TAI

A bigger board for a bigger guy. It paddled and caught waves really well and had a nice flow; you didn’t feel like you were bogging or anything like that. All through the Test we were riding tiny boards, but this one felt more like your standard shortboard – good for a bigger guy, particularly in small waves where some flotation is called for.

NICK

I guess I’ve got a mental picture of the Duranbah as being an old mates’ label, the sort of board that’s for the salt of the earth type of guy who doesn’t need too many bells and whistles, but does need a board that’ll hang in there and do the job without too much trouble or hassles. This really fits that bill – a really straightforward board, really sensible, easy to paddle, wasn’t going to make a mistake and screw you up. Most good to average surfers would really get a kick out of it.

Duranbah Surfboards, Dan Patch

WEB: www.duranbahsurfboards.com

EMAIL: duranbahsurfboards@hotmail.com

Dan Patch
Coolangatta, QLD

Dan’s call: “The Dingo’s designed to suit everyone. But not everyone’s Mick Fanning. Actually when we first designed the Dingo I’d managed to grab a whole lot of boards from the guys in the Quiky contest. I had one of Slater’s, one of Mick’s, one from Owen, a lot of 'em all lying around there, and this board was kind of an extension of that, but without trying to push the design for the top 32 – instead just adding a bit of beef so it’s a bit more accessible. The funny thing about the pros’ boards is that they’re not that wild. The most common thing is that they have a bit more tail lift, but the rest of the rocker is usually slightly lower and the boards are a bit wider under the chest for paddling. They’re not riding a hell of a lot different than what’s in the shops.”