Firewire – Slater Designs – Great White Twin in I-Bolic Technology with Volcanic Lamination by Kelly Slater and Mike Woo
What is it?
Inspired by the outline of the Great White Shark, Kelly Slater designed the ‘Great White Twin’ in I-Bolic Technology with Volcanic Lamination alongside Bali-based shaper Mike Woo.Â
The Great White Twin is a high-performance groveler with the paddle and catching of a hybrid, and the on-rail performance of a shortboard.Â
This fish fits in your quiver where most fish don’t – it creates speed in weak waves, controls speed in powerful waves, and excels at tight arcs in punchy pockets and quick wraps on shoulder sections.Â
This design has volume hidden at center with fine rails for immediate response and quick reaction in the pocket. It has the speed of a twin fin with the immediate response of a thruster, and it’s elevated tail rocker makes it magic on your backhand.Â
Recommended to surf at your performance volume, or just slightly more.
What’s the backstory?
During a trip to Bali in 2020 Kelly Slater’s longtime friend Rizal Tandjung introduced him to Mike Woo, a Bali based surfboard designer with Hawaiian roots.
With years of experience designing surfboards for Balinese waves, Kelly shared an idea he’d been carrying for years – design a surfboard inspired by The Great White Shark.
Kelly and Mike opened a folder of photos Kelly had been collecting for years and they traced outlines of the sharks as seen from top and bottom, tracing surfboard shape outlines within the shark’s bodies.
After several iterations on the computer, they decided to cut the first shape.Â
Kelly surfed it immediately and called it perfect from the first go, ready for manufacturing in I-Bolic Technology with Volcanic Lamination.
What is Volcanic Lamination and why is it valuable?
A sustainable lamination alternative to carbon in performance shapes, Volcanic Lamination adds enhanced response and deck durability to both I-Bolic and Helium Cores. ‘Volcanic’ references basalt: a naturally occurring rock that occurs from hot lava cooling after it breaks through the earth’s surface. We make basalt cloth by extruding fibers from basalt rocks and then crushing and melting them into woven fabric that is vacuum bagged and laminated with bio resin.
What is I-Bolic Technology and why is it valuable?
Firm, drivey and reassuring underfoot, I-Bolic excels at enabling drive, hold and precision. It suits powerful surfing in good waves and is a favorite of Kelly Slater and the Slater Designs team.Â
I-Bolic engineering creates a core with three separate points of flex control including an I-Beam down center for unrivaled break strength, and high-density foam in both rails from nose to tail.