Three Board Quiver: Alex Swanson

Alex Swanson has been a dear friend of the brand since its inception.  He thinks about surfing from a very pragmatic standpoint.  As a firefighter and dad of two kids, he cherishes his little pockets of time to get in the water–and is always looking to make the most of those small windows of opportunity. 

Alex is the first person, so far, to get an updated Three Board Quiver feature, because he is constantly tuning his quiver to meet his needs and preferences.

Here is Alex's updated 2022 Three Board Quiver, for maximizing his year-round surfing:

1. 5’4” R Series Secret Menu. This is a staple in my travel quiver, it doubles as padding for my fiberglass boards and is the perfect board to take out on the in between days. From the sandy point breaks in Mexico to our local beaches on a hot summer day, I love this board because I don’t have to worry about it delaminating or the wax melting.

2. 7’ Twinzer edition WTRP. This is the second generation of this idea we have been playing around with of a mid length twin fin pin tail, just a more performance oriented version. I have yet to find the ceiling of what this board is maxed out in; anything from 2’ knee high dribble to double overhead pitching a-frames, this board will hold and release with minimal effort. I feel as though there is more to unlock with this outline.

3. 9’4” Surf Thump. We have ridden all types of logs over the last 15 years or so, and this rendition seems like it’s the most pure form of a noserider we’ve seen yet. From Bolsa Chica, through Blackies, all the way to San O, and the reefs of San Diego, this board has been a longboard we can rely on to up our wave count and improve our sessions.

As you can see, Alex has three very different boards in his rotation—blending a variety of lengths, fin-setups, and even constructions, as he seeks maximum versatility. Use this to draw new insights about your own quiver, and uncover new ways to maximize the surfing opportunities in your own yearly rhythm.

Build your own perfect Three Board Quiver, and be prepared for any situation that you are likely to encounter over the course of year-round surfing.