The 13 footer pipeline challenge: an answer to Bill Thrailkill

Legendary surfboard shaper Bill Thrailkill has been following the 13 footer Hawaii project with interest since the beginning. Bill made this comment on Swaylocks regarding the criteria for success at pipeline:" So, there will some challenge involved. Survival, is not the goal, but the superior performance, that was touted. Absent superior performance, it's a failure, IMO."My response:Hi Bill,I just wanted to remind you of what I said in the beginning : that the board will be an exceptionally good longboard for pipeline.. . . . I did not mention the word 'performance' which in surfing is an emotive term and implies more than just riding the wave successfully, it tends to imply shortboard trick surfing. Riding the wave successfully is all the claim is about and is all my surfboards have ever been about.. . .. no tricks, just survive and make the wave as easily and as often as possible. Keep in mind also please that we are specifically comparing this board to other longboards.So what constitutes "an exceptional longboard for pipeline ? My opinion has always been that it is such if at least one pipeline expert says that it is after riding pipeline on it. Exceptional means that the board is better than most, and allows that other board designs can also be exceptional . . .. it means "one of the best"Just wanted to make it clear. . . it IS about survival, something that the Jim Phillips wooden hotcurl board was not so good at. Regards,Roy