Loaded Boards ~ Review of the Dervish Flex 2

First and foremost I want to stress that the Dailystoke is a surf website and I am and always will be a surfer. However, after a recent extended flat spell I was looking for new ways to train and break the frustration while I waited for the next swell. It was during this time that I was introduced to the boys at Loaded and ever since, my surfing and those inconvenient flat spells have never been the same!

I explained my situation to the guys at Loaded and asked them to send me the board they felt would best simulate surfing and help me train the same muscle groups I use when I surf. They took everything into consideration from my riding style, stance, and weight and finally decided to get me on a “Dervish ~ Flex 2″. Once it arrived and took it out of the box, I was blown away as to how light it was. It was unlike any skateboard I’d ever seen. The Dervish is built with a vert-lam bamboo core sandwiched between epoxy and tri-axle fiberglass layers. Aside from being an environmentally friendly board, the Bamboo and Glass construction gives the board unique flex properties that can be channeled into moves similarly felt when surfing the face of a wave. The dervish also comes equipped with a drop-through truck mounting system. There is a cutout allowing the baseplate to mount on top of the deck lowering the board’s center of gravity, making it more stable while carving and sliding (it actually limits turning depth a little but makes it easier to slide and allows for more roll from heel to toe). It has a symmetrical shape allowing for switch riding if you please. My Dervish came with purple 4 President wheels, Randal 180 trucks and Mad Maxx Abec 5 bearings but the company is all about customer service and can help you change and customize your board if needed. From a pure surfing perspective I found the carving capabilities of the Dervish were as close as I have come to actually carving on a wave. I think it’s a better ride than a snowboard and your feet can move freely which makes it more surf like. The same muscles I use when in the water were sore the next day after my first session on the Dervish. As with surfing waves, you just want a bigger wave/hill the more you ride!

Although the flat spell is gone and I’m back in the water, another wave-less day is soon to come and now I have something to look forward to. I highly recommend checking out any of Loaded’s/Orangatang products, you won’t be disappointed! Now go get one and catch your own concrete wave! Thanks for reading and as always…tell your friends.

- Shaper

Check out Loaded’s boards, gear, and videos at:

www.loadedboards.com
Some really cool videos:
Orangatang Wheels
Please Pass the Salt
Gone Mining
4President
Free Loading

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1. Surfboard Technology: SurfSyndicate’s TTG4 = The Tinkler Flex Tail
2. I Don’t Need that Many Boards
3. 6’1” X 18(1/4)” X 2(1/4)” M10 Tomahawk – My Dream Quiver
4. Fit to Surf: Surfers Guide to Strength and Conditioning – Book Review
5. Surfing and Yoga are like…err…boards and wax