Iconoclast board models are constantly evolving, tapping elements of the most dynamic designs from the relatively short history of surfing and blending those with the best materials to create a superior and unique surfing experience.
Don’t Be a SheepIn the search for speed, power, and flow, there are a vast number of ways to hit those abstract targets in the dynamic environment in which we play, but the subjective sensation of style and grace is often overlooked. Do you want to continue to flap around on too small a shortboard in marginal surf until middle age? Or do you want to cleverly connect the dots from peak to peak and finish in the sand? Alternative designs can take you places on water where glide conquers bog and nirvana is achieved.
“If you find yourself stagnant and not innovating, you’ll be left behind. We’re constantly seeking to innovate.”
— Mike Wallace, FounderThe Fish began its ascent as a wide-short kneeboard along the jagged cliffs of Point Loma in San Diego, under the astute guidance of Steve Lis and Skip Fry. Spawned by the San Diego School, this efficient displacement hull was so practical that, like a fin-legged Coelacanth, it evolved into a connective species for upright bi-pedal surfers too. These range from the very short 5-5 zone to a “long fish.”
In tinkering with his Velo kneeboard and windsurfing designs, the Father of Flow, George Greenough, discovered that placing a narrower sharp planing hull inside of a wider and softer outline would create lift and reduce drag. Edge boards tend to go faster the steeper, hollower, and cleaner the wave, like no other design… EVER. We have adapted these to be more user-friendly across the range, from the fish to Mavericks guns.
Campbell Brothers Malcolm and Duncan pride themselves on dynamic bottom contours and complementary 3 and 5 fin designs. Tapping the Venturi Effect with radical deep concaves, spiral “Vee” and steeply canted front fin placement.
View all 2 photos
The 2023 Best in Show at the Boardroom Show. We dropped the Bonzer inside of an edge board, resembling the fluted concaves of a power boat planing hull. Surprisingly loose and fast.
Ben Aipa created the sting in da islands to marry planing speed with a sharp pivot point on the rail about a third up from the tail. Think: Larry Bertelmann’s signature laybacks tight in the pocket.
View all 6 photos
A proper Greg Liddle-style displacement hull is a curvaceous thing of beauty and the essence of small wave efficiency. Typically paired with a flexible Volan fin, hard-wired to trim in the pocket.
View all 5 photos
Modern performance shortboards, hand-shaped and tuned to your local peaks rather than the pro-tour rack.
View all 6 photos
All the drive of a performance shortboard, with volume scaled where it counts for bigger frames.
View all 5 photosThis model pushed the Greenough design to its logical extremity, deepening the concaves, hardening the edges, and of course removing the fins. Beautiful calligraphy was provided by my daughter Kaira and it won the second Santa Cruz Boardroom Best in Show. The 8-0 and 6-0 versions were barreled and spun at both Steamer Lane and Pipe. Not for the faint of heart or weak of knees.
Mid-lengths are popular because they work in a wide variety of conditions. For some, this has been a long-term romance, not a recent fad. They don’t have to be for stogie smoking board room types with pot bellies but are incredibly versatile and accommodate a wide variety of fin setups.
Our featured midlength model is a half hull up front, combined with an edge board in the rear, called the Sim-nough (Simmons + Greenough) that enjoys the benefits of incredible glide and paddle speed of a Bob Simmons hull with lift and dynamism of a George Greenough edge in the tail. These typically range from 6-6 to 8-0. They can be surfed down as a groveler or up as a mini-gun, or in between. You choose.
At the pointy end of the longboard spectrum – a functional tool for heavier beach breaks or larger surf where a log won’t dare. Rockered out, “Vee” bottomed, reacts quickly in steeps and hollows but can still nose ride.
View all 6 photos
Another option for heavier surf – the narrower center plane with round-pin tail makes for a dynamic whip. Paired with an 8.9” Greenough “PowerGlide” from True Ames. Has made Coalition finals up and down the coast.
View all 3 photosThis adaptable model owes a debt to Hall of Fame Surfboard Builder William “Blinky” Hubina of William Dennis Surfboards in Ventura. Starting with a blended concave in the front, healthy volume in the middle, and finishing with kick in the tail. This really frees this progressive log to both glide and pivot sharply in medium surf. Sweet spot ranges from 9-3 to 9-8.
An incredibly satisfying antidote to over-active surfing. Glide along with minimalistic style like a Hawaiian chief or Skip Fry, levitating past the peons in your wake. 10’ to 11’.
View all 6 photos
Beef end-to-end with teardrop concave under nose. Finds home in small, smooth point break surf – Waikiki, Cowells, San-O. Building blocks for drop-knee turns and nose riding.
View all 6 photos
Wide point aft, hips and roll through the tail – a classic pig outline for slow, stylish point surf.
View all 6 photos“When conditions get really serious, you want your equipment to match your ambitions, and a custom gun is your best bet.”
Any number of the small wave models can be stretched out for bigger waves. A classic semi-gun starts to evolve into a different animal – trim outline with wide-point forward and volume under the chest for paddle power on demand. A rounded pintail is often the best solution for tighter hold on steeper and hollower sections. 6-10 on up to the 8-0 area. An edge board version will give you an extra gear.
Order them out of season, well before winter. Take your time, get them right, try them out. Work with a shaper who knows what you want. For the past several seasons, Iconoclast has been grateful to work with 3-time World Champ Grant “Twiggy” Baker, Mavericks Video Award winner Wilem Banks and Jaws aficionado Steve Rice. Each year we take a fresh look at models and materials to refine and customize guns for each rider.
Twig’s tow models are based on his Nazaré boards – around 5-10 in length, 2” thick, and inside 18” wide. Shaped with heavy 5/8” T-band stringers, black tow density foam, triple-6 oz. glass on top and bottom, and carbon-innegra weave on the back third. Special sauce on the bottom contours ensures both speed and control when conditions get spicy.
Pushing boundaries with eco-friendly materials is not only for the environment’s sake but also for improved performance. Meeting Dave Rastavich in Australia in 2019, he showed us a flax fish he’d been surfing for over 5 years. Grant Newby connected us with key Australian suppliers of flax, basalt, carbon-innegra, hemp and specialized fabrics. We’ve experimented with Arctic Foam bio-blanks, Polyola, and Grow Blanks agave blanks with Entropy bio-resin. Most recently, a SwellCycle 3D printed blank collaboration has entered testing – printed from plant-based PLA filament.
Ours is truly a custom business model, with the customer at the epicenter of each project.
Get in Touch
