Aipa Wrecking Ball - Fusion HD - FCS II - 5 Fin - Shortboard

The design of the Wrecking Ball originates from an experimental shortboard Ben Aipa worked on in 1977. A full nose and wide outline in the front half of the board extend to the unmistakable Aipa wing in the rear third, where the outline curves inward with a short radius to an experimental multi-point tail. Ben's futuristic outline packs a lot of board into a short package. The extra volume this provides gives the Wrecking Ball more buoyancy, making you paddle faster and making the board feel almost unsinkable, even on the flattest sections.

Ben's son Duke updated the board with high-performance bottom contours: the bottom runs from a rolled nose to a single concave in the middle of the board, then to a double concave under the fins, and ends with a vee in the tail. To get the most out of the Wrecking Ball's down-the-line drive and to keep that extra speed under control, a quad fin setup was chosen.

The result is a high-performance super groveler that combines classic design, experimental innovation, and modern insights: a board that rides down the line with unprecedented speed and smashes through sections without hesitation. Feel the power of the Wrecking Ball.

Construction - Fusion HD

Surftech's version of a standard EPS and epoxy surfboard construction. A closed-cell EPS core with a wooden stringer is built up with E-glass and biax glass, for a lightweight performance board with a lively feel. All Fusion HD boards are hand-finished.

• FUSED CELL EPS CORE // Closed-cell EPS core provides more response and buoyancy
• CLEAR HD-EPOXY RESIN // Epoxy resin system with high thermo-mechanical performance
• HIGH-QUALITY E-GLASS FIBERGLASS // E-glass has the highest strength-to-weight ratio available
• FULL BIAX DECK PATCH (45° / -45°) // Biax fiberglass distributes forces and protects against dings
• WOOD STRINGER // Distributes forces, adds pop, and increases break strength
• FCS II FIN BOXES // Your fins are in and out in seconds
• HAND-FINISHED // Machine shaped, hand laminated, and hand finished

Fin(s) included: None

A Legacy of Aloha

Ben Aipa left one of the most significant marks on the surfing world: he made the board with which fellow Hawaiian Fred Hemmings won the world championship in 1968 and founded his own brand Aipa Surfboards in 1970. In 1972, Ben conceived the double-edged swallowtail design, followed in 1974 by the split-tail design. In addition, he was an informal coach and trainer for top surfers such as Michael Ho, Larry Bertleman, Mark Liddell, Sunny Garcia, Brad Gerlach, and Kalani Robb.

Ben Aipa himself continued to compete: he won the Grandmasters division of the United States Surfing Championship in 1989 and the Legends division of the U.S. Championships in 2000. In 1992, he was inducted into the Surfing Hall of Fame, and in 2004, Surfing magazine named him one of the Top Ten Shapers of All-Time. Sons Duke and Akila are now carrying on his legacy with fresh shapes and new ideas.

I never looked at what other board builders were doing... I looked at the surfers and the nature around me. Their movements showed me what was missing... I was always looking for the next wave, the next move. - Ben Aipa

About Aipa

Aipa Surfboards comes from Hawaii and is known for distinctive shapes that go back to the work of Ben Aipa, from the swallowtail to the split-tail. The boards are built with Surftech constructions, combining classic outlines with modern materials. Characteristic boards that are in good company at Hart Beach.