Wilderness/Liddle Transition Era Hulls

Somebody -- I think it might have been me -- mentioned recently that while Greg Liddle's hulls weren't derived directly from Greenough's spoon design, they were arguably the most loyal to George's intent.

Mike Cundith's "Wilderness" hulls, which were designed directly from George's kneeboard spoons, exhibited different riding characteristics and feelings.

 As to which approach is better, it's totally subjective.

It's hard to verbalize the distinctions between the two. But simply put, Mike's boards had dead straight tail lift, dropped rails in the back, and deep belly in the front...along with fins set well back. 

 

 

 

 

 

Greg's boards had a touch of tail lift, a more evenly distributed hull depth running nose to tail, and fins set forward.

 

 

Liddle's were also wider and thinner.

One noticeable difference between the two is the Wilderness' superior ability to ride backside, and/or cut back. With the hull set up to favor a rear-placement fin, it was natural for their boards to work off your back foot more effectively.

 

 

 

Greg's boards were partial to being ridden forward, trimming and turning off the front rail...the fin being less dominant part of the equation. But that sensitivity led to sketchy backside/cut backs in less than perfect waves.

 

 

 

 

Again, it's all subjective...