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Surf Alu EPS
The modern shortboard to accelerate, pop and send it in everyday waves.
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Regular Price
249,17€
Sale Price
249,17€Regular Price
ref : GON26BOASURALUEPSWHI-53
Direct sale from shaper to surfer
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Quality boards conceived in France
Description
Programme
A modern shortboard for everyday waves, the Alu accelerates hard, builds speed constantly and delivers the pop you need to throw down fast, aerial and explosive surfing in soft, messy or imperfect conditions.
Overview
The Alu is the shortboard that turns ordinary sessions into sessions that matter. The one you throw in the car without overthinking it, because it makes you want to surf fast, push harder and keep the fun going even when the waves are not perfect.
Its playground is everyday conditions: small to medium, soft, imperfect, sometimes messy, often underestimated. Where you need to create your own speed, the Alu keeps plenty of spark under your feet and pushes you to stay active from take-off to the final section.
With the Alu, you do not just take what the wave gives you: you work it. You pump, accelerate, reposition the board, build speed and go again. Every bit of pressure is used to create rhythm, maintain speed and make the wave more workable.
It is also a shortboard that makes you want to surf more aerial. It invites you to pop, throw an air, push a rotation or go for a higher line on the wave. Its feel is lively, responsive and playful, with that sense that there is always something to do under your feet.
The Alu still remains a true performance shortboard. You need to surf it actively, put intent into your foot pressure and keep the rhythm going. But it helps you build speed out of every manoeuvre, regain speed through soft sections and attack as soon as the wave opens up.
It is the shortboard for riders who want to surf often, fast and modern, without waiting for perfect conditions. Speed, pop, acceleration, airs, rotations and instant feedback: the Alu brings energy to everyday waves and turns average sessions into real surf sessions.
OUTLINE
A modern outline with a fine nose to reduce inertia and keep the board truly manoeuvrable, paired with a wide diamond tail that delivers serious acceleration and a very skatey feel under the back foot.
From the nose through to the midpoint, the line stays close to that of a classic shortboard. It’s in the last third that the Alu really shows its character: more surface area, more support, more pop. A lively, forgiving board that’s deadly in small surf, perfect for drawing your own lines and throwing modern manoeuvres.
ROCKER
The rocker is that of a performance shortboard, with a fairly drawn-out curve to generate strong acceleration and drive through softer sections, while still having enough rocker to keep pivot and tight turns.
This well-balanced medium rocker makes the Alu efficient in less powerful waves, while allowing it to stay high-performing on fast beach breaks or hollower reefs. You keep the speed without sacrificing manoeuvrability.
BOTTOM SHAPE
An initial single concave followed by a double concave between the fins. The single concave under the front foot creates a low-pressure zone that channels water beneath the board, generating an accelerated flow that creates lift. This acceleration translates into greater straight-line speed, especially through flat sections or in weak waves. The double concave between the fins allows a smoother transition from one rail to the other, making tight, fast turns easier.
This combination of concaves is often chosen for performance boards because it offers an excellent balance between straight-line speed generation and manoeuvrability. The single concave promotes fast glide, while the double concave adds subtlety and precision through turns.
TAIL
The wide diamond tail is a key part of the shape. It widens the outline through the last third to bring lift, drive and acceleration under the back foot, while keeping a very lively response.
Its diamond shape reduces the effective rail length compared with a classic square tail. The water releases more quickly off the back, drag is reduced, and the board stays ultra manoeuvrable despite its width. The wingers placed at the trailing edge of the side fins free up the tail even more at the end of the carve.
RAILS
The rails are typical of a performance shortboard: sharp through the tail, with a pronounced edge to transfer pressure, maintain hold and control speed.
These more direct rails through the rear section promote clean water release, reduce drag and generate drive through your turns. Towards the nose, they become rounder to maintain fluidity, while the front third stays refined yet comfortable when paddling.
Technical sheet
Surf Alu EPS EPS / 5'3 / White
Buying guide
Who is it for?
For die-hard shortboard riders who want a board capable of performing in waves of very different sizes and power levels. For those who like a reactive board while still keeping good stability. For those who want to combine tight turns with smooth, seamless surfing.
For advanced to expert surfers who will find it to be an ultra high-performance shortboard for small to medium conditions.
For intermediate surfers who will find in their first shortboard easy, accessible glide, simple to use thanks to its natural speed.
For powerful surfers who want solid support under the back foot.
For surfers who want the best compromise between performance and versatility.
What for?
For powerful, fun surfing that blends grip and glide. Its powerful tail lets it play in conditions usually reserved for fishy boards. A surfer with light, quick footwork will make it their small-wave board. The Alu is an excellent everyday board.
What board size?
If you're lucky enough to live somewhere with consistently good waves and score quality conditions every session, then you can do without extra volume. But you can also add volume and length to give yourself a bit more comfort. Since the Alu's rail lines are fine, especially through the tail, you can go up in volume without losing performance or control.
