Along with the concave, the exploration, development and application of various forms of flex is my most significant and ongoing contribution to the evolution of the surfboard. I have been pioneering both since the early 1970’s – that’s over fifty years devoted to the experimentation and refinement of flexible, variable curves in surfboards.
If you ask anyone who has ridden an Outer Island Flextail, they will speak to you of previously unexperienced levels of energy built through turns and drive that feels like there is no top end to your board speed.
Like a dolphin’s tail, the Flextail generates propulsion, drive and acceleration out of the turns. The tail flexes as you apply power, carving a tighter arc the harder you extend through your turn.
Energy is loaded in the carbon tail and release when coming out of the turn (reflex) delivering drive and acceleration, a sling shot effect like a diver launching from a spring board, or an arrow loosed from a bow.
Unlike conventional boards which are rigid and have one inbuilt set of curves, the flextail means that the board has variable curves. Imagine a board with optimal rocker for innate board speed on takeoff and trimming. Now, imagine increased tail rocker delivering arcs
from wide to tight, based on the pressure applied during the turn by the rider. And you have the Flextail. Flextails feel alive to ride, utterly responsive to wave shape and conditions, carving variable arcs and springing out of turns with a sling shot effect. I produce Flextails in 2 kinds of construction:
1: the original classic transparent fibreglass laminate, inspired by George Greenough’s
flexible spoons.
2: Outer Island’s proprietary high end composite construction incorporating carbon fibre, high-end vinyl ester resin and EVA flexible foam rubber. It is unquestionably the most advanced technology available today.
Flextails can be built in all models excluding traditional longboards. They have always been highly sought after by surfers chasing waves of consequence. When Derek Hynd built his Search quiver for J Bay in the 1990’s, he commissioned a brace of Flextails. I built
them knowing the variable curve and energy release would be perfectly suited to those challenging walls that require both maximum high line drive and the ability to lay down big, speed-generating carves. Unashamedly, Flextails aren’t cheap. But neither is a Ferrari or a Porsche.
Typically, the surfer who invests in a Flextail ends up coming back for more. Because there is nothing that compares to riding a flexible blade…
By Custom Order Only
Opening My 2024 Order Book
On November 15th, I’ll be opening my 2024 order
book.
I have decided to place a strict cap on numbers. I
have been building boards for over half a century and whilst I’m
not retiring just yet, I do intend to reduce my workload so that I
can find more time to enjoy family, surfing and travel. I am going to
allocate just five slots to flex tail builds in 2024. These forever
boards are an absolute labour of love, but much more time consuming.
DM me for more details and to get your name on the
build list.
Mitchell
