Vector Models

Stubb-Vector | Micro-Stubby | Malolo

Back in 1991 when the first prototype was shaped in San Luis Obispo, Ca, the ‘Stubb-Vector’ was the very first postmodern shortboard. Inspired by the sort of surfboards Michael Petersen is seen riding in the classic surf film Morning of the Earth, the Stubb-Vector was also the very first ‘hybrid’ or ‘funboard’ made specifically for hot surfers rather than beginners or weekend warriors. Wide, thin, and flat-rockered, Vector-Class surfboards nonetheless combine all the most potent speed-gathering elements from modern shortboards to create the fastest and most versatile surfboard possible. Whether shorter or longer, the Vector planshape and thin sensitive rails allow you to carve modern lines on a surfboard that works 90% of the time – diametrically opposed to typical fussy shortboards that only work 10% of the time for all but the very best surfers in the world. In those 20+ years the original design has been transmuted into a number of offshoot models – hybrids of a hybrid so to speak.

Stubb-Vector

6’6” to 7’6”

Active ingredients:

• Wider, thinner, flatter for greater speed and carry over flat spots
• Medium boxy rails and crisp bottom edge create more stored energy out of turns and enhanced planing on low voltage waves.
• Balanced planshape and wider tail delivers optimum projection horizontally but can still pull tight arcs up and down in the curl.

Standard Dimensions:

• 13.75” Nose
• 20.5” to 21” widepoint  
• 15” Tail
• 2.375” to 2.65” thick

Standard tri-fin but design converts to quad fin array.

Micro-Stubby

5’6” to 6’5”

A hybrid of a hybrid, the Micro-Stubby is a ridden as a much shorter, thinner, and curvier version of the Stubb-Vector. For surfers trying to wean themselves off of absurdly underpowered flick sticks, this is the surfboard you want under your feet. For those susceptible to peer pressure, this board resembles a groovy pro shortboard, but skates over dead spots like a Fish and chucks you up at the lip with twice the speed of a conventional shortboard.

Active ingredients:

• Super thin yet relatively even thickness distribution grants sensitivity but enormous stored energy.
• Neutral mid-`80s bottom rocker profile maximizes speed and projection, but flares enough at the tips to accommodate the most modern string of maneuvers.
• A deceptively simple planshape gets the balance just right – nose and tail widths find harmony with the foil and rocker and other leverage points of fins and tail kick.

Standard dimensions:

• 13.85 Nose
• 19.75” widepoint
• 14.85” Tail
• 2” – 2.25” thickness

Standard tri-fin but can be ridden as quad-fin.

Malolo

5’8” to 6’6”

The Malolo is a shorter, more souped-up and shortboard-like hybrid of the Stubb-Vector. This board has been quite popular for the past 15 years, probably because it includes every speed-gathering component on the shelf: There’s nowhere for the water to hide – just straight off the chine rails and tail as drag-free as Teflon.

Active ingredients:

• Compromise width delivers Vector planning speed but shortboard turning radius.
• Double-wing swallowtail draws in wider tail without excess curve, equally greater drive and traction in hard turns.
• Chined bottom edge and slight concaves through vee panels turbo boost release out of turns and enhance hydroplaning while driving down the line and lofting out of floaters.

Standard Dimensions:

• 13.25” Nose
• 20” – 20.25” widepoint
• 15.25” tail
• 2.375” to 2.5” thick

Standard tri-fin but readily converts to quad fin array.

The Malolo is a double-wing swallow, but with the wings pushed further back toward the tail than usual, allowing a wider tail and straighter rail line further tailwards, as well as allowing front fin settings to match the topmost wing -- this creates a natural, smooth pivot/ accelerator the back foot doesn't have to hunt down.