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twizzly
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Posted: Mon Mar 31st, 2008 10:43 pm |
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I wanted to start this thread to keep you posted on my experience with Wayne Okamoto of Oak Foils. I was referred to Wayne recently when I decided I wanted something in the 6'2" to 6'8" range that was pretty dialed in for my surfing. I had been told that Wayne was a 20 year+ South Bay local that knew the area and beaches really well. I had also been told that Wayne literally pioneered use of CNC technology and other machine-oriented processes related to board shaping.
Anyway, after checking out some of his amazing work on recent locals boards:
...well, I suppose you can figure out how I felt about the opportunity to work with such a fine shaper  . [NOTE the "Kiddler" which is a 6'8" tribute to Tyler's Riddler. It may be rumored (wink wink) that Tyler himself has one of these and is checking it out as we speak!
So I met with Wayne this past weekend and we spent an hour together studying a few boards I had ridden in the past and discussing my observations and abilities (or lack thereof  ).
During the hour together, I learned so darn much, I felt terribly guilty about how much time I received. Apparently Wayne (and his remarkable machinery) perform detailed 3-D scans and rough out blanks for many top label shapers including some of the very biggest. The guy does just top notch work because he loves surfboards and to see people stoked on his work. He was apparently offered big bucks to sell off his tech to the Chinese and turned them down.
Anyway, Wayne decided he wanted to think about what shape to recommend given our discussions. He emailed me the following day and recommended a shape that he called the Byrd-Pod. He noted that he was going to recommend his modified Byrd-Fish shape originally, but felt that the Byrd-Pod would offer a bit more dimensionality in jucier waves, while still offering the float and drive that I was looking for at my skill level. He also noted that the Pod shape would slowly enable me to graduate to a more neutral stance from a front-footed fish orientation.
So here's the outline we're going to work toward (6'5" x 21 1/2" x 3" in the middle to conservatively enable a ton of glide and drive for my ol' bones!). Wayne noted that we can dial in some new dims as I am able to provide him enhanced feedback in the future (after having ridden his boards). He strongly suggested Future Fins, traditional poly and sand finish to enhance performance a bit.
The board will be set up with 5 fin slots to help dial in looseness (the board will include sets for Tri and Quad setups. I'm not sure on the twin setup):
Needless to say, I'm super stoked. Blank is being ordered and I'm on my way.
Thus far, I would highly recommend Wayne. This experience has been world-class in terms of the attention and knowledge that he has offered. If anyone wants his contact info, send me a PM. He doesn't have a website -- sort of a low key guy, but man, his work speaks for itself!
I will continue to update this thread as the board progresses!
Last edited on Mon Mar 31st, 2008 10:44 pm by twizzly
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bearded_kook
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Posted: Mon Mar 31st, 2008 11:21 pm |
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Can you tell more about Malcolm Campbell's bastard offspring in the last photo? That is some sweet looking tail...
-BK
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surferchic5555
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Posted: Mon Mar 31st, 2008 11:42 pm |
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Thanks for the report! Sounds like a great guy to work with. Let us know how you are able to do on his loaner boards as well as how your final product turns out!
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twizzly
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Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 12:03 am |
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Here are the bonzer pics and desc (from another post)
"It is 6' with glass-on bamboo runners with a bamboo/kiri bonzer center fin from Marlin at 101 fins. I decided to go with 6oz glass, volan glass on the bottom. Resin tint with a black marble swirl, gloss and polish finish with double pinlines. "
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harboursurfer
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Posted: Tue Apr 1st, 2008 03:00 am |
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Wayne had been making some of the best surfboards around. He was made some awesome boards for even some of the big name shapers. I have Wayne making me an awesome noserider. I will post some pictures when I get my board.
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sbsurfer777
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Posted: Tue Apr 8th, 2008 03:48 pm |
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WOW! All I can say is "WOW!"
That is one beautiful loooking board. The contours and foils are just amazing! The diamond tail with the double concave release in the tail looks like it would flow water smoothly.
The craftsmanship of the shape all the way down to the glass job is just amazing! I've heard a lot about Wayne and how he's a true perfectionist. The detail shows in the boards he produces. I hear he creates some amazing noseriders and ultra high perfomance longboards. I will due some more research on his shapes and contact him soon.
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twizzly
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Posted: Tue Apr 8th, 2008 06:23 pm |
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| Blank came in for my new board -- patiently awaiting the "board to glasser" call!
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dan
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Posted: Tue Apr 8th, 2008 06:42 pm |
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twizzle, you have stumbled upon one of the best kept secrets in the shaping scene. wayne has shaped nothing but magic boards for me over the decades. his methods of shaping go way way beyond the standard shaping bay. he is shaping at a very high standard. funny thing is he is soo low key about it. those in the know,....know. my shop is close by and love to stop by and see what he's working on. amazing boards from all types of shapes and shapers. I think you will be pleasantly surprised.