We've been working for years to offer "Pro" ranges but with usable volumes for everyone. You can have an average level and still want a pro board. The classic mistake is buying the same one as a pro in 25L. What matters most is that each board's character is preserved, including in the bigger sizes.
What are the ideal waves?
Size: from knee-high to well overhead.
Power: it performs best in soft, low-power, messy or imperfect waves.
Shape: it loves everyday waves, not necessarily perfect ones, with sections to get through, soft spots where you need to build speed again, and opportunities to throw modern surfing.
Which construction?
On some shapes, we offer different constructions to match the programme, the conditions, and sometimes individual preferences too.
On a board like the Alu, the construction has to serve dynamism, paddling and responsiveness. It's a board designed to accelerate quickly, keep plenty of spark and create pop in everyday waves. The construction feel will therefore have a direct influence on how the board builds speed and responds under your feet.
A livelier construction will reinforce the Alu's dynamic side. It will give more spring, more immediate response and more projection in smaller conditions. That's fully in line with its modern, aerial programme.
A construction with more inertia will give a calmer, smoother ride. It may suit surfers who want to slightly tone down the board's behaviour or recover a more traditional feel through the turns.
The right choice therefore depends on your style. If you want to maximise pop and speed build-up, go for a dynamic construction. If you want a rounder ride that feels more connected to the face, choose a construction with more inertia.
Which fin setup?
The Alu is designed to work as a thruster or a quad Single Tab. This dual setup makes it possible to strongly adapt the board's behaviour depending on the waves, your style and the feel you're after.
The quad maximises speed, grip and projection. It's the ideal setup to boost the Alu in soft or fast waves, with solid drive off the feet, lots of efficiency and excellent support for throwing moves with speed.
The thruster brings more pivot, control and precision in a more classic ride. It helps keep the board readable, more centred underfoot, with a more predictable response through turns.
If the waves are soft and you want to maximise glide, speed build-up and pop, go for the quad. If you want more control, tighter lines and a more traditional shortboard feel, choose the thruster.
Rake
Rake refers to the rearward curve of the fin. The more rake there is, the more the fin tip is set back towards the tail.
With more rake, the Alu will gain hold and draw longer carves. That's interesting if you surf with a lot of pressure through your turns, if the waves get a bit bigger, or if you want to slightly calm down the tail's liveliness.
With less rake, the board will turn tighter and free up the tail more. That's consistent if you want to emphasise its modern, fast and aerial side, with short moves and very lively speed build-up.
On the Alu, moderate rake is often a good starting point. It lets you keep the board's spark without losing too much control through your turns.
Base
The base is the lower part of the fin, the part in contact with the board.
A long base will bring more drive, more control and more speed through carves. It will be interesting if you want to push hard through your turns or use the Alu in slightly faster waves.
A short base will give more pivot and free up the board more under the back foot. It can be very interesting in small waves, when you're looking to turn tight, pop quickly and keep a very mobile board.
Since the Alu already has a supportive tail and plenty of projection, you need to choose the base according to what you need: more base to frame the power, less base to free up the aerial side.
Depth
Depth is the height between the base and the fin tip.
A deeper fin will give more hold and more stability. It will be useful for heavier riders, powerful surfers or faster conditions.
A shallower fin will reduce drag and free up the tail more. The board will gain speed, pivot and a greater sense of freedom underfoot.
On the Alu, you need to keep enough depth to hold your turns, especially with a wide, supportive tail, but avoid going too deep if the goal is to maximise pop and aerial manoeuvres.
Area
A fin with more area will bring more grip, more control and more hold through your turns. That's useful if you push hard or if you want to make the board feel more secure in faster waves.
A fin with less area will make the Alu looser, more playful and easier to pivot. This choice can be interesting in small or soft waves, when the goal is to keep as much liveliness as possible.
As a quad, too much area can make the board feel very locked in. As a thruster, it can give more control and calm down the tail. So the right choice will depend on your size, your power and the type of surfing you're after.
Flex
Flex is the fin's ability to deform under pressure and then return to its original shape.
A fin with more flex will give a smoother, more forgiving and more progressive feel. It can help in imperfect waves or if you want a more accessible ride.
A stiffer fin will give more response, more precision and more speed build-up. On a board like the Alu, that's often very interesting for making the most of its fast, modern and explosive side.
If you want to maximise performance, choose fins with good stiffness and solid construction. The more precisely the fins transmit your input, the more the Alu expresses its potential for speed, pop and projection.
Which shape should you choose?
Alu or Chemical?
The Chemical focuses its surfing on liveliness and responsiveness, ideal for fast, precise manoeuvres. The Alu plays the versatility card while putting the emphasis on acceleration and aerial manoeuvres, suited to surfers looking for modern everyday surfing.
The Chemical is optimised for small to medium waves that are slightly soft. The Alu suits a wide range of conditions, from knee-high waves to well overhead, with a preference for waves that require speed build-up.
Alu or Evolt?
The Evolt is more radical, more competition-oriented and more demanding in small waves. It's made for closing out carves, throwing spray and landing explosive moves in very little space.
