- Words by Ben Moon
I first met Eden Saul, the founder and shaper behind Dead Kooks surfboards, six years ago down in Santa Barbara. The point waves were about shin high at best, but as I rode one of his aptly named 11’11 shapes I was impressed with the craftsmanship and glassing on the board. We stayed in touch and before he returned to his home on the Gold Coast of Australia I had him shape me a 9’6 Nausea, which has been my go-to log ever since. Eden works with some of the best glassers in the world, so they always attract a lot of attention at the beach and it’s often hard to put that first coat on the works of art he creates.
My favorite board he makes is a newer one in the lineup, a channeled swallow tail twin fin called the Ying Yang. They range from 6’3 to 7’ and fall in the sweet spot between a fish and a midlength - plenty of paddle power and a rail line that inspires confidence in steeper sections, but is maneuverable enough to push hard on an open face and still duck dive with ease. It’s an ideal board for the variety of conditions we have here on the Oregon Coast.
The one I’ve ridden for the past 18 months in Iceland, Mexico and Oregon is a 6’6 with channels, and after a recent chat with Eden he shaped me a gorgeous swirled blue 6’5 sans channels that just arrived with the batch that Moment just got in. For some visual confirmation of what this shape can do, check out the images and clips of Dave Rastovich riding various Ying Yangs on the Dead Kooks Instagram instagram.com/deadkooks and Vimeo vimeo.com/user15028206 channels.
Eden’s boards all ride even better than they look, and I’m stoked that Moment is stocking a few of his shapes here in Oregon. You can view those boards here!
