Von Sol 'Time Machine' - Review and Pics

[Oceanslide]

If you have them, try something similar to M7 type fronts and GXQ type rears.
They're at least similar. Or take the 2 min it takes to switch the stilettos out.
:grin:

 

[grg]

I just put in M5/G1000. I dont have M7 or GXQ's

see how that goes

 

[aldo]

Just arrived.
6'4 x 20 1/2 x 2 9/16
Just need some solid swell and then ride report to follow.
You can't buy happiness. But you can buy a new surfboard and thats pretty close!
Going to run the stilettos. Love them in the Shadow.

 

[Oceanslide]

You can't buy happiness. But you can buy a new surfboard and thats pretty close!

:jam_on:

 

[aldo]

So I finally got my TM in the water. It's been a really slow summer :-(

But just before Joaquin came our way we had a solid week of surf. The last 2 days were well overhead and I pulled out the TM one day in a left hand reef break with a good amount of power. I got this board as a step-up from my Shadow, which I have been riding almost exclusively for the past 12 months.
The first wave was a set wave about DOH. Big peak with a fast peeling wall. The board got into the wave easily and I noticed straight away a stiffness in it. I have surfed this same wave many times on the Shadow which felt overpowered and skittish on these takeoffs. The TM felt solid and after a few arcing turns I got out of the wave from which I easily made some fast breaking sections. Paddling back out I was thinking how hard it was to turn the board compared to the shadow.
Next wave I moved my back foot back about 6 inches. Board still was solid into the wave and after I came out of the bottom turn and shot up towards the lip I jumped on that back foot and pulled off a Shadow type carve. The board when re-directed down the line had instant speed and I was able to repeat the sequence with some nice cutbacks thrown in a few times over before getting out.
Had a great session and got out of the water feeling that this board is exactly what I had in mind and that it upper end is probably more than I would be comfortable surfing in.
I was running the Stilettos, which I love in the Shadow. I will fiddle with fins a little to see how it feels with other setups but as a quad it felt great.
Thankfully this storm is finally departing the Bahamas tonight and the forecast is pretty solid for the next week. Hope to get it back in the water in the next few days. It might have just a tad more volume than my 5'11" Shadow despite being 6'4" as I sink it almost the same, maybe an inch or two less. The added length and pulled in tail and nose make a huge difference in bigger waves.
Stoked with the board. Thanks Sean and VSl!!

 

[Oceanslide]

Update on this custom. I'm had a ton of fun on it from chest-oh in a wide variety
of waves both locally and in El Salvador...all as a quad. Thing catches waves like
nobody's business, glides around, but can still whip aggressively if you stomp on
the tail. I've wanted to figure it out as a single or 2+1 and haven't been successful
before today. Tried a single 4a 7" with sidebites a while back and that was ok...
tried the 4a as only a single and, although I'm sure I had it too far up, was just about
spinning out on each bottom turn.
Picked up a 7.5" Smith/Parrish full base recently to try out and plopped it in this sucker
with gx-q fins as sidebites, positioned similar to what I saw on some NPJ posts.
Knew the waves would be boarder line closed out at the usual today and that there'd
be a grip of current, so I tried it out, hesitantly....and had a ton of fun.
Got several mid-range runners that allowed me to draw out a bottom-turn and pump
up into a running section with a high-line cruisy section and then 1-2-3 cruisy carving
turns to the inside. Couple bombs that were running where I did a high pump on takeoff
pushing hard on the fins, then dropping down as the section hucked in front of me, powering off the bottom and around the detonation with a crapload of projection and carry.
Most waves were shutting down pretty quickly and I got plenny donuts. Don't get me wrong.
Compared to running it as a quad, it surfs much more cruisy, yet solid, wanting to just flow
with the wave, regardless of size, and tap into the high line flow while doing smooth wraps.
If the wave allows, you can draw out a bottom turn straight down, then lay the thing
over on rail and swoop off the bottom and down the line. Pretty sick. I could not do
nearly as aggressive top turns as I can as a quad, but it
was a killer alternative that gave a totally different feel in decent-good waves. I dig.

So...for me...either VS (orGG) fronts and Mayhem quad rears as a quad or a
7.5" Smith/Parrish single with gxq sidebites are daaaamb fun in this design.
Stoked.