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twizzly
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Posted: Sat Apr 19th, 2008 02:28 pm |
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alright alright!
So finally time to update this thread. I ended up ordering two boards from Wayne. The first board (as noted above) was really his choice as far as shape goes and he ended up suggesting his "Bryd Pod" shape with a custom bump on the deck and a 5 fin box setup that he would suggest I ride in a quad and twin + trailer setup.
In addition, I brought in my 9' Walden Magic -- which has been my go-to board in recent weeks. That board is just a ton of fun in knee to shoulder mushburgers with a 7" Rainbow Rake as a single. Loose, tons of paddle, etc.
For the high perf board, Wayne suggested this outline in a 9' length (give or take) with a 5 fin box setup for maximum flexibility...
...but... that blank is still on order. However, I did get the special call today letting me know that the Bryd Pod shape had been completed. Wayne surprised me with how amazing this board looked. He ended up using a redwood stringer that looks so much better than in the photographs -- just a nice touch. Here are some pics:
ok -- so I can't give much of a review, because honestly, the waves yesterday were really lousy in the South Bay. I did sneak in an hour session in some serious windchop and I noted the following:
- the low rocker makes this board paddle surprisngly well
- at 6'5" with 3" thickness at the middle, the board has a ton of volume hidden in it, so there was never any lack of wave-catching ability
- the quad setup makes the board go so darn fast on the right waves, it's a real kick in the pants -- i mean the board flies through the drop in and through the bottom turns with tons of drive
...but most importantly, we all have those moments when we feel like we're just shredding (far beyond our abilities). You know, those moments when you feel like you're surfing so far beyond you're ability and just killing it. Sometimes when the wave peaks up just right above the sandbar and I feel super locked in and in control, I can't help this feeling in my head -- that I'm just shredding (granted the view from the beach may tell a different story). Anyway, this board gifted me two incredible moments like this yesterday in absolute crap conditions -- I felt like I was just killing it. At least to me, that feeling is more important than anything -- that's what keeps you out there.
More reviews to come, but for now, I am super stoked on the board.
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surferchic5555
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Posted: Sat Apr 19th, 2008 03:17 pm |
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Cool! Now we need some pix or video of you & your new board in action. (Don't worry - no judgements on actual level of shredding.)
Also keep us posted on how she holds up. Looks really sweet, but I have always been under the impression that sanded finish has a tendancy to get pressure dings or cracks more quickly than a high gloss board, but this may be a misconception. Your first-hand experience is welcomed.
Happy surfing!
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twizzly
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Posted: Sat Apr 19th, 2008 04:32 pm |
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That's a great question, and I would defer to the experts on this topic -- but my personal experience has been that sand finish boards tend to pressure dent more significantly and quickly than heavier glassed gloss boards. This one is 4+4 top, 4 on the bottom. After my first session, there were already some visible dents -- particularly from my knee where I did a really sloppy newbie duck dive. My friends and I had the exact same experience on a sand finish zippifish where after one session there were dents aplenty. The funny part is that I've heard a few shapers say that they LOVE seing their boards all dented up because it means they're getting used and ridden and loved!
I guess the bigger question on the dents is ... so what? After all, I'm not a 7 day a week surfer that needs to surf each board into the ground. If that were the case, I'd probably stick with popouts and or get some super heavy glassed EPS board and call it a day. Reality is that between craigslist and my friends, we're all swapping boards long before they're unrideable.
In my experience, you can always save a few bucks and shave off a hair of weight by going with a lighter glassed sand finish white board. Given the choices, I tend to favor this route in that I figure I will be spending several months evaluating the board in a variety of conditions with the intent to go back to Wayne then and get dialed in on some tweaked dimensions. At that time, I may ask for his thoughts on a bit heavier glass or a gloss finish. If I felt like I was able to perfectly dial in the right dims right away (which I certainly am not), I would have ordered a heavier glassed board.
That said, on the longboard, I did go with a resin tint and gloss finish as I felt like I knew what I wanted more precisely and was confident about wanting the board to be a bit more durable.
As far as pictures go, the challenge is not my humility, but rather my talking the wife into doing a photo shoot of her husband... that may be expensive! 
Time to go check out the slops on the shore!
Last edited on Sat Apr 19th, 2008 04:49 pm by twizzly
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pierpont-scott
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Posted: Sat Apr 19th, 2008 05:11 pm |
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| glossing a board does nothing to stop denting or making it stronger. gloss resin is used to do what its name implies to make a shine. a layer of gloss resin is just about taken off by the time it gets polished and give no structural strength at all .
