Imagine if Mick Fanning called and asked to give you one of his boards? Well, for Gold Coast up-and-comer Korbin Hutchings that dream scenario recently came true.
"Mick had a Ryan Burch asymmetrical board and as it was a bit too small for him and so thought it would be perfect for me," Hutchings posted on Instagram. "I think I am pretty blessed to get my feet on one of these as from what I've heard they are pretty hard to come by."
Ryan Burch, the Californian surfer and shaper, is famous for his asymmetrical shapes and the boards are in high demand. They are designed for high performance surfing, with the long-straight toe side rail having one fin. The heel, or shorter, side has two fins and a more pulled in round tail. Getting a custom shape takes no small amount of effort (and money). To have one that has been shaped for a three-time World Champion given to you is like winning the lottery.
For Mick though, who only last week became a father for the first time, it was just a case of passing down some of his legendary generosity and knowledge to the next generation of Coolangatta talent. Hutchings, who moved from his native Gisborne, New Zealand, to live just 200 metres from Duranbah almost 10 year ago, is one of the surfing hotbed's brightest prospects.
Originally from New Zealand, Korbin Hutchings's profile on the rise in Australia. - WSL / Ethan Smith
And when Mick gives you a board, you have to ride it, right? Hutchings took out the lopsided piece of high end surfing machinery out at Snapper Rocks and soon found out Mick had judged the dimensions pretty right.
"Cheers Mick, keen to give it a run in some longer walls," he signed off (with a love heart emoji) meaning hopefully we'll get to see more action in the future.
Why Mick Fanning Handed Down A Ryan Burch-Shaped Asymmetrical
WSL
Imagine if Mick Fanning called and asked to give you one of his boards? Well, for Gold Coast up-and-comer Korbin Hutchings that dream scenario recently came true.
"Mick had a Ryan Burch asymmetrical board and as it was a bit too small for him and so thought it would be perfect for me," Hutchings posted on Instagram. "I think I am pretty blessed to get my feet on one of these as from what I've heard they are pretty hard to come by."
Ryan Burch, the Californian surfer and shaper, is famous for his asymmetrical shapes and the boards are in high demand. They are designed for high performance surfing, with the long-straight toe side rail having one fin. The heel, or shorter, side has two fins and a more pulled in round tail. Getting a custom shape takes no small amount of effort (and money). To have one that has been shaped for a three-time World Champion given to you is like winning the lottery.
For Mick though, who only last week became a father for the first time, it was just a case of passing down some of his legendary generosity and knowledge to the next generation of Coolangatta talent. Hutchings, who moved from his native Gisborne, New Zealand, to live just 200 metres from Duranbah almost 10 year ago, is one of the surfing hotbed's brightest prospects.
And when Mick gives you a board, you have to ride it, right? Hutchings took out the lopsided piece of high end surfing machinery out at Snapper Rocks and soon found out Mick had judged the dimensions pretty right.
"Cheers Mick, keen to give it a run in some longer walls," he signed off (with a love heart emoji) meaning hopefully we'll get to see more action in the future.
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