2012.

Pointed Nose Option

The Modern Planing hull is an incredibly versitle design. Lately ive made a few MPH's with the pointed nose for the main stream consumer look. My best apraisal of the difference between the pointed and round nose is that, the round nose will give the rider a more lighter whiping turn and will less likely pearl in a tight pocket scenario, pointed nose models feel a little more drawn out through the turn which is suited to wave faces overhead. If you happen to dig the look of this option you can now order any of the existing MPH as a Pointed Nose !!

This is the straight Nano outline with a 3" beak XTR Epoxy 5'8 x 18 1/4" x 2 1/8"
Carbon flex foil. 5 fin options provide plenty of fun for messing around with fin setups. if you like what you see, it might just sell it to you!!

The Wizard Slayer is the real Mc Coy.

I am a huge Kelly Slater fan. The guy is a super mind and a super athlete and credit to him for being a truly inspired human.

Ive noticed over the years and especially in the Second half of his career ,most of Kelly’s go to boards have been clean radius round tails.

Simply put, the Wizard Slayer is a Symmetrical double ended outline (nose and tail measurements are equal) with standard shortboard widths and foil (foam distribution)

Further credit for this design goes to one of Australia’s most legendary shapers Geoff Mc Coy. Mc Coy was one of the original exponents of the symmetrical double ended round nose round tail designs, The Wizard Slayer, perhaps the most refined and hp eventuality of Mc Coys designs to date. Hence my use of the ‘Infinite’ graphic to credit the Great Mc Coy.

Because It is not over compensated in width or Volume, The Wizard Slayer is dynamic and controlled.

The MPH front end allows the board to paddle well and the straightness in the middle section of the board give the design speed and predictability. Albeit, noticeably slower than the other MPH designs due to the more extreme curves through tail profile. Like most round tails it will be suited to pockety conditions lending the design to a hollower style wave,

Any round tail connoisseur will thoroughly enjoy the sharp yet smooth transitions in a wide range of conditions.

Order 1-2” longer than a Standard MPH.

Congrats on 11 world titles and long live the Great Kelly Slater !!

V4. codename: 'R-Wing'

The V4 is an incredible performer, a truly state of the art design for 2012.
Inspired yet again by the tail variables of the Raptor fighter Jets and executed as a planing hull design with the premise of finding the perfect balance of maximum planing area through the tail vs ideal direct control through turns.

A slight modification to V2 design minus the split (fish tail aspect) or a variation of the V3, the V4 tail design features a relatively shallow 1 ¼” swallow-tail, with ‘clipped wings to form the Double Diamond Aesthetic of the Raptor.

Further to this design I have incorporated a highly innovative bottom contour featuring a centralised double within double concave for incredible lift, freedom and low drag sensation, combined with small 8” drop channels off the the outer rail points which smoothly engage for surgical grip as the rider puts the board on rail.

The V4 is totally versatile design, Tri fin, Quad fin , Dual fin , or 5 fin will all realise the full potential of the design. Tiny waves to huge waves the V4 will be in peak performance, the only variable being the Aspect Ratio of the MPH outline (Length: Width) to ultimately customise for rider or conditions.


Overall, the V4 is an Apex performer, defiantly challenging for the title of most HP with the V3, Nano, and the Psyko. Pointed Nose option for Contest style Visual aesthetic, or Round Nose for pure performance.
Best way to describe the ride: “ You think…..the V4 does”. Free and instantaneous.

Available Now.

A kick peek at the little puppy. 4'7" x 17 1/4" x 2 3/16"

Cant wait for some real surf. stay tuned !!

Next Gen Wins Best of Show !!

October 9 2011.

The Secret wepons have been lurking dorment for 26 months, finally to be released to a huge reception at the Del Mar Sacred Craft Expo.

