocker on this board is the same rocker as my high performance surfboard. The rails are miniature versions of the same board. The bottom has a deep single concave just like all my surfboards. This board runs 4 fins in the tail. Recommended size: 5.0x16. In twin tips, there are three boards. All three have the same rocker & deep single concave. Their differences are in the side cuts & fin patterns. The wave wake is the curviest of the boards and runs 3 fins across the ends. This is a good board for small beach break & light winds. Average size for this board: 4'8"x16 1/4. The Food tray is moderately curvey and runs 4 fins on each end. This is the most versatile of the boards, easiest to ride, & the board I recommend to most people. Average size: 4'9"x15 1/2. The Box is our latest design. It is the straightest of the boards, and can run either 3 or 4 fins on either end. This board has the most edge power of the boards, and is best suited for more down the line surf. It can also be set up for flat h2o. Recommended sizes: 4'8"x15 1/4. All Stretch boards are custom made, so there are no set sizes.
So how is that different from a 2002 board?
Not a lot. Mostly different side cuts and fin placements. The Rocker is actually 4 years old. The concave pattern is from the very first boards, and we tried LOTS.
What are they made of and how much does a board weigh?
Boards weigh on the average 4.5 lbs. 2 sheets of structural foam (not Divinicyl or Herex)
as the core. Both the top & the bottom lams are fully wrapped with either carbon or semi carbon lay ups. Carbon boards have more pop than standard glass boards. Carbon is better, glass is cheaper.
Are my stance options fixed or can I make adjustments?
Boards can be ordered with fixed stance or to accept anti-bindings.
How do you know the rocker line is right? Is there a mathematical formula or an algorithm that you use?
All the twin tips have the same rockers. We have tried hundreds and keep coming back to this one, which is my first one.
How is a wave-oriented board different from a wakeboard or flat-water board?
Surf style boards need to have fin area so you don't slide off the top. But too much fin is slow and catchy. The trick is to get the rocker and bottom contour right so the board is still fast but the fins don’t catch.
How many fins can I put on a Stretch Board?
The Box can handle 10.
Are you working with any of the fins companies?
I have been working with Rainbow on a Stretch line of fins this year.
There seem to be fewer true directional boards in the water even at wave spots like Waddell, what accounts for that?
Directionals are for good down the line waves. It is hard to find those conditions. But if you do nothing will top the directional.
Do most wave riders have multiple boards or is it possible to have a single board for all conditions?
For most yes. For all no.
What board do you recommend for a beginner?
Think wide. Width is stability. Length is useless.
What do you think of these 100cm Buzz Boards?
Awesome board for all the Majorettes.
What about tow surfing boards? Has a standard emerged or is everything still personal preference and custom?
Some standards have emerged. Rockers are fairly set. Rails & edges have been worked out. Everyone seems to be using deep single concaves. Now what we seem to be working on is thickness, length, fin placement & construction.
Do you see any demand for Foil-boards?
Some. I have been helping a friend (Stan Pleskunas) make some for Laird and Kalama.
What is the Next Big Thing in Kiteboarding?
Look for bigger, thinner fins in 2003.
What if I want one that’s NOT yellow?
What's wrong with yellow?
