Whilst looking at the Smik twin pin and pro, this board popped up locally on sale. The shop let me borrow it for the weekend. This is the most pronounced step deck I've ever seen!! The rails are proper surfboard thickness. It's 7'10 x 29.5 x 99l. Seems to have a wider pin that has a touch more volume in it then the thinnest part of the rails. Concaves seem very mellow single, almost flat. And very subtle vee out the back fins. Very low rocker in the back, a bit up front for sure. Subtle overall continuous curve?
I haven't been able to try it on a wave yet, but what do you guys think of the design elements? I can't figure out if it will be a smaller wave ripper, or if it's too wide that. Maybe with such pronounced step rails, it doesn't need much vee or double to help it turn? I had a quick paddle. Seemed stable enough. Feels like you need to stand fairly far forward to make use of the volume there. It's a shame the surf is crap this weekend. West coast is nearly 3m and messy. East is flat and wind swept.
what's everyone's hunch on what it would work / not work well in looking at the pics and above info?
Some extra context. I also have an 8'2 pin tail Smik spitfire, and a 9'1 Sunova LB style sup. Was thinking the twin pin could be a smaller wave ripper, with ability to handle bigger stuff too. Guess I'd want the same for this board
If you imagine the step rails angled/pinched instead of square step its not that crazy. Looks like a solid shortboard but will need well shaped waves with a little push not too big to get the most out of it. Since it seems stable to you thats a good sign, I bet it surfs fine.
Thanks Sls. Yeah I just can't figure in my head what its ideal wave size or height is yet vs my 8'2 pin tail spitfire. I do also have a LB style sup if waves are really dead. I assume roughly the same wave size and type would also be applicable for the Smik twin pin in 7'8 x28 size. It's just the wider tail, straighter tail rocker and not much double / vee that make me wonder how easy it will be to turn in junk, or good waves. there's some fun looking waves later this week, but not sure if I can hold it as a demo until then
I rode step rail boards about 15 years ago and loved them. The concept of the narrow rail cutting into the wall of the wave works well. No more big boxy fat rails. Looking closely at that board it looks like it will surf good due to the rocker, rail outline and the nice smooth rounded pintail.
It should be fast and loose, and you will be able to really lean hard over into your turns so you will need to be a reasonable surfer to get the best out of the design. It would make a great beach break board. Go for it 
Haha awesome thanks. In your experience is the wider tail any concern? I just find it unique how the tail is actually quite wide, but thin. Also that there isn't much of a double or vee, maybe the thinner rails don't need as much bottom contour to roll? Hoping to find some waves later this week
Gave it a try today in some lumpy, shifty, windy conditions with the off slightly overhead set. The board was a lot of work balance wise: I guess the stepped rail being half under water and half over water, has a different type of balance? I also found that on the steeper waves, I couldn't really pivot it. Maybe the wider tail and straighter tail rocker need a bit more? Or maybe a different fin set up? Seemed like it needed a but more vee or heavier double further up
Just guessing here:
Thin rails everywhere means a board made to work at speed. The thin rails will provide bite even when going fast.
The drawback is that it may bog down and feel "stuck in a rut' at low speeds.
So, try to always aim to have the max possible speed on the wave, especially before engaging turns, even in weak waves.
Wide and thin tails are great: Wide for planing in weak waves, thin for bite in powerful waves.
However, you need to really "pinch" the rear rail into the water by rolling the board before engaging turns, or it may kind of "aquaplane" if the board stays flat.
This board should be great in great waves.
Personally I like to have fuller rails in the center, and very thin ones at the tail, it makes the board simpler to manage.
But your board seem great, and it will make you progress in your carving technique!
Play with the fins, shape and quad, tri , twin set up
outline is a bit mcCoy like, so back foot on the tail for surfing
Thanks guys. I tried it with an Am2 futures fin, ie smaller centre and raked back sides. Maybe it needed bigger sides? I guess compared to My Smik spitfire, it just didn't want to engage in a turn in steeper waves at speed like the spitfire would. I've been running that board with keel fins and a 3.5" centre.
Just feels like it needs more vee further forward to really roll the board easier?
Select to expand quotethegreatsup said..
it just didn't want to engage in a turn in steeper waves at speed like the spitfire would.
