Has anyone had a board made by stretch? i was thinking about getting one and was looking for some input
don't know if they're popouts or not, but on realwatersports they're stupid cheap. actually a few of them are 800+ while there are others that are below 400 (and have been on sale forever)
I have a little bit of experience in that I've owned two Stretch's. #1 was a 6'5" Fletcher Quad... I'm very back-foot oriented and at a heavy 200lbs, I would lose hold in the tail when powering through a bottom turn or making full-speed cutbacks. This is when I learned they have good resale value. I sold the thing to a friend for the same price I bought it for! #2 I currently own a 7'2" semi-gun that I picked up in Santa Cruz. Admittedly, I only use this thing on one or two Pacific trips per year and occasionally just for fun when the Outer Banks get into the 10' range. This board really shines in big, fast deep-water (think island reefs) surf. It gets you into the wave quickly and draws a long straight lines.... However, I get the feeling that you weren't really asking about big wave boards. My general advice is to DISREGARD the name on the board and make sure that the outline/foil/shape/fins fit your style of surfing. I note that you're from VB (me too). Since you probably surf mainly here or in the Banks, you might really dig the same kind of boards I've been into lately. Check out the Merrick Dumpster Diver, anything by Roberts, the new short & curvy Sharp Eyes (like DISCO), or the JS REVOLUTION (Dave at FREEDOM is selling these and they look pretty sick). If you're stuck on Stretch, I think that REAL Boarding in Rodanthe is carrying a healthy stock. My $0.02 anyway, good luck!
I have heard good things about them and always wanted to try one out, but I have also heard his poly boards are too thinly glassed--really light but not durable. Can't figure out why the customs are $800 but there are tons on sale for $400. I do really like his Quad fins, though.
