DiscoverBasis Surf PodcastDaniel “Tomo” Thomson: The Future of Surfboard Design
Daniel “Tomo” Thomson: The Future of Surfboard Design

Daniel “Tomo” Thomson: The Future of Surfboard Design

Update: 2025-09-08
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Train your paddling anywhere, anytime so you can catch more waves and have more fun with the Basis Paddle Trainer www.surfbasis.com 


In this episode of the Basis Surf Podcast, we have one of the most forward-thinking board designers in surfing, Daniel Thomson (@tomo_surfboards). We talk about how his planing hull designs are flipping traditional surfboard logic on its head, the evolution of boards like the Vader, Cymatic, and brand-new Neutrino, why most surfers are riding boards that are holding them back. This episode is packed with tips for surfers who want to ride faster, paddle stronger, and rethink their equipment from the foam up.


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Chapters


02:45 Design Influences for Tomo Surfboards


05:54 Revolutionize Surfboard Design for Everybody


08:19 Advantages of Planing Hulls Over Pointy-Nose Thrusters


13:31 Planing Huls: Hold/Grip Factor Relies More on the Total Length of Your Edge


14:42 Kelly Slater Surfing Hale'iwa on 5’3” Cymatic


18:09 Sci-Fi Shape Blends Planing Hulls with Pointy Nose


20:44 New Board Design with Kelly Slater


25:41 What It’s Like Working with Kelly Slater


28:55 Goals with the Revo Max


31:22 Mini-midlengths


36:32 First Twin Fin Setup


37:35 New Upcoming Shape: The Neutrino


41:08 How To Size Boards


42:37 The Underarm Test for Rails


44:07 Too Attached to How Boards Look Than How They Feel


46:09 Tips for Surfing His Shapes


47:58 Intention When Surfing


48:53 What Board to Bring If You Were Stranded on an Island


49:11 Vader V2 vs His Other Shapes


Subscribe for more interviews with pro surfers, coaches, shapers, and everyday surfers like Tom Carroll, Zeke Lau, Victor Bernardo, Matt Parker of Album Surf, Matt Meola, Ryan Lovelace, Eric Arakawa, Noel Salas of Surf n Show, Parker Coffin, Dane Gudauskas, Kassia Meador, Clayton of Ombe Surf, Dylan Lightfoot, Derek Dunfee, Magnum Martinez, and more!


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Daniel “Tomo” Thomson: The Future of Surfboard Design

Daniel “Tomo” Thomson: The Future of Surfboard Design

Basis Surf