Here is some of the more recent feedback I’ve received from custom orders during and after the process:
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Hey Ryan,
Magic board my friend! We went right back to the top of Malibu point. I frantically got the board waxed up and fins on for a quick test spin. In the back of my mind I was thinking this might be a little too thin for me. But it paddled pretty good. I couldn’t catch the first three waves that I went for so I moved in just a bit. Bingo!
First wave it went like gangbusters. It felt so responsive, real sensitive under my feet. This thing has some serious zip to it! My friend said that was as fast as he’s ever seen me go on a wave. I felt like I could push it even faster but the wave would section out before I could get it in that higher gear. I did manage to get some nice floaters off the sections though! Its weird because it feels like theres hardly any rocker in it and yet it feels really easy to take off late in the hook.
I know this is just what I needed for more bowly waves.
-Nick M. (5′10 SBq)
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Ryan,
Was in Mex last weekend. Blade was phenomenal. Somehow in the 6′6″ package it has the glide of a longboard, easy paddle of the SDQ, but sharp reactions of a shortboard. Cutbacks are effortless, generating speed takes about half the work of a normal thruster, and turns are more like arcing carves that force you to erase the slap and slash surf technique for a soulful approach. Mex was about 4-6 with some push, but got home to 2ft slop Topanga and has a blast cruising the mush-burger. Best of all worlds with this one. Love it. I’m sure you’ll dig the one you’re shaping for yourself.
Well done. Shortboards are all on Craiglist this week.
-Tony W., LA County (Rides a 6′2″ SDq, 6′10 Swallow Quad, and 6′6 WRp (pictured)
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From a post on the surfermag.com design forum: 
“I’ve ordered customs from many board-builders on both coasts and have
never had the type of customer service I got with this
order. That’s not to say I haven’t had other great
experiences, but Ryan really went above and beyond to make
sure I was stoked.
Needless to say, the board turned out amazing and
was in my hands here in Oceanside approximately 3 weeks
after placing the order.
Thank you Ryan, for a hell of an experience and a beautiful
surfboard.”
-Joey S. Oceanside, Ca. (Rides a 6′5 EB 5-finner)
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“Ryan,
Wow, I love rincon, I love the blue meannie, and I really love the blue meannie at rincon! So lemme start with my friend and I getting off work yesterday (THURSDAY) early and going to the con for some rainy waves.
It was perfect 3-5 from just inside the rivermouth. Absolutley picture perfect. I had my short board and the hull…so stoked I picked the hull. I got from the rivermouth all the way to the freeway in two waves, longest two waves of my life for sure.
I feel like I finally got the hull dialed. It was magic man, iIcan’t even tell you. Just cruising a little up from the middle with my feet close together, just pumping down the line. I figured out cutbacks and roundhouses too. The hull really flew when iIgot closer to the nose and as soon as the wave started to section I just put my foot back and started to pump. I never thought I would be able to hit the lip, but I found that sweet spot and got a couple nice shwacks and floaters. Coming back into the bowl after the floater was the fastest ive gone on a board in a long time.
Just stoked man, can’t wait to get some cash so I can order one of your SDqs, that new one with the parabolic rails is unreal. I am gonna be here through the holidays for that swell coming up, hopefully I’ll get some good ones for christmas. If I don’t see you have a good holiday. Peace man.”
-Miles (Rides a 6′2 G-Type Hull)
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Taken from a post on the surfermag.com forums: click to see original post
“6′4 x 21 5/8 x 2 7/8
Double 6oz deck with carbon fiber belly. US blanks PU/PU glass.
1st Session:
0530 began to drive the length of LA county with no waves in sight. It was FLAT and I was accepting the fact that yet another day of being skunked was a clear reality. The morning was beautiful with no wind and clear skies. After passing 1st point, the sick feeling of that reality tied another knot in my gut as I pressed the pedal down a bit to vent some frustration. “What the hell, might as well drive to Val Heaven since I’m here.”
Spot after spot, nothing but flatness. That knot was still there in my stomach and I slammed the rest of my latte to ease the pain and considered sparking up a Spirit for added effect, but the vision I saw at the end of the Arroyo Sequit was a sight to see indeed! A small train of vehicles lined the footpath to the beach leading to a small group of laid back longboarders lumbering around the big rock and the reform area.
The sun had already risen and was casting an orange glow about the place as waist to chest high rollers breached from the depths of oblivion. There was something special in the air that morning. There was also something special in the back of my Toyota.
In the water; the Lovelace Hull felt very stable under my own power and paddling was easy. Although I missed a sensation of glide that i expected so I re-adjusted my position and found little improvement. Still, it paddled as fast as any of my shortboards. At that point I considered the displacement hull pushing the water as the culprit as well as the 21+ inch width. Onward to the take-off…Medium stomach high in the reform area, any doubt of speed was silenced as the hull began to meld with the building wave. Pop up was effortless and my feet felt a solid starting point.
No drop for a stomach high wave, only trim, and that’s where I should have stayed but my muscle memory took over and over I went as I tried to initiate an adjustment turn. 1st wave kooked… expected but humbling just the same, considering my usual performance on a shortboard. I was over-doing it. I did take note and looked to see if anyone else was doing the same as I turned back to sit in the take-off zone again. Some meditiation back to the longboard days paid off with the 2nd wave. Pop-up again was a second thought as my mind was free to gather a greater progression. Where’s my camera??? The take-off zone was free of kelp and revealed everything on the bottom as I cruised by… mezmerized.
I was more focused on what was passing by than what the board was doing, but I managed to take note…Forward position near the nose set the board in perfect trim and the feeling of the hulls bottom contours were apparent to how easy the water flowed. No biting or wobbles and I was eating this up! What next? Get up on the nose! …Peter Parker awakens to find his new found powers, but I was Duke this time… Screw it, why not? One step and a shuffle and I was standing on the nose at attention. The stability felt like I was on a conveyor belt at the airport, I guess backside on this hull ain’t so bad, or I was the most gifted surfer the world has ever known!
Turning a hull: I’m not sure if you turn a hull, really. I liken it more to leaning as if you were on a motorbike. There’s so much power that’s transmitted into the board from the wave that I found myself shooting out the back before I was ready for the squat back down the face. The confidence this board gives held my commitment. The adjustments again, became second natured.
There are times not to turn a hull, just not when you’d normally think if you compare it to turning a conventional board of the same length. At any rate, the day didn’t offer much room to start slashing this baby, it was trim and speed the whole session. Thowing the rail down will have to wait for a day of greater consequence. Stay Tuned…. Full review with board pics and performance details after a decent swell.
Special props to Ryan for designing such a special board!”