Special thanks to all those who have supported my cause over the years. Especially R.K, Rich pavel, my Dad, Axxe wetsuit team and especially my good friend T.K who pasted away in Japan in August ' You made this win possible my freind' i dedicate this victory to you'. rest in Peace.........

The Solidification of the Modern Planing Hull Concept June 2009

The month of June 2009 was a huge moment in my designing career. It was the penny drop moment when the whole Parallel outline planing hull mini board concept gelled in my mind.

My Hydrofoil range was moving through the second faze of refinement, i was starting to apply some more technical angular tails and vector concaves to the boards and a little 5'2" rounded nose Raptor was exciting me on the prospect of going even smaller and straighter in the foils.

Sacred Craft San Diego was just around the corner and i definitely wanted to make an impact there, so i got in the shaping room and started re-designing my templates.
the Second Mph board i made was the Nano ( from the Rocky Point Reverse clip), designed to be the my vision for the ultimate modern 'Mini Simmons' board i could conceptualise. A 5'2”x 17 1/2" x 2" square tail with rounded corners. i was originally going to make it a dual fin true to Simmons philosophy but i decided a tri fin would provide better control for such a micro board.

The following day i created the first Vector Quad design. 5'4" x 18 1/4 x 2 1/4"
a little bit more conservative volume but more radical in the design, multi concave, multi bat tail designed with the idea of controlling a wide tail with a ton of concave.

Later in the week, i was running erands on the Gold Coast and i spoted a wake board shop near where i was buying some materials. i stoped in and eyed some of these minimalistic volume 4'6" parallel hulls. I thought, why the F*ck wouldn’t that work insane??? i could apply this kind of outline, Scale and aspect ratio to a surfboard design!!

Back to the shaping room the next day: i measured out a 4'11 x 17" on my blank and drew out a square plank-like outline using a reverse of my tail template of the Hydrofoil curve for the nose. I came up with the Transition tail on that board and chose to go the full wake-board (twin-tip) theory and double end the nose, through in a complex bottom contours and a segment of a modern shortboard rocker and rail profile. The MPH had formula solidified in my mind, traditional volume measurements had become irrelevant and the Ultra high performance board sport cross over was born in my Garage of my rental property in Lennox Head.

I called my dad my Dad and told him of the breakthrough and informed him of my feelings of how this design may well revolutionise modern high performance surfing. After first view the ‘Death Star’, he agreed to my theory in principle but wanted to see me ride it first. The next day I created the a 4’7 x17 ½” x 2 ¼” Diamond nose Diamond tail to complement the Death Star, a little more softer features and a new bottom contour that was floating in my mind, The centralised double inside single concave running from tip of the nose to tip of the tail. The quiver was complete.

Skip forward a few weeks, I glass the 2 mini boards in carbon fibre and prepare to pack them for my trip to the U.S . The assemble quiver looked gnarly!!

Were the wake inspired board to much to soon I wondered ?? will the California market grasp the full concept as I have ?? after much deliberation I decided to pull the Next Gen boards from the show quiver and stick them in my closet for my return from overseas.

2009 September. Sacred Craft expo Del Mar.

I have huge turnout at my booth and end up bagging the best of show award for the round nose Mph Nano Richter tail 5’3 or Carbon Vector Quad. They said: “ They are all radical !! you choose your best one”

This was my biggest achievement in my surfing/shaping career and I was over the moon. And I thought to myself it was a good decision that I left the trump cards at home in the closet, they will see the light on another day…….

2 years down the track……

Many modern shapers (big brands and backyards) are following down the planning hull theory formula for shrinking board sizes and apply some of my low drag angular tail concepts (or similar) to their work. Modern short boards are finally starting to evolve after 20 years of stagnation. The global surf consciousness is hungry for change. It was time to pull the secret weapons from the closet paint the up with a groovy modern stripe art and release them on the World at the 2011 Del Mar Surfboard Show. The rest is history…………

Daniel.


















