Update 5th July 2015 66/838 detail
Update 4th July 2015: Thanks to the generous visionaries who have contributed so far. The $210 will buy us some epoxy resin and we will dip into our own pockets to send the first board over to Jeff and Heath in Western Australia, more details on this coming up soon.
Roy has been dedicated to the task of creating the planet's most unique and revolutionary surfboards for more than twenty years, in the face of huge opposition from the corporate surfing establishment.
One of these designs is a 'Gun' big wave riding surfboard called the 'Ghost'.
Now, thanks to the interest of a group of the world's top surfers he has the opportunity to take these surfboards to the pinnacle of surfing achievement... the big wave surfing arena. The 'Surfing the Ghost' movie will document the quest and the history of this 'one man versus the machine' battle.
In the Press
"Roy Stuart makes some of the most sophisticated and expensive surfboards in the world. " Wall St. Journal
"A modern day Greenough, check out a few of his creations:" New Zealand Surfing Magazine
"With qualities surfers can appreciate such that it is light, durable and versatile; the fins have maintained Stuart’s reputation in the surfing industry" 3D printing industry .com
"A renowned surfboard designer has found himself riding the global 3D printing wave after using the state-of-the-art technology to create a world first product. Roy Stuart has been handcrafting surfboards and surfboard fins for two decades, but now 3D printing has opened up a new world of potential for his unique concepts." The New Zealand Herald
"Roy Stuart is among the first in the world using 3d printing technology to help create a new wave of surfboards." Radio New Zealand podcast
"ROY STEWART: THE STRADIVARI OF SURF BOARDS...Roy’s experience and profound understanding of the world that surrounds him is manifested as Surf Boards that everyone can enjoy and be stimulated in multiple ways." Higher Poetics
" individuals and unique characters like him are way too rare in the modern surfing world!" ARBO surfboards
"What a project!... Attempting to create a surfboard capable of acting almost as a new sensory organ through which to feel water pressure changes in the pursuit of speed and the highest possible state of flow, to reach a never before attained degree of intimate connection with the ocean's energy.
I think if people at large were capable of discerning what you're up to, and got even the slightest whiff of how much fun you're having, they'd most definitely try to outlaw you.
Keep vibrating harmoniously," Pablo Diaz, Big wave rider, Spain
Meet the Ghost surfboard range:
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#16 'Old faithful' The original Ghost design, first conceived and made in 1998. With 17 years of testing in all conditions behind her the faithful 16 has proven to be a faultless and reliable performer in every imaginable situation. Features the constant radius tail which is the cornerstone of the 'extreme pintail' displacement tail innovation.
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#64A 'Straight tail' A no compromise high speed down the line racer with ultra precise handling. The 64A has a straight line rail through the tail and a slightly more forward riding position than the 16, with reduced tail area for even better pitch dampening and rider security.
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#66 'late incut' As a direct development of the 'Old faithful' 16, the '66' model shares the central riding position of the '16' as well as its legendary handling qualities. The ride has been enhanced by the concave tail 'incut' which improves water flow mixing and release at the pintail for greater speed, while also creating a higher radius 'hip' at the aft zone of the riding position for faster turning response, and more sensitive pitch dampening.
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#838 'early incut' Here the concave 'incut' innovation is applied to the forward driving position of the 64A . Thus 838 further enhances the accuracy, sensitivity and secure handling of the 64A's high speed carving nature.
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#66/838 'asymmetrical' for goofy foot & #838/66 for natural foot Surfboard asymmetry reflects human asymmetry, it's an advanced frontier in intuitive, rider friendly, stance based ergonomic performance. Ghost 838/66 and 66/838 'asyms' use a new theory in asymmetrical design specifically suited to longer boards for extreme waves.
#roystuartguns A new paradigm in asymmetrical surfboard design.
Meet the surfing team
These are the fellows who will put the Ghost range to the test in 'Heavy water'. They need no introduction to followers of surfing.
Please click on the pictures to go to their personal pages and 'bios'.
Thanks to the team!
What people are saying
"We consider you to be the brilliant and contemporary Michelangelo of surfboards." Michael Kennedy Boulder, Colorado
"I caught another 6 or so waves, cruising at speed and beating close out sections on the lefts, which on any other board i have ridden is near impossible at this place..actually, i have never beaten a section there and have never seen anyone else beat sections. i had one of the most fun filled surfs ever... fully stoked. In the last 30 yrs i have ridden all sorts of boards from 5'4" channeled 80's thrusters to the occasional mal ride....this board by far is the most fun so far and easy...a different way to surf and an absolute pleasure.
Roy, i can't express how happy i am with this board.
Thank you so much for your insight and inspiration.
Peace to you" Rich Burfoot, Invercargill, New Zealand.
"Once the board jumps into life it seems to accelerate along the wave face and has a nice positive feel, just seems to extract what it needs…. I particularly enjoyed the acceleration of the board as you were coming into a close out section, as the face gets steeper the board seems to get a long set of legs and accelerates. Had the board for three months in Northland and damn near ran away to Mexico with it. Roy, the board is Bitchin’" James Hunt, Northland New Zealand
"I can only describe this board like an analogy to cars. It reminded me of a Rolls Royce, quiet, smooth, big, understated power and just the feel of it alone exudes quality." Adam Jennings, UK
"...the board turned itself giving me a grandstand view of the wave I’d taken off on and then proceeded to lock itself into position for the barrel. The board did it- I was just along for the ride, there’s something about the curve of the rocker and the rail and the fin and the tail and whatever else contributed to it but the board sliced into that face like a carving knife in a Christmas turkey - its kinda like grass roots surfing. Gordon McKerchar, NZ
"The word on the coconut vine is that the board is hot" Scott Hartvigsen, surf photographer Oahu Hawaii
Some perks:
Why such unusual fins?
The short answer is because they work better.
Fins are the engine room of the surfboard.
So what happens next?
We'll be beavering away making Ghost boards for the team and will post detailed updates on progress, with more design insight videos as well. The rest is up to you... so please share this campaign via the handy buttons at the top of the page. Every dollar counts so even small contributions are most welcome... and contributions will keep you 'in the loop' as an insider. This project is a big opportunity for us and the surfing community so let's make the most of it. Stay tuned for some spectacular surfing action!
Questions and comments are welcome, we'd like to hear from you...