Dan Mann’s winning shape from Stab In The Dark X starring Kelly Slater.

From the FRK round tail comes the DRKness for all… Many of you may know the FRK origins… In 2015 I shaped 3 boards for Kelly, they sat in his board shed until 2017 when a friend insisted he try one. He loved that board from the very first turn on it. His personal FRK shapes went unchanged until 2022 when he wanted to change the rail and foil to be more balanced under the chest. In 2023 we refined it again by pushing the wide point forward making the back half of the board more narrow than the FRK. More narrow meant more sensitivity, and more need to be on top of your game. When S.I.T.D X came up it was a simple decision that this was my best shape to form. The board looked insane under his feet and he could put it wherever he wanted and didn’t have to think about it. Kelly not thinking about the board is when he is free to fly. When he’s flying we all win.

MORE ON THE SHAPEM

The DRK came to be with great care to keep the features that makes the FRK such a great board like fin placement, bottom contours, and rocker. The DRK is surprisingly versatile. The target waves for it are good, punchy waves chest-high and above.