Insert pics: 1 & 2:The shaped quiver inside my home in Australia June 2009. 3. the Death Star 3. Best in show booth at Sacred Creft September 2009 minus the Next Gen Models.

Modernism in the Next Gen

The year is 2011. Surfing has evolved. The time has come for the equipment to evolve as the surfer's mind expands and athletisism bounds out and beyond. Planing hull technology moves to the forfront, with space age manufacturing in aid of the quest. The board sport cross over beckons. Freeminds in Sea-Space will recreate the present and lead the way for the future. Bring on the Next Gen.

Tomo.

R.I.P TK

TK You were A Great Man who acheived so much. You created a Brotherhood and a family that will last forever and we will never forget you. You were a Mentor, my biggest supporter and above all my best Bros. Im gonna miss you mate !!

BROS FOREVER.

Crafting Sacred Asym.

Got a run at the next Sacred Craft shape off !! Thanks Carl Ekstrom for the opportunity ! THROTHING !!

Froth Vs Crumble.

Fun session at Slowers last week courtesy of RK hydroynamica.blogspot.com im riding V3 5'5 x 18 3/4" x 2 1/4" Pat is on Psyko 5'8" x 18 5/8" x 2 3/8"

Product Testing

This session was last week deep in SD during a run of really fun sth swells.
I cant yet tell you what the design is but it feels like i bolted on a super charger to my Nano. This board feels stupid good. Magic board.

Footage courtesy of Richard Kenvin.

http://hydrodynamica.blogspot.com/

BOLTS OF LIGHTNING !!!

I have been privileged with the opportunity to shape some concept guns for Lightning Bolt Surfboards. The legendary brand has stepped up to the plate and ordered some of my new Dual Fin Guns as a part of their revival push in the U.S

The Bolt once ruled the big wave domain in Hawaii in the late 70's and Early 80's. This era saw the peak of the world class surfer/shaper's Gerry Lopez, Mark Richards, Rory Russel to name a few, refining their own sleds to tackle the gnarliest waves in the world. I have always loved the foil templates of this era. Bullet noses with clean accelerating curves. Full Fluid Accelerators !!

It was my goal to try to re-produce this proven curve with all the modern design elements. Basically, I shaped a modern version of a 7'6 and 8'0 Lightning Bolt Pin Tail, proceeded to saw approx 6-8" off the tail before cutting in my (mini) Raptor V1 & V2 tails for low drag control.

I figured losing the pin tails adding the Raptors would open up the turning radius (tighter Arcs) reduce drag (speed increase) and balance it out with a naturally controlled, Parallel Dual-Keel fin setting to provide a stable, predictable ride.

Think of it as a ‘Double single fin’ with heel/toe control rather than a ‘twin-fin’ .

Furthermore, i feel there will be no loss of paddle power as the now wider pod area will lift the tail into waves resulting in a smaller more efficient big wave package.

I decided that the high velocity ‘Tomohawk Keels’ were apt for these designs to combat the extreme laminar pressures apparent in big wave surfing. The leading edge of the fins will efficiently cut through the water with effective rail to rail pitch. Once the board is on rail, the clean parallel rail outline will engage, the hatchet fin will flex and load accelerating the rider through the turn. I have experienced no cavitation as a result of using the particular angular fins,

Whether or not this is a breakthrough in big wave performance will remain to be seen.

But logic suggests, two is better than one, faster than three and four and all the performance boxes are ticked and circled. Cant wait to launch over a few ledges this Coming Winter.

*Special thanks to Moonlight Glassing for the pro glass jobs.

The coming of the Dual fin Big Wave Guns !!

