The Shadow XL is our larger dims/volume version of the newest addition to the Ghost family, built for surfers looking for the performance of a traditional shortboard with a more modern outline in larger dimensions.The Shadow is our new high-performance shortboard addition to the Ghost family and has quickly become a favourite among our team riders and friends.
For the 2018 Stab in the Dark project they asked for a 5’10 surfer who was 5’10 x 175lbs (turned out to be Mick Fanning) for waves that were good, but not overly powerful. Jon wanted to make something fresh and new, but to start off with something that was tried and true. Knowing that the Phantom is a great board for those types of conditions he decided to start there and redesign it as a more refined, high performance shortboard, while still keeping the added flow and glide that defines the Phantom.
The Shadow is designed to give you the advantages of a wider, forward outlined type of board but in a sleek, modern package. It features our version of a high performance outline, but with the wide point at centre not behind. We pulled in the nose by almost a ½ inch and added some extra rocker through the last 12 inches in the nose to keep it free through critical turns. It has a gentle hip for looseness and the squash tail is pulled in to help tighten the turning radius and improve its vertical capabilities. The tail rocker and bottom concave remain nearly identical to the Phantom, which has proven to work really well in everyday conditions in waves around the world.
The thickness flow, or foil, is different from most other HPSBs, keeping the volume a little bit in front of the centre, but not overly exaggerated. This added foam under the chest area not only helps add paddle power, but it also gives you extra float under your front foot in slower sections which translates to more speed and flow. We recommend riding the Shadow about your height or an inch over, and in your favourite high performance dimensions.
