AIPA DNA Surfboard Review

This thing is spicy! The below is from Duke’s copy about the AIPA DNA surfboard, as it’s far beyond my ability to explain it clearly. But you got a lot rocker and then a single > double concave into a vee out the tail. It’s a dedicated quad and it’s a STING model. More of the below too, but overall there’s a lot happening here…

Invented and developed for surfboards by legendary Surfer/Shaper, Ben Aipa, in the early 1970’s. The STING is a surfboard design attribute, inspired by speed boat hydroplane hulls.  The design is focused on surface area reduction by utilizing a unique wing placement that allows a wider forward surface area for “planing” and carrying speed, with an abruptly reduced tail curve, behind the STING, to initiate early release, intuitive pivot and radical maneuverability reaction, when engaged in turns.  It is often used to make larger, wider, grovel type boards, more maneuverable …or to maximize the performance of HP short boards. The STING was the first winged surfboard of its kind and was the blueprint for what would become the winged twin, winged swallow, and later on, influence the bump wing thruster of the 1980’s. It is one of very few board designs that when you see it, even from afar, you know who created it. (copy via …lost for their STING collaboration – here)

The DNA is a departure from your standard high performance shortboard. The basis of the design was originated by legendary shaper Ben Aipa’s STING model and refined with a modern elements by Duke and Akila Aipa. Inspired by hydroplane speed boats, the DNA utilizes increased surface area up from for paddle power and speed, while placement of the forward wing (Sting) drastically narrows the outline at the hips and refined fluted wings intensifies the boards sensitivity and quickens rail to rail reaction time. This model was designed as a dedicated quad to compliment the precise drive and intuitive performance this outline was intended to provide.

Fin options are open slather – as long as it’s a quad set up. You can run any quad set up you’re comfortable with, you can even run it as a Twin if you really want to play around. I found Quad works better, but it works even better when you grab the Naked Viking x AIPA DNA Quad set that was specifically created for this board.

The conditions I surfed the AIPA DNA surfboard in varied from 2-4ft Dbah high/low tides and middle of the beach as well off-the-wall. Up to 4-5ft pumping Snapper, down to 2-3ft running Greenmount. So we got a pretty good range of conditions (but not as varied locations as I would have liked) and the waves it really shined were around the 3-5ft mark waves with some push.

It can run across a variety of conditions, but it’s a sting in a quad set up and the board also a lot of curve. I say that because that alone provided me with a nice challenge in surfing it, but also that this won’t be a board that goes in all conditions for most surfers out there. Anything that’s clean, you’ll enjoy it. Bumps and choppy conditions prove a little more challenging, as does screaming top to bottom barrels if you haven’t surfed them in a hot minute (once you get used to the board tho, strap in!). But when you get this in it’s best overall conditions (below), you will have a ball getting used to it and enjoying the different lines and additional speed you have.

While I’ve outlined conditions that serve this board well, in all honesty it does go in a variety of conditions that generally encapsulate every day surfing. If you ride it as your only board you’ll find yourself getting a solid understanding of the type of conditions best suited for it but also how to surf it confidently across a variety of conditions. And while you might find different conditions better suited to it then I did, my best overall conditions are:

Overall Best Conditions:
3-5ft waves that have some push. I found I had the most fun on clean waves where the surf allowed me to really push the Quads through turns, or in tubing surf that threatened to try and out-run me. Note: The AIPA DNA surfboard could be SO dreamy at 4-6ft HT’s (my forehand). I have a feeling you could potentially sit a little deeper and press on the accelerator and just GO.

Stats were:
17 sessions
130 waves
Top Speed of 38.5km/h (Greenmount)
Longest ride was 377m (Snapper)

This is a board that allows you to get out there and rip, shred, tear, but it’s board that takes a hot minute to get to that point. I remember my very first surf, at Snapper, and taking the drop was crazy let alone the feeling during my first cutback. Think for a second about that Sting design – on my board, I was going from a 20 inch wide template to roughly an 18 inch wide template after the sting – I haven’t ridden anything in the 18’s for years. But this is where most of the magic lays in the AIPA DNA surfboard.

For instance, the drive in your bottom turn when you’re coming off a projection floater is insane. Then when you have all that speed and drive you can lay it over and really drop a clean (well, it feels clean) chrisbrownwraparound. On round houses you’ll find yourself being able to rebound higher off the foam. And I found my surfing, in general, felt to be less stuttery between turns – like i was flowing from turn to turn in a much nicer fashion.

The fins I used in the beginning were different to what I ended up on, but both sets were AIPA designed with the second set being dliberately designed for the AIPA DNA Surfboard. First set worked, but the second set made the board go another 15-25% better in my eyes. Placebo? Who knows, who cares..  Fins though, watch the video below for a full breakdown on the DNA fins and why you should get them if you buy this board. Also fins in general, check out Naked Vikings.

Overall, the biggest thing I learnt in the early stages of this board was to give yourself more time when surfing, more time off the bottom, off the top or doing cutbacks – stretch it out and take your time in the early stages of getting used to it. Once you feel used to it, then start to unload – chris browns, larrys, tube avoidance, it’s all there as low hanging fruit awaiting you. You’ll be amazed as different parts of the wave open up to you, both because of the extra speed you’re generating and also the shape/design.

I was so amped to ride this board for two reasons:
– If you’ve been on this site enough, you know I love surfboards and reviewing them. The more different the better (to a point)
– Once you meet Duke, and his infectious level of positive energy – around life, surfing and surfboards – you too get amped.

Overall this board is a keeper in my quiver. It’s fast AF boi, it fits into a wave like Cinderella’s slipper and made me draw some different/new lines with my surfing. It is a board you’ll want if you’re open to drawing new lines, getting a new experience in the water or you have the opportunity to expand on your quiver. It’s not the board you want if you’re strapped for cash and only really run a 1 or 2 board quiver. Or if you’re the type of surfer who is hell bent on only riding what the top pros ride and nothing else (Hi, Shane).

If you do get an AIPA DNA Surfboard, make sure you hit up Naked Vikings and get these Quad set of fins that are built especially for the AIPA DNA Surfboard. They do make a noticeable difference. You can get away with riding your preferred Quad set up, but slide the NV’s in and you’ll be thanking Duke and NV for making them. Buy the NV x AIPA fins here

The Wins:
*Keanu Reeves in SPEED
*Will get you approaching your surfing differently.
*Something different, something spicy, in your quiver

The Challenges:
*If your not open to new lines, it’s a very different ride
*Hard to find in Australia (DM me if you do want one tho)

And there’s a good read about the DNA, and the AIPA legacy, over at The Inertia. Unlike most of their articles, this one is actually worth reading. Here’s the link.