Bob and Sink: The trial and error of Ryan Burch
Ryan Burch has been leading a new generation of surfer/shapers for a few years now. Burch is a surfer that's evolved from the conformist framework of shortboard competition to explore the entire spectrum of wave riding. And he's done it from inside the shaping bay and outside in the lineup.
In this mini-documentary, made by Cyrus Sutton of Korduroy.tv, Burch explains his roots and expands on fields of surfboard theory, including asymmetric design. Taking his lead from free-thinking Californian shaper, Carl Ekstrom, Burch reaches deep into the obscure pocket of board design, shaping bespoke models and putting them to the test.
He's a beautiful surfer to watch, loose-limbed and dynamic but never ungainly. Reminscent, dare I say it, of a young Wayne Lynch.
Comments
Some damn nice surfing there on some pretty mad shapes.
Towards the end one of his logos flashed up at 8:22 with maybe a subtle nod to the late great Alan Byrne. Can't be sure but seeing those deep channels and asymmetric tails, AB immediately popped into mind.
Had the same thought, ZA. But then I quickly flashed on how profoundly symmetrical AB's boards were. You know, channels and flyers, dramatics lines and sharp angles, all a perfect reflection of what was happening on the other side of the stringer. Spears indeed.
Burch had the features but without the faultless symmetry. His surfing though, jeez, I haven't rewatched a clip of surfing for a while and I've watched that particular clip three times now. Just beautiful surfing, especially the big Mundaka segments.
Shit, just remembered AB did the asymmetrics! Duh...
Peter Drouyn was pretty into those asymmetrics too...you know, those BENDER curves!
best surfer shaper in the world right now.
seen some photos of him at g-land on that asym he rode at Mundaka....it worked there too.
Ryan.