My faith in the Dual fin is no secret. Scientific reason will suggest it is the fastest fin setup but experience has taught me it also has extraordianary control, combine the two elements and why shouldnt the modern dual fin regin supreme in big waves? Even in the Biggest waves. Bob Simmons did it in the 50's with historical success, in fact his big waves were his passion and certainly a major part of his planing hull development, it was his 9'6" balsa dual fin designs were his most legendary. Come the second decade of the 21st centrury quad fins are moving to the forefront of modern big waves surfing, but why use 4 fins when 2 will do the same job? albeit, a better job. less drag for sure! better control?.... i would bet the farm!! and no need to pump for speed and pocket pivots why use a thruster? Dual fin wins hands down in my opinion.

I have been on dual fins in big waves exclusively for 4 years, mainly for my own pleasure and pursuit of a pure speed experience. (see bellow for evidence of my big wave dual fin development) i feel comfortable now that my elements of balanced refinement of the big wave Dual fin is ready for launch!

* Dual fin : Double foiled fins (or keels) set parralel to the stringer or 0 degrees tow. { Not the same as Twin fin} which is: twin single foiled fins which are towed into the nose.

* Gun: Surfboard designed for big waves.


http://dantomo.blogspot.com/search/search/?q=2007


http://dantomo.blogspot.com/search/?q=Dual+fin+guns

Sacred Craft Santa Cruz (this weekend)

I will be showing a selection of my 2011 works and upcoming concepts, this weekend (19th and 20th) at the sacred Craft Expo in Santa Cruz C.A

A Prayer for all my Friends in Japan.

I Pray for the safety of all my freinds in Northern Japan and all those effected by the tradgic quake and tsunami. hope you guys made it to safety and your loved ones are ok.

Carbon Flexfoil

TOMO UNI-DIRECTIONAL CARBON FLEXFOIL.

A new uni-directional carbon fibre lamination for the Modern Planing Hull (MPH) range to give the boards greater response, control and drive.

Noticeably more response to energies exerted by the surfer with a rapid flex memory and controlled flex distribution.

The foil pattern gives more stiffness through the front foot which allows the board to punch solidly through the lip or chops on the face while effectively and evenly distributing the load through to a more flexible tail for added thrust (acceleration) through turns, much like a fin distributes load through to the tip for drive

Upgrade in:

.Control.
.Response.
.Drive.
.Liveliness (more rapid flex memory)
.Strength.

.Stringer less EPS, Epoxy. Ultra lightweight and very strong.

Designed and tested by Daniel Thomson.

Carbon Inlay Power-drives

Carbon fiber Inlay has produced excellent results with increasing the flex memory of the powerdrive fins. i would say they give the fin (and the whole ride in general) a 20% boost rapid forword thrust and life like feel. This procedure has also allowed me to reduce the thickness the pannel to further reduce the drag through the water. another step in the right direction. Also availble for fcs system, with orders of Tomo or Krypt boards only.

Cali gold

Winter time in California is pretty rad. this winter has been a little slow on the surf front until last week when we started to get a run of northern hemi action.
been surfing up and down the coast quite a bit from The Ranch to the boarder and there has been plenty of quality surf to be had.

photo: Billy Watts.

Gerrs flextail !

My Dad built this board in 1990. ( 20 + years ago) i was nine at the time, i remember it being made clearly. it is a xps vacum baged full carbon fiber with pre-preg high temperature epoxy, sprayed in a gloss pearl paint. i found it in the Atic above my new shaping room at Christenson's factory. pretty amazing peice of equipment, hull outline aside (looks like any current thruster), it still would have to be one of the most technicaly engineered and structuraly advanced surfboards that i am aware of in the world to this day in 2011.

MPH Vector

The Vector is a small wave demolition machine. Ultra sensitive ride, meaning if you even think about turning, your already there! The type of board that will want to do 3 turns in the space a regular board will do 1. The Vector loves to keep moving rail to rail with startling speed and will eat even the most weak flat face wave for breakfast. Because The Vector is tuned for grovel Due to the deep complex quad concave and will start to redline in waves overhead. Quad for Dual Power drive fins. Almost identical size and volume as my Nano for those wondering how the Mph design performs in small stuff.