Torren Martyn & The Surfboard That Changed Everything

To be honest, I ignore most newsletters, they’re too heavy on brand and too light on story. I get it though, it’s hard to produce something from a brand POV and still weave in enough editorial content that’s worth reading. In other words, whether you’re looking for high quality gear that doesn’t break the bank, or you’re keen for some original storytelling from the far side of the globe, I highly suggest checking out needessentials. The story of the fateful board goes like this…

It all started with the question, ‘What board would you take if you could take only one?’. If you have tons of options, that’s almost a nightmare of a question, but shaper Simon Jones was put to the test when the objective was to bike across Australia and only allowed for one board. It would need to go well on everything from small points, to beachies, reefs, and could handle the water movement of powerful surf?

It was this quest for simplicity and versatility that led Simon and Torren into a space not previously explored in surfboard innovation. Sure, plenty of channel bottoms had been shaped before, and maybe even some twin fin channels of the longer variety, but the impact that came from that one board stands alone.

"The mid-length channel bottom keel twin was born — the simple idea of a one-board quiver coming together with the latest innovations the pair had been developing in high-performance twins."

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The “old friend” was recently rediscovered and then cleaned up for a proper go. “The last time this board had been given a real run was in perfect Jeffreys Bay, South Africa, many years ago — an experience that inspired numerous iterations and evolutions of its original form. Not retrospective in any manner, but instead existing within a new space in surfboard history that had not previously been witnessed.”

It shouldn’t come as a surprise but the reunion was an affirmation of all that had been established years before–early entry, long drawn-out lines, and tons of speed and flow–and hooked countless viewers, myself included. 

I got lucky years ago, after first seeing Tesoro Enterrado and diving into the rest of the needessentials films, because I was able to get my hands on a board from Simon Jones. The demand for them was through the roof, and legions of imitators had popped up, but I befriended the late Kirk Gee (RIP) and it didn’t take long to get set up with a 7’2 Massive that quickly became my most-prized (and most-used) surfboard. The maiden voyage coincided with a proper late summer swell at Uppers and sealed the deal, the board was magic.

In the years since, the board has accompanied me everywhere from San Diego to Santa Cruz, and Barra de la Cruz to Jefferys Bay. It's been fun on small days at random spots throughout the coast and has really shined on bigger days at Blacks, Swamis, and Rincon.

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