This is why I said it will make you progress.
You will need to anticipate the turn, move your rear foot reaaaaaly back, and pinch this rail!
What's the rail shape like? Yes it's thin... but is it a hard edge at the tail, and how far does that go up the board - or does it have a softer rail etc?
Wider tail and flatter tail rocker automatically suit fatter softer waves = speed and a more skatey feel. So I would expect hard edge on the tail rails to complement this. If not, then it's a bit confused as a design imo.
As you said it's harder to turn than others, it makes sense to me that it's designed more to skate along - which makes the super thin rail a poor design choice. Getting your rear foot way back and on top of the rail is the only way to get this to turn.
If my assumption is correct, they are trying to create a board to tries to be a bit of everything, but ends up being not great at anything.
Select to expand quotehilly said..
Looks like AI design with no knowledge of the real world 
I disagree.
Each board is a compromise. Thin rails everywhere is a valid design... for some riders and some conditions.
But also agree, in that this "niche" design is not adapted to the production market, especially with a brand that did not have a very large market nor lots of models to begin with.
These two videos are interesting to show how the board reacts, notably how the mid-section digs into the wave and slow down if the turn is at too slow a speed. But engage neatly with enough speed.
If you already have a performance board in the spitfire and this board was worse I wouldnt waste much time on it. Shapes are tricky all the elements have to blend, but in general I do like thinner rails. If it isnt magic move on right away it usually doesnt get bettet unless you havent tried it on a decent enough day.
I'm glad this post sparked up some good forum debate and passion again ??
I haven't been able to take it out for another sesh yet but will comment on the rail sharpness later on today. I have had other boards where the first session was hard to turn / work with a board and then it was awesome after the next few sessions. But I've also had boards like the spitfire that were amazing from first ride. I too generally get the best out of boards with thin rails, but I guess step deck is bit different. I was wondering about whether keel fins might work well with this
Select to expand quotejust coming back to this query, fairly soft rails throughout. Nothing overly hard or edgy at the back Select to expand quote
Hoppo3228 said..
What's the rail shape like? Yes it's thin... but is it a hard edge at the tail, and how far does that go up the board - or does it have a softer rail etc?
Wider tail and flatter tail rocker automatically suit fatter softer waves = speed and a more skatey feel. So I would expect hard edge on the tail rails to complement this. If not, then it's a bit confused as a design imo.
As you said it's harder to turn than others, it makes sense to me that it's designed more to skate along - which makes the super thin rail a poor design choice. Getting your rear foot way back and on top of the rail is the only way to get this to turn.
If my assumption is correct, they are trying to create a board to tries to be a bit of everything, but ends up being not great at anything.
So I assumed correctly...
I'd give it a miss.
If you wanted to round out your quiver, i'd look at something like a regular Hipster twin, Sunova SP25, Starboard Twin, Infinity B-Line Twin / JL Super Frank
Fast / loose / rippable.
You've already got the longboard for small / soft / cruisy points, the Spitfire for bigger / more power. The gap is for smaller / less powerful waves still with shape to them imo. Exactly what the boards above offer. I would err on the Hipster Twin as a custom with a slightly flatter tail rocker than stock and maybe a slightly wider tail ( but that's just me 
) - exactly like this: www.instagram.com/p/CXAZrz2Pr-H/
Hey all, I took that board for another spin today with the same am2 fins but clean, punchy shoulder-head waves. I guess probably best case waves?
I caught a lot and it was much looser than on other sessions, I guess the added steepness and push of the waves helped it a bit.
or maybe I am just getting used to it now?
I probably need to have another go on the spitfire to compare it again
Fatter rails give you more lift up the wave, they need to match the steepness of the wave (fatter wave=fatter rails) as the waves get steeper and more gnarly that board should go better. You can to some degree adjust this with fins with more hold (bigger fins or bigger tips than AM's). Thinner rails are better for carving, in the video its pretty obvious, goes ok off the bottom, good off the top and **** through the middle (no lift!!) so basically better waves and drive it like you stole it!!!
Haha that’s a good reply.
I was thinking about trying some keel-quad fins that I have. The conditions are largely similar tomorrow -Fri so I might give that a crack too.
You are right though- it seems to like peely bottom to top wave. It trims along the face quite nicely but needs some steepness
