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Couple of Legless legends turned up to congratulate Chayne & Shauna Simpson on their wedding, Rob Slater & David Parkes. FF » Frank Fouquier and channelled flex. The spirit of enquiry has always lead certain individuals in kneeboard surfing to explore design paths of their own choosing: Frank Fouquier is one such. The boards in the photos here are his own creations, the product of about a years’ work inspired by the“pursuit of maximum Gs”. Frank described the journey from thought to concrete and rideable surf vehicle as “intense”, involving long hours of research into methods and materials. Many ideas were conceived, explored and then abandoned in the effort to realise a build as near as possible to the vision that inspired it. What Frank ended up with is a pair of low-rockered, down-railed, scooped-deck speed machines incorporating complex bottom contours, longitudinal flex panels and fin templates and set-ups that look like something from the fevered dream of a sci-fi movie set designer. There are no “standard” materials involved apart from a polyurethane blank shaped to within an inch of its life. Lamination was in ResinX and 6 and 4 oz S – glass. The later of the two boards has a carbon fibre ‘deck bridge’ completely independent of the outer rails. The fins were laid up in 48 layers. We asked Frank to explain. “Flex panels intent is to engage the hydro aspects of applied curve yet minimize the “bog” during loading point, and spring during release. As for the fins, it was just the only way I could think of a quad location without adding glass layers to the flex panels. Just a passing thought. But after about 8 fin changes to a quad set-up on the first board I got very intrigued with venturi applications and looked at the current design as numerous points of venturi aspects. Kind of like it’s own engine room. Compression and released velocity.” Early reports suggest the latest board is fast but “… tracky and stiff. Somewhat expected since I over compensated with the template because I didn’t know how much hold I’d have with the open base. I will be shaving the fins down in increments.” Frank’s far from the first to grind his way to optimum foil and flex. We look forward to finding out what happens when he gets there. Rob Harwood & Steen Barnes legless.tv Local early morning session with Chayne and Albert, in the land of no waves Pics: Steen Legendary South African lensman “Pat Flanagan” recently sent us some cool images of another South African Legend “Gigs Celliers” enjoying some Afrikan delights. We love it when photographers of this quality, surprise us by sending us their “for the love of kneeriding” images, thanks Pat. Pics: Pat Flanagan Master David Parkes, stopped in at my place on his recent trip to the Phillip Island Comp. Seen here showing us, what he has got after a 45 minute paddle out and in the over 50’s department. Charging and a new tooth. Pics: Steeno http://www.surfersjournal.com/journal_entry/kneel-and-deliver-redux 2012 Huntington Beach International Surfing Museum kneeboard exhibit
With Mike Fernandez
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