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twizzly
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Posted: Sat Apr 19th, 2008 05:26 pm |
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| Thanks, Scott! That's why I defer to the experts!
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harboursurfer
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Posted: Sat Apr 19th, 2008 08:01 pm |
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Twizzly,
That Yellow and Green Oakfoil HP longboard you posted is my board I ordered several months ago. The board turns so good due to the diamond tail and the incredible concave that the board really makes the board want to get up and go. I dialed the board in and kicked the lip of the wave like a shortboard. Not to mention the ability to drop in on steep waves right into the pocket tightly. Getting some green room time!
Wayne makes really nice boards, not to mention they go beyond just looking very nice. I ridden alot of big name brands and Wayne's boards are magic.
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dan
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Posted: Sun Apr 20th, 2008 06:29 pm |
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Sounds like Wayne has got you going in the right direction. I gave him the heads up about this site and he’s aware of your post here. He mentioned that when he get’s some time he’ll try and respond. Looks like the summer demand is in full force for him already, stopped in to see what’s up and the factory was swamped with blanks to be shaped. With many more on back order.
He mentioned that on the bryd-pod shape there is a subtle ufo type deck curve, kind of like a camel hump with the apex just behind your front foot to help displace the volume of the board that would normally add unnecessary volume and make the board feel sluggish. Also something about how the subtle steps help with flex and gives the board some spring to help sling-shot with your board at 3” thick was one of the reasons why he went with cedar as the wood is very flexible and has decent vertical strength. I have one of the first generation bryd-pod that is probably from the mid nineties with glassed with all 4oz w/glassed on twin and small keel trailer. It’s held up well as most all by boards are glassed relatively light 40oz. I also like to get my foot dents in the deck on my shapes with the epoxies and surftech boards are too stiff and don’t allow my foot dents to develop.
Funny, thing I didn’t even know my bryd-pod had these ufo/ camel humps until you posted your board, he told me that my favorite 6’3 performane tri also has a ufo deck rocker. Wayne mentioned that the time to massage them in takes as long or longer than shaping the entire board. I just ordered me a new one!
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twizzly
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Posted: Fri Apr 25th, 2008 04:48 pm |
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For sake of keeping this thread updated, I have about 20 hours of water time on the Bryd Pod now ------ SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET! 
I can say without a doubt that the combination of float and drive with the shorter profile makes this one of the best and most versatile shorter boards I've ever ridden. I can really tell that it's been made and sized for me -- pushing my physical ability just enough to keep me progressing, but at the same time, offering enough confidence and flow to keep me out there and not frustrated with wave catching.
For my past two sessions, I've had the board set up as a 2+trailer. I am leaning toward a view that I prefer it as a quad. I think the quad rides a bit looser and seems to have a bit more drive. It's hard to really put my finger on it though, because each day the conditions change a bit, the water time changes, the tide varies...ugh so many variables. Either way, I think I'm going back to the quad for a while.
...and yes, when I can get my wife to tag along, it's time for some pictures so you guys can see how someone can be both a lousy surfer and a super stoked surfer at the same time!
More to follow when the longboard arrives!
Last edited on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 04:49 pm by twizzly
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sbsurfer777
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Posted: Fri Apr 25th, 2008 06:04 pm |
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twizzly wrote: For sake of keeping this thread updated, I have about 20 hours of water time on the Bryd Pod now ------ SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEEET!
I can say without a doubt that the combination of float and drive with the shorter profile makes this one of the best and most versatile shorter boards I've ever ridden. I can really tell that it's been made and sized for me -- pushing my physical ability just enough to keep me progressing, but at the same time, offering enough confidence and flow to keep me out there and not frustrated with wave catching.
For my past two sessions, I've had the board set up as a 2+trailer. I am leaning toward a view that I prefer it as a quad. I think the quad rides a bit looser and seems to have a bit more drive. It's hard to really put my finger on it though, because each day the conditions change a bit, the water time changes, the tide varies...ugh so many variables. Either way, I think I'm going back to the quad for a while.
...and yes, when I can get my wife to tag along, it's time for some pictures so you guys can see how someone can be both a lousy surfer and a super stoked surfer at the same time!
More to follow when the longboard arrives!
I'm very interested to see photos of you riding your new Bryd Pod. That board looks like it was built for speed. Where do you normally surf?
Last edited on Fri Apr 25th, 2008 06:05 pm by sbsurfer777
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jimjim69
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Posted: Sat Apr 26th, 2008 11:17 pm |
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| Is he related to Kip Okomoto?
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Current time is 07:28 am | |
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