FRK Swallow Review

FRK Swallow Surfboard Review

I recently bought the FRK Swallow Surfboard by Slater Designs. This