 

[aldo]

Took mine out again in pretty solid surf running the Stilettos and still found it a little stiff in the tail.
Changed the rears for the GX-Q rears and kept the Stiletto fronts. The GX-Qs are a similar shape to the stilettos but about 1/2 - 3/4" shorter.
Used this setup for 3 days in HH-OH backhand reef break and the difference was amazing. The board maintained the the solid feel but the tail was freed up and I think it was the best back hand surfing I have ever done. Was able to transition back to the shadow easily as the swell dropped off.
Love the TM. Can handle pretty much anything I would want to surf between the two VS boards.

 

[Oceanslide]

My latest toy/porn:

6'9". :jam_on:

 

[win-win]

the best part about the picture is those cute little hands. nice board too.

 

[silentbutdeadly]

Damn. Nice board, nice lawn, nice dog... your hands are really small though

 

[Oceanslide]

the best part about the picture is those cute little hands. nice board too.

Best board stand evar!

 

[frontsidegrab]

For those of you that have surfed both:How would you compare the TM to the Hornet round pin as semi step ups/powerful surf?
Thanks!

 

[Oceanslide]

For those of you that have surfed both:How would you compare the TM to the Hornet round pin as semi step ups/powerful surf?
Thanks!

My personal preference is the TM. I have a 6'4" and a 6'9" presently. The TM,
if I'm not mistaken, has a slightly wider nose, slightly more pulled in tail, and slightly
less rocker overall than the Hornet rp. I've had several Hornets of various dims and
tails and liked them all, but for me, the TM surfs a bit more smooth/buttery off the
bottom and on the face, paddles just a smidge better, and is just more comfortable
for me. That said, I think if the waves you're looking at surfing it in jack up hard
and fast, he Hornet RP may fit those a little better and be a touch more responsive
or sensitive in steep situations. Hope that helps.

 

[Oceanslide]

BTW, in my maiden voyage with the new-to-me 6'9", I was stoked with how
it performed. Paddles great, catches waves very well, and most notably, glides
into overhead waves with a very buttery smooth and easy feeling that allows
you to just focus on the upcoming section with plenty of time to react/approach/attack.
Can't wait to get more time on it at the few spots I really want to take it out at.
Interestingly, I don't think the 6'9" I have has much (if any) more volume than the
6'4", as the bigger version was SM's personal and is pretty foiled through the nose/tail/
rails. I don't think I sit any higher on the water with it. Still, having some extra
rail line and length on solid overhead waves is pretty nice and I think I'm going to
really like the new pickup.
:wave2:

 

[frontsidegrab]

Thanks for the info, Oceanslide. You're probably right about how the rp hornet will fit into our waves a bit better. Our waves tend to get thicker and heavier rather than taller. A bit of an over-generalization but most of our beaches work that way.

 

[brycor564]

I'm in need of a "good wave" board and have been looking at this one. How are you guy getting along with your Time Machines if you still have them?

 

[grg]

I had one and never clicked with it. Now The Shadow on the other hand is Gold.

 

[Oceanslide]

I'm in need of a "good wave" board and have been looking at this one. How are you guy getting along with your Time Machines if you still have them?

I still have, and love, my original 6'4". I sold the 6'9" to a friend with a ton of VS boards as it just wasn't
getting out of the boardbag and the 6'4" covers me in about as big as I'd like to deal with around here. It works
great in "good" surf, up to well-overhead, as well as more slopey surf from about stomach-chest and up as long
as there's a little push. The design doesn't have a ton of rocker. Enough for most of what I see, but if it's
low-tide and dredging and hucking, it can be difficult to make drops without pearling, imo. The good thing
is that with the added volume, I can usually get into waves and to my feet earlier than more chippy boards to
avoid the airdrop situation. Hope that helps.

 

[aldo]

My 6’4 is great in the bigger stuff but also works in smaller waves when need be.
I was riding it this last week in the Florence swell with Stiletto fronts paired with small true Ames rears. Gets in early, has a lot of drive and I never feel under gunned in big surf. The rocker is easy but have not had any pearling issues. With the added rail length you need to reduce fin area compared to a shadow.
Go custom and get one longer with reduced width and thickness as a step up if you decide to go with it.

 

[brycor564]

Thanks for your input. I too caught some of the Florence swell in St. Augustine and that's what has prompted me to ask about this board. I was thinking it might be the right board for the type of waves we were having. Steep drop ins and fast barrels right away. I definitely lean towards the alternative shapes and I'll keep this one on my short list.