Planky - bellyboarding in Europe


Spain: Mediterannean Sea


Sitges beach scene. In the mid ground - boards can be seen.

On the Mediterranean Coast, boatbuilders and carpenters from Valencia made planquin, based on boards from Cantabria. The story of Nacho's plywood paipo board from Gandia, 1970. The story of Paco's wooden boats from Bellreguard, around 1980. The tradition of making and riding wooden boards, ridden prone has been continued by Salva, from MedSwells



Medswell boards, left to right: 5' rountail; 4' paipo, thin giving more flex;
4' squash tail - a thicker board with the two holes near the tail to screw a central fin and
two small holes on the left rail to screw 1-2 " small keel/fins to give more grab on hollow / more vertical rides.
3'5" fish tail. Photo by MedSwells



Mediterannean takeoff, Valencia December 2018
Photo by MedSwells

Kicking out
Photo by MedSwells


Granota model nose closeup

Granota model


In addiiton to solid wood consytuction, MedSwells has made a cork based eco-board, the LordCork4: 52 3/4" x 24" x 2 1/2" (60L) 2kg build on cork and wood without resin or fibreglass. This style departs from the classic thin and neutral buoyancy of paipos, and instead goes to maximize volume with a low weight. The name LordCork4 is modelled after a Ryan Burch Lord board (based on Lindsay Lord's 1954 book, Naval Architecture of Planing Hulls). Lord's book was also influential on the US shaper, Bob Simmons. Med Swells has has shaped a hollow Mini-Simmons 4'9" surf board named "La Bonita", which has been ridden prone and as a kneeboard.


Twin fin close-up
Photo by MedSwells

Cork bodyboard style board




LA Bonita Mini-Simmons
Photo by MedSwells

LA Bonita Mini-Simmons
Photo by MedSwells



La Bonita rocker
Photo MedSwells

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