Flat Earth Surfboard Review: is it time to drink the Slater Designs Kool-Aid?

[@roninplaya1]

Thanks for the review. Maybe a follow-up review using the board with different fin combinations might be interesting to do?

[@greenroomsurfreviews]

Any particular fin combo you want to see??

[@roninplaya1]

Ride it as a twin fin with the Britt Merrick twin fins and also an upright twin fin set like the Akila Aipa's. Also, how does it feel differently when surfed as a twin versus twin + trailer? Thanks.

[@goodtimesmaggr]

Thank you for this amazing review! Since the central thickness on the 5'7'' is 2 1/2 how you guys would describe those rails? bulky? round?

[@greenroomsurfreviews]

Great question goodtimesmaggr! We definitely are no board wizards, so take this for whatever it’s worth! The thickness stays pretty thick until about 2.5/3 inches from the rail where it tapers quickly. I would describe the rail as relaxed. It’s definitely not a 🔪 rail but it’s also not bulky like a pod mod rail. Kind of like slim jeans. Not too tight where your bulge is showing but also not so loose that you’d be mistaken for a 90’s skater. I find the board to be forgiving, easy to surf, but still progressive in the sense that I can turn it and throw tail every now and again.

[@goodtimesmaggr-ix7bd]

Since you already tried and tested the 5'8' happy everyday ,does the 5'7'' flat earth have the similar rail thickness? Thank you guys for those real reviews! Keep them coming!

[@greenroomsurfreviews]

Hey Goodtimes! From my recollection, they did have similar rail thicknesses. Even their volumes were close to identical. I found that they performed very differently which I’m sure is attributed to the winged pin tail amongst other factors. Both were fun but the flat earth was more versatile and could be surfed more freely in the smaller stuff. Hope that helps and nice to know the videos are appreciated by other people besides our mother. ;-)

[@goodtimesmaggr-ix7bd]

@@greenroomsurfreviews Haha, thanks from your prompt reply! Greece salutes you 🙏!

[@greenroomsurfreviews]

🇬🇷 + 🇺🇸 🙌🏼

[@Dill_dough20]

How did this go for overhead waves?

[@greenroomsurfreviews]

Hey Juice, surfed it 4-6, occasional 7 in Ventura at c-street and it was great! Used the 2+1 fin setup and it felt controlled and held well on carves and bottom turns. It’s my go to board still. 🤙🏼

[@JeffS-ii5fp]

Great review - the differences in opinion are super helpful!

[@greenroomsurfreviews]

Thanks Jeff! We’re testing the 3+, hopefully have something for you soon 🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼

[@jamesk9087]

Its crazy how individual surfboards are. What works well and is fun for 1 person, is a dog for another. You guys nailed the point of paying full price. No one wants to pay $800+ for a "maybe".

[@greenroomsurfreviews]

Yeah great point jamesk9087. we’ve found it’s less about a board being good or bad, and more about the type of surfer/surfing that can have the most fun on it 🙌🏼

[@fgazel86]

Cheers from Costa Rica! Really enjoy your videos, keep them up :) I've been curious about this model since it was released but it was not till recently that I picked one up (promo from Used Surf $595 for a new one) Could be too soon to say but after 10 surfs or so I am really loving it. I've only tried it as a 2 + 1, first with a set of Futures T1, didn't really connected that much, then with set of Shapers Asher Pacey's 5.59 / still felt so so, and then I read on a review that the NVS Taylor Knox Twins went well on this board and being a Twin fin enthusiast, I've been wanting that set for a while, so I decided to pull the trigger and WOOOOW made a huge difference overall that made me really click with the board. Regarding the liters, I agree, it feels much less on this board. So I do recommend sizing it on the bigger side. Still curious to see how it goes without the trailer just as a pure twin, or with a regular thruster set perhaps on a bigger days. Overall I think It's a very unique shape, high performance vibes but forgiving and easy to surf. Looking forward to keep discovering it :) Pura Vida!

[@greenroomsurfreviews]

Fernando!! Stoked you like the board!! Brother #1 here - I didn’t really connect with it on the 2+1 setup…but your froth for the TKnox fins and twinny setup has my imagination running (I’m a big Fishbeard fanboy). Maybe I can convince Brother #2 to pick up TK’s pair and give it another run when he’s not looking!? 🤤

[@greenroomsurfreviews]

Brother #2 here. Just was able to surf it in some solid long period surf and it did well with the 2+1 set up. I brought blackstix thruster fins but never felt the need to switch ‘em. The added foam was great for paddling as well. Hope you get some quality water time soon!

[@bighausthetundra506]

Yes boys! Dad. Surf. Repeat. Love the video and gear. Is there someplace I can order one for my brother? Mahalo.

[@greenroomsurfreviews]

yeww thanks bighaus! Yeah, we just launched our gear here -----> DadStoke.us let us know what you think!! 🤙🏼🤙🏼🤙🏼

[@connorm3457]

They’re called “wings”, like it’d be a bump wing round tail……

[@greenroomsurfreviews]

Added to my board vocabulary. 🤙🏼

[@jjwinter04]

he undersized it. that's why it was sluggish. also fins make a huge difference

[@paulaa1175]

OK I don't own a Flat earth, but I am 60 years old and have made and owned literally hundreds of boards since the late 70s, and I know this design origin from around 1978-80. The 'notches' on the rails are simply strong flyers or even 'stingers' as they were called, and they step down the tail area in a hurry so the tail pod is narrower, and can sit in the pocket better, while up front you can have wider, more parallel rails that will generate more glide, more speed. They were twin-fin mods to try to get more control. The pinched-style flyers also act to break flow down and around the rails so you can pivot and release the tail easily. Al Merrick refined them down into 'hips'. The round tail adds traction on the face. Sure the nose is narrower like a post-90s board, and the concave and rocker make it more refined, but the basic advantages are the same: front foot speed and back release and precision with a narrower tail pod. Fin placement makes it a 2 + 1, lined up to add to the points of release. Easier to do quick whippy moves in weaker waves or release out of crumbly lips. Disadvantages include more difficulty holding the board in a longer driving carve (because of the rail breaks and parallel mid rails) Possibly some drift on larger waves - looseness in general under speed. And for some surfers it will feel like it prefers a 'front foot' approach - pumping on the front in small waves and then whipping/pivoting gently with the back foot. Power back foot surfers probably won't like the feel ... but of course it's all subjective. (cheers to the Aipa team for the innovative update).

[@greenroomsurfreviews]

Dang, that was awesome 🤯 brother #1 here, any recommendations (board model or design) for someone who is back foot heavy (askin for a friend)?

[@paulaa1175]

Generally - and this is only 'in general' - surfers who like the feeling of driving and pushing from their back foot also prefer round-tails and smooth continuous rail curves in the back half of the board. Bigger surfers then muscle wider tails with more float, and smaller 'back foot' surfers can prefer narrower or more refined round-to-pin tails to allow for carving in the pocket. Of course, in bigger surf - take out tail area to reduce the lift from speed. Check Ethan Ewing's boards (DHD) - he's about the best carving/wrapping pro surfer atm. Yes he is small in build, but he wants smooth continuous flow to get those full figure-8 wraps. But, look, in weak small surf, the wide board with less centre-fin drag is best. The footage in this post showed some fun in small slow stuff. cheers.@@greenroomsurfreviews

[@greenroomsurfreviews]

🤤 Yesss we love Ethan’s surfing!! And thanks for the insight, this will totally help with our next board selection!!