The Alu is more of a quiver essential, more versatile and more comfortable to surf often. It keeps huge modern potential, but with a broader programme and more ease in everyday conditions.
Choose the Evolt if you want a very radical weapon to destroy everything in small waves. Choose the Alu if you want a modern, fast and more versatile board for surfing most sessions.
Alu or Lethal?
Two shapes that are almost diametrically opposed. The Lethal is focused on fluidity and radical surfing in hollow, fast waves, ideal for precise, tight manoeuvres. The Alu is all about versatility, with an emphasis on speed and ultra varied conditions.
Alu or Karamba?
The Karamba is all about comfort and ease, ideal for surfers who want to maximise their wave count and progress on a shortboard. The Alu is less consensual, with its performance shortboard outline focused entirely on speed and dynamic manoeuvres.
Which bag?
Equipments
These boards come fitted with a leash plug and 5 Single Tab fin boxes for a thruster or quad setup.
Depending on what you want, your build, the conditions and your surfing style, you can fine-tune the board's feel with different sets of GONG fibreglass fins compatible with Single Tab.
The thruster setup uses three fins. The quad setup uses four fins.
- GONG Single Tab plastic thruster set included.
- 5 Single Tab boxes for a thruster or quad setup.
- Leash plug at the tail so you never lose your board.
- Fin key included.
Delivery
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The modern shortboard to accelerate, pop and send it in everyday waves.
Regular Price
249,17€
Sale Price
249,17€Regular Price
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The performance board for explosive acceleration and radical surfing in small...
Regular Price
299,17€
Sale Price
299,17€Regular Price
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The easy shortboard to progress on.
Regular Price
299,17€
Sale Price
299,17€Regular Price
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The ROUND thruster fin set for Single Tab boxes.
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57,50€
Sale Price
57,50€Regular Price
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The LEAP thruster fin set for Single Tab boxes.
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57,50€
Sale Price
57,50€Regular Price
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The POWER thruster fin set for Single Tab boxes.
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57,50€
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57,50€Regular Price
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Keep your surf board protected, day after day.
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40,83€
Sale Price
40,83€Regular Price
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Thin and lightweight shortboard leash for reduced drag.
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16,58€
Sale Price
16,58€Regular Price
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The essential portable key box for storing your vehicle keys during your sess...
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24,96€
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24,96€Regular Price
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The must have accessory in the trunk of your car!
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20,83€
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20,83€Regular Price
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The hanger for hanging all your neoprene equipment.
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16,67€
Sale Price
16,67€Regular Price
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Short-sleeved cut-resistant protection t-shirt for practicing board sports.
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107,50€
Sale Price
107,50€Regular Price
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A durable bottle designed to keep drinks cold for 24 hours and hot for 12 hou...
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10,83€
Sale Price
10,83€Regular Price
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Seat Cover in neoprene
Regular Price
20,75€
Sale Price
20,75€Regular Price
Who is the Alu for?
The Alu is aimed at solid intermediate, advanced and expert surfers looking for a modern shortboard for everyday waves. It’s a fast, lively board full of spark, built to accelerate, build speed, pop and throw down modern surfing in conditions that aren’t always perfect.
What kind of waves does the Alu perform best in?
It performs best in soft, messy or imperfect waves, from knee-high to well overhead. This is the board you pull out when you need to generate your own speed, get through weak sections and keep plenty of response under your feet.
Why is the Alu considered an essential shortboard in your quiver?
Because it suits the conditions we surf most often. Unless you live in front of a perfect, powerful wave, most sessions call for a board that gets going fast, builds speed hard and stays lively in everyday waves. The Alu combines performance, paddling comfort, speed and the potential for modern manoeuvres.
Why does the Alu accelerate so quickly?
Its acceleration mainly comes from its wide diamond tail, its optimised surface area between the feet and its relatively flat rocker. The wide tail provides lift and immediate drive, while the fast outline helps maintain speed through softer sections.
What are the wingers on the Alu for?
The wingers placed just behind the side fins reduce the tail’s effective width at the end of the carve. They let you keep the acceleration of a wide tail while freeing up the turn exit. The result: the board drives hard, yet stays manoeuvrable and clean at the end of the manoeuvre.
Is the Alu suited to aerial surfing?
Yes, that’s clearly one of its strong points. The surface between your feet gives you support, its wide tail adds projection, and its refined nose reduces inertia. The Alu is built to generate pop, send airs, build speed over short distances, and keep a lively board under your feet.
Should you set it up as a thruster or a quad?
The Alu works as a thruster or a Single Tab quad. The quad maximises speed, hold and drive: it is highly effective in soft or fast waves. The thruster brings more pivot, control and precision, with a more classic shortboard feel.
What’s the difference between the Alu and the Chemical?
The Chemical is a highly efficient performance shortboard for acceleration and pivot in small to medium conditions. The Alu adds a more modern dimension, with more surface area between your feet, more pop and real aerial potential. Choose the Chemical for an ultra-responsive performance ride, choose the Alu for a board geared more towards speed build-up, airs and modern everyday surfing.
GONG | Surf Alu EPS