Rusty SD - Torq TEC - FCS II - 3 Fin - Shortboard

Dane surfed the board with conviction and ripped, according to Rusty Preisendorfer.

The origin of the SD is well documented. In June 2016, Rusty supplied a board for the filming of Stab in the Dark, which was shot later that summer in South Africa. The pro's identity was unknown: 6'0 and 190lbs. Maybe Jordy? But he's a bit taller. A custom Yes Thanks was built, one of Josh Kerr's models, number 46. The Yes Thanks was beefed up a bit, with the thickness distribution and balance point slightly forward. A fairly deep single concave that ran out under the rear fin and ended with a slight vee in the tail. A flowing curve that accelerates towards the tail.

The mysterious surfer turned out to be Dane Reynolds. According to Dane, the board felt quite different from the boards he was riding at the time: a low rocker, hard edges, and a pinched deck. He found that it had a lot of speed and drive and that it was a good board. He caught a few barrels with it but, according to him, didn't really get a turn in. Rusty, by the way, wasn't the only one with some confusion about its origin: Dane thought it was a Creed McTaggart model, shaped by Hayden Cox. The fact remains that the board moved through a tunnel perfectly, as you can see in that first ride. Anyone who watches the video will see Dane surf and rip the board with conviction. A few months later, Clint, Rusty's son, named it the SD. It was tweaked a bit more and some rocker was added. For the past five years, it has been one of the most popular designs.

The SD is available in Torq ACT and TEC construction, with the most commonly used Plus dims.

Fin(s) included: None.

TEC Construction

Torq Epoxy Composite offers performance shapes in a vacuum epoxy layup. In vacuum epoxy, the board is hand-laminated, after which a vacuum process binds the fiber to the board and removes excess resin. Torq uses a few tricks in that vacuum process that keep the resin content at a much better level than is normally achievable.

What are the benefits?

Torq can add extra layers of fiber while keeping the total weight low: the shortboards have 18oz fiber on the deck and 10oz on the bottom, about double what you'd find on most boards of the same weight.

The result is lightweight and durability at the same time. The weight is comparable to that of a PU, but there is much more fiber in it and there are more layers to reinforce the rail.

How do they surf?

The performance is very direct: TEC responds immediately, which works particularly well in smaller or weaker waves. In larger waves, the advantage is that they break much less easily.

If you're used to a PU, they'll feel fast at first. After a few sessions, your old PU will feel very sluggish.

Torq's team riders report that their boards last approximately 2 to 4 times longer than their previous boards.

About Torq

Torq builds well-known shapes, including Rusty's models, in epoxy constructions that are light and remarkably strong. The brand is known for boards that last much longer than a classic PU without sacrificing feel. Ideal if you spend many hours in the North Sea, which is why they are on the racks at Hart Beach.