The Brooko High Performance Round Tail Quad
AT LAST… a quad that does what a pro surfer wants.
It has been a long time coming, for me as a designer at least! Perhaps naively I thought the round tail would be too loose as a quad and would lack reach and drive but in fact I was underestimating what guys at this level can do with a design like this. I have been building thrusters for guys at this level forever but I was mindful not to upset their status quo i.e. experimenting with far left designs can fuck with the sub conscious reflexes already finely tuned to the three fin attack. Brooko in particular was very set in his ways it took me 8 years to talk him up an inch if that gives you any idea.
Once off tour however everything changes and it almost becomes the opposite since the pressure is off and they yearn to ride all the things they disallowed themselves whilst on tour. Troy had tried a Bat tail quad with moderate success but when he rode the round tail he was blown away coz not only did it have the accepted extra speed common to quads it also had the vertical capacity of a thruster but with more speed creating more potential to punt higher. He handed it around to all his mates in Quickie and they all came up with the same opinion... I want one!
The simple answer is cutting the corners off a swallow or Bat tail to make it round gives the board the ability to ball and socket around on the spot and therefore go vertical with minimum effort whereas the swallow or bat due to the straighter plan shape in the tail want to project rather than pivot. I have designed a little last minute 3 ml vee which leaps out of a long deep single double concave just 6´ from the tail. I reckon this allows the water trapped in the concave to run off before it gets to the pod also encouraging a shorter arc but projecting as well. The plan shape is a little wider than normal but no way fishy. I do not believe these boards need to have no nose plan shapes as thrusters do because the back fins are further up the board and they have a larger sweet spot and can be turned from further up if you do find yourself up there.
This model is going to be a new Brooko Inspiration Model since it was his surfing on this board that has inspired me to look into it. The glass job will be the standard 4 x 4 diagonal with the carbon reinforced tail flaps. Optional will be the new FCS Performance Core quads that will be offered at only $30 extra with a $100 save straight up. I offer this coz I know these boards will go shitloads better with glass fins. The best choice of the standard fins would be the new Bruce McKee quads or the Stretch quads.
Brooko Testamonial
"I've been riding a round tail quad that Muzza and I have been working recently. We have messed around with the fins and tried a few different shaped tails. My favourite one is a 5'11" so that's 2 inches shorter than my regular short board. It fits into any size wave and holds in well. The quads are super fast down the line and now with the new tweaks really responsive too. I am now finding it hard to find a difference between it and a thruster for maneuverability. They are a little more rail to rail and carve better than a thruster. It is definitely faster all round. I'm hooked and would ride this sort of board in competition. If you are looking for extra speed then get one."
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