When we first started building surfboards in the early 2000’s, the boards we shaped were simply a reflection of the waves we were surfing and the kind of surfing we wanted to do.
Then as the years went on, we met more folks. New customers came around, new team riders joined, and as the circle grew bigger, so did the ideas.
“What about a board for this spot?”
“I’ve always wanted a board that could do ______ a little better…”
So a lot of the innovation of new shapes (and refining of existing ones) has simply stemmed from real conversations with team riders, customers, staff members, and friends.
Even the feedback you provide influences the direction we head as a brand.
Which brings me to the Pleasant Pheasant.
For years we’ve been telling people this is one of our favorite boards to ride. Griffin has even said that if he could only shape and ride one board for the rest of his life, it would probably be the Pleasant Pheasant.
It’s been a favorite among staff, customers, and friends for years. We’ve even gone so far as to call it “the one-board quiver.”
And yet, we only officially offered it from 6’4 to 6’10.
A few months ago we iterated on the Pleasant Pheasant and created the Wildcat — essentially the Pleasant Pheasant reimagined for more powerful surf. More rocker. More pulled in. Better suited for more critical waves.
Then recently, our newest team member, Luke, asked a simple question:
“Why don’t we make the Pleasant Pheasant in something like a 7’6? That would be my dream board."
To which I responded:
“We can… we just don’t officially offer it as a stock size.”
He looked mildly confused.
Then shortly after crossing the 10,000-board mark (which officially took our serial numbering from 4 digits to 5) we decided to celebrate by building something completely new instead of reissuing something from the archives.
So we shaped a 9’2 Pleasant Pheasant.
A fellow named Will grabbed that board almost immediately and wasted no time paddling it out.
His response:
“The board caught waves easily and felt loose and fluid the whole time… cutbacks, floaters, and cheater fives came naturally. Needless to say, I’m stoked.”
So officially, the Pleasant Pheasant is now available from 6’4 all the way up to 7’10.
More testing still has to be done before we extend the range even further, but this thing certainly has the potential to become one of the most-loved boards around here.
Versatile, lively, and now catching waves earlier than ever.
