This board from DHD..still one of our best selling shortboards..even though the model has been out for a couple of years now…stay tuned for a tweaked Project 15…coming soon
Project 15 from DHD
June 22nd, 2012DHD Project 15 Magazine
July 26th, 2011DH’s 15 week design project for small waves, has grown into a huge success and we thought you’d like to know the full story in DHD Project 15 magazine (PDF).
Project goes to the next level
April 12th, 2011
The Project 15 has been a huge success, surfers around the globe have embraced DH’s new design and the feedback is that it is changing the way they surf and they way they approach their turns. DH’s team have really loved this design and can’t get enough of them. Working closer with the team DH recognised some more specific options with the Project, introducing the Project 15 Junior and the Project 15 Pro.
For all the groms out there, this is the ultimate board. Whether you are just starting or really starting take your surfing to the next level, the Project 15 Junior is a blast.
The Pro version is slightly refined and ridden a little longer for extreme high performance surfing. This is an excellent option to replace the all rounder or use as a step down board.
Fresh out of the bay the complete size range is still being developed, if you can’t find the size you are looking for contact BASE or one of our stockists to organise your custom size.
My A-team, Mick, Bobby, Mitch, Jordy etc were all liking the Project, they just wanted it a little sleeker and not so curvy. This created the Project 15 Pro a step down option for high performance surfers. These guys can generate their own speed and don’t want the width of the Project 15. I designed the pro so these guys can benefit from the unique performance of the Project without moving too far away from the all round performer.
The design is a little narrower and ridden a little longer for high performance surfing, a great step down option for surf 4ft and under. For the high performance surfer the narrower plan shape allows for quicker rail to rail transition. The rocker still generates heaps of speed and the extra width through the nose allows easy landing of airs. This design can be ridden as a step down and an all rounder.
It is suitable for surfers that can surf ok and want to keep pushing their surfing, if you feel you can handle these measurements. If it feels to short and narrow then you will be suited on the Project 15. IF I haven’t covered your measurement contact me and I can shape you a custom.
http://www.youtube.com/user/basesurfboards#p/a/u/2/zvdWL5oLAqE
I had been working on the Project 15 with a number of my junior team riders. Garrett and Jack Robinson were really frothing, the feedback was that they were surfing them more and more in comps, it was becoming their go to board. This really got me thinking how perfect this design is for grommets the uniqueness of its design and performance is really paving the way for the future of surfing for the next generation.
The extra nose makes it easier to catch waves, land airs and ride shorter boards for tighter turns. Although it has a wider and curvier outline the tightly pulled in rounded square allows for tight turns in bigger waves. The rocker creates so much speed and carries the board through the flat sections and generates speed out of the pocket.
It is the perfect design mix for grommets, easy wave catching, fast, stable, loose tight and great for landing airs.
I recommend all grommets get on one of these it is the first junior model I have designed that is suitable for all levels of junior surfing. Whether you are just starting or competing you are going to get a rush out of this board and really see your surf progressing.
DHD Project 15
July 26th, 2010DH has been busy and Down the Line will be stocking a limited number of the Project 15 boards in September 2010, call and reserve your board now! Before they all go. Here’s the skinny on Project 15:-
Where do we start, Project 15 has been one exciting project around BASE. We have seen DH in the bay painting, team-riders and mates all along the coast have been testing these boards and more importantly it has created one fine looking small wave performer.
DH has really capitalized on the resources BASE provides and got everyone involved. What started as a small wave board for himself has evolved into a 15 week project to create the ultimate small wave performer for all surfers around the world. Check out what DH has to say about Project 15.
darren handley painting project 15 surfboards
Normally I would just design a board for one surfer or one type of surfer i.e the Bobby Monster or the Mick Fanning Swivel. With Project 15 I made a bunch of boards with slight variations, all with aim to offer the ultimate performance in small waves and circulated these boards amongst the team, guys in the factory and my friends. Then taking the feedback from that bunch I would shape another bunch and off they would go for testing. I just kept doing this until I got the result I wanted, the ultimate small wave performer. It was a new approach and everyone involved has had a lot of fun doing it.
Taking on everyone’s feedback and using bits and pieces from my other small models the design really evolved into its own. What is really unique to the design, is the curvy plan-shape with the flatter rocker. Especially the last 16 inches, where I have really curved the tail in to a tight rounded square. This allows for tight powerful turns in the pocket, if the wave permits.
Something I have learnt when designing this board, is the flatter rocker combined with a curvy outline is a winning combination. The rocker gives the board the speed it needs to fly down the line, whilst the curvy outline and concaves help to steer the board tight in the pocket for rail to rail performance surfing.
dhd project 15 surfboard
The beauty of this model, is it can be ridden all skill levels and ages. For example myself who normally rides a 6’1, I am enjoying riding a 5’9 Project 15. If I was of a lesser ability than I would just ride it as a 6’1. Because of the width upfront and the volume, it makes it a stable and easy ride. Size wise I would recommend the following in 1-4ft surf of any description.
- Pro surfer rides 3″ shorter than your height
- Experienced surfer rides 2″ shorter than your height
- Advanced surfer rides 1″ shorter than your height
- Beginner surfer rides the same length as your height
A lot of people ask me why it is called Project 15, basically I set myself a goal to design this model in 15 weeks. Another thing I did a little different was jump in the spray bay and paint the boards myself, this was heaps of and is where I got the model logo from. Hope you enjoy this model as much as we all have.’ DH
Unique to Project 15 models is Darren Handley’s handpainting. You never know what you will get, DH will be in the spray bay hand painting all the Project 15 models. A constant evolving canvas, bright, colourful and full of suprises.
Share on FacebookDHD in search of the perfect small wave performer
June 30th, 2010Cut-down surfboards getting many refined tweaks
Dane’s success on the wide rounded square he rode at Trestles, has stirred quiet an interest amongst surfers and the way they are looking at their quiver. We also saw Mick Fanning win last year’s World Title on his cut-down board. Surfers are looking for the shorter wider version of their all rounder, but they don’t want to surf a fish-style board.
They want to be able to push it hard, surf on rail with power and boost in small weak waves as well as good waves. Are these boards the new ‘All Rounder’?
At BASE this phenomenon has inspired all of our shapers, we have seen the LSD ‘Chubby Checker’ designed by Julian Wilson and Luke Short, which is one of Luke’s most popular models at the moment. Muzza brought out his ‘Boot Models’, and rumour has it there is a ‘Little Zappa’ in the making. Then there is the soon to be released Simon Anderson ‘DTS’
DH is that inspired he is not only shaping them he is also painting them. Over the last three months DH has been working with all of his team and a wide range of friends up and down the East Coast of Australia to develop the perfect small wave performer.
It has been an exciting time around BASE, with some very interesting boards going out the door and everyone has been frothing to get a ‘Project 15′ under their feet. With round 3 of the project leaving last week, DH reckons it won’t be long before he has nailed it.
‘It has been an exciting process of trial and error and I have shaped some boards that ten years ago I wouldn’t have even considered shaping. Some boards have been great others needed further refining.
It has been a great Project I have learnt a heap about small wave boards and have had a lot of fun doing it. The team, boys in the factory and some good friends have really jumped on board, the feedback has been great and we are all working towards the same goal and having a ball doing it.’ DH
With only a few weeks to go DH reckons Project 15 will be available for everyone to ride by the end of July.
