Stoker V Machine: by Bruce Fowler
Shaper’s Take:
The design got its name from Randall Rostoker, aka "The Stoker;” a surfer born and raised in California that has been surfing most of his 55 years on the planet. Randall, I still call him Randy from earlier days, was having me shape similar boards as early as 1970 as I developed my craft as a shaper. Those boards were not as wide and refined as the design is today. I was making kneeboards that were inspired by legendary Santa Barbaran George Greenough. These were modified versions of George's radical glass spoon kneeboards. Randy liked their look, and wanted a big “knee machine” that he could stand up on. He was influenced by Greenough and the boards being ridden by Aussie surfers in Paul Witzig's trilogy of films "The Hot Generation," "Evolution,” and "Sea of Joy.” Another film that had impact was "Morning of the Earth".
I offer the Stoker's in three different foils: Standard, Winter Foil and Extreme Winter Foil. The winter versions have less deck and rail volume fore and aft of the rider's stance, allowing the rider to hold higher, tighter lines on the wave face. The overall foil and bottom curve combine to produce stability, turning ease, and trim speed. These combinations make for a very user friendly surfboard that carries its speed through turns and cutbacks. These features help beginner and intermediate surfers to improve rapidly. The boards paddle well and get into waves very early. They excel in softer, every day conditions, and become an extraordinary tool offering new approaches to wave riding under the feet of a pro.
Surfer's Take:
The Winter Foil SVM I rode delivered high lining fluid speed with a smooth, tightly held-in rail line. High planing surface area for catching waves and long drawn out bottom turns. This board also has a knifey thin tail that pierces through the water like a butter knife, soft sharpness. The turning radius is smooth, long, and fluid, yet you can push very hard into turns, generating momentum and speed through the arch of the turn. Round house cutbacks…? Oh ya. But a fluid long railer until you hit the diamond tail in the turn, where the board pivots and slips around the flag pole sharply in the pocket for full rebounds off the white wash.
Surfboard Design Forum
Fowler
Deep