The Stretch It spans the size gap between shortboards and longboards, with a blend of performance from both. Available in sizes 6’8 up to 8’10, The IT can be the workhorse in anyone’s surfboard quiver with excellent performance in a wide range of waves and surfer size and abilities. This category and size range of surfboards is normally reserved for “recreational shapes”, such as funboards, mini tankers etc. The Stretch It breaks out of that mold with high performance surfing in a size that mere mortals can paddle, catch waves on and enjoy!
The Shape
The Stretch It starts out with a full nose and wider widths. It carries this outline for 2/3’s of its length then drops down to a narrower tail with the use of a “Stinger” in the outline. The stinger reminds many surfers old enough to remember them from the 70’s of their favorite boards and accomplishes the same thing. The Stinger allows Stretch to go with a wider width up front where you need it for paddling and glide and then drop down to a full high performance shortboard tail for the last third of the board. All the Stretch Its we’ve seen have been shaped with a rounded pintail shape with quad fin set up. Stretch’s popular “love handles” along the rail help tune the flex, add strength and give you a killer grip during duck dives.
The Construction
The Stretch It is available in both classic PU/Polyester Resin construction as well as Stretch’s industry leading EPS Tech epoxy construction. The Polyester ITs are less expensive and offer a solid feel on windy days when a little added weight can be a bonus. Stretch offers the IT in polyester to bring the price down and also to offer die hard polyester fans a chance to surf and love this board.
EPS Tech epoxy resin construction offers added durability, better flex life and lighter weight. The more responsive EPS Tech boards are great for surfers who have the extra cash to spend on a board that will surely return on its investment. EPS Tech for the IT makes the board surf even better and keeps the board in mint shape for longer both in its flex pattern and also with regards to deck dents, dings and breakage, etc. EPS Tech boards float a little better offering a needed advantage to larger surfers or anyone looking to catch more waves.
The Quad
Stretch Its are available as tris, quads and 2+1’s on the larger sizes. Every Stretch IT we have seen has been a quad with a rounded pintail. The quad is a great compliment to a board like this, giving it extra speed for small and larger surf and the ability to take the late drop. Quads have advantages in small waves (more speed, less drag) all the way up to larger surf (better hold on a vertical face and faster !), so setting your Stretch IT up for max range with a quad definitely makes sense.
The Performance
Stretch touts the IT as an all around board bridging the gap between shortboards and longboards. Easy paddling, tons of waves and good performance in a wide range of waves are what it is supposed to do. Whether you are coming from a longboard or shortboard background, the IT is supposed to satisfy ! Here are what a few of our guys thought about it:
John Graham 6’0 x 180lbs
I am 48 years old and have been surfing for 36 years. I surf year round in all conditions on the Outer Banks, and make at least 2 trips a year to Central America. The IT is an incredibly versatile surfboard, excelling in every condition from waist high chop to overhead barrels. The dimensions on my EPS Tech IT is 7’7 x 21.5”. The longboard style shape, coupled with plenty of width and thickness make the IT a wave catching machine. The Stinger design narrows the tail for a positive feel in bigger surf. The round tail makes for smooth and fluid turns. This board has a three-stage rocker. There is some lift in the nose to handle steep drops, a flat section in the middle to promote planing for speed, and a good kick in the tail for enhanced turning. The quad fin setup makes the IT very fast, and also very loose for a board of its size. This board is effortless to ride and feels alive under your feet. Stretch really nailed it with this design.
Trip Forman 6’2 x 225lbs
“After John Graham got his Stretch IT and was raving about it, I scooped the next 7’6 EPS Tech we got in stock and gave it a few months of surfing during our Fall season here in Cape Hatteras. The dimensions on my board is 7’6 x 21.75 x 2.7”. My thoughts were to surf just one board for all my short and longboard surfing as well as having a board with enough float and paddling to make up for 4 or 5mm fullsuit, boots, gloves and hood. I’ve surfed the IT in surf ranging from thigh high up to overhead. The board seems to work really well in anything and always handles it with confidence.
We had one backside chest high day at the Rodanthe Pier where every drop was a pig dogged pull in and the quad held so good. Not nearly the spinouts that I would have had on my other boards on the late drops. Even got a few where I was able to drift the tail out during the drop and then pull in. The IT gets their paddle power from the length, width and flatter entry rocker, not in oversizing their volume. My board is 7’6 x 21.75 x 2.7. So it is not THICK and chunky, which makes it feel really good at speed on the bigger days. So whether it means catching waves that you wouldn’t have, or paddling against current to stay in place at the peak, the Stretch IT has the power to cover some distance in the lineup.
The outline with the Stinger is cool looking but definitely does what it there for. At 225lbs, the IT paddles like a champ but never feels to big on the wave and the pintail feels so good in the pocket ! I stuck with the stock fin size, as the narrower tail didn’t seem to need a size up like my 23” wide WHAT. This board covers such a wide range of surf conditions and surfers, all with a very high performance feel. I could take this board anywhere without even checking the surf conditions and know it was going to work. ”
Full Selection of Stretch The IT in stock!
Both PU/Polyester and EPS Tech Epoxy constructions, sizes ranging from 6’10 up to 7’10. For more info or to order your Stretch IT, call us toll free at 866-REAL-548 or 252-987-6000.