This one should add a whole new level of discussing board dimensions with your shaper. The “length x width x thickness” template has always been our standard for board outline without diving into the nitty-gritty details of measurements between those numbers. Like how far off of center is the thickest point of a board, or how much of that outline is sustained toward the nose or tail? Are those rails tapered to a narrow edge or do they hold through much of the deck? So on and so forth, yada. Yada.
How about board height? Not length. Height.
For his newest stunt, Jamie O’Brien imagined it’d be possible to strap a steel ladder to a SUP and surf. We won’t spoil whether or not he’s successful. While he didn’t invent them, the guy is a major reason we see acid drops and board transfers everywhere we go now. He quite possibly did invent ladder surfing, though. Although we wouldn’t bet on seeing this one take off in your local lineup anytime soon.
On the plus side, JOB did just give us one major benefit of literally climbing up a ladder when you’re screaming down the line: No more need to argue with your friends about how big the wave of the day was.
“If I get an eight-foot wave we’ll know for sure because this is an eight-foot ladder.”
