:: Alternative. It's been said that the evolution of surfboards from longboard single-fin to shortboard thruster was so rapid, that many of the transitional shapes were never fully developed. Stubs, hulls, pods, bonzers, twinzers, widow-makers are just a few of the unique but functional designs that were too quickly abandoned on the way to tri-fin Nirvana.

My Alternative Shapes include all of the so-called "alternative" shapes that I do. There's the neo-traditional fish with modified keel fins, the modern fish with pulled-in nose and tail, rail bumps and quad fin set up, and the various sub-7'6" shapes with fuller outline, flatter rocker, quad, 2+1 or single fins. These shapes work very well for surfers who want the shortboard feel but need a little extra foam (and you know who you are!). They have a much wider wave range, and what they may sacrifice in high-performance, vertical surfing they more than make up for in wave count and pure fun.

My version of the Fish has a typical length of 5-10 to 6-4, 17" nose width, 21"-22" wide point and 17.5" tail width. Thickness of the flat deck runs 2.75" to 3". I use a sloping rail (some call a step rail) to maximize volume while keeping some thinness in the rail. Bumps or wings can be added to the tail in boards over 6' to help with turning. Choose from traditional twin keels, asymmetric twins or quad fin set ups.

The Boldfish is a modern fish shape. The outline is pulled in more than a traditional fish and there's a little more rocker in both the nose and tail. The bottom features a double-to-single concave set-up inspired by Rich Pavel, with a double-bump tail and Turbo Speed Dialer Quad fins (also Pavel-ian influenced). Design to be surfed more vertically than a traditional fish, but with plenty of float and speed.

The Widget is one of my favorite shapes. It has a speed egg outline with double-bump, diamond tail and quad fins. Typical length is 6-10 to 7-4, width 21"-22", and no more than 2.75"thick. The Widget is loose but predictable, fast and easy paddling.

My Stubby is a wide point-forward-of-center, full-figured shortboard based upon the pre-thruster shortboards of the 70's. The 2+1 fin set-up gives it plenty of drive and hold, with nice carving turns at your disposal.

Your surfing in a rut? Loosen up, experiment, try something different...its good for you and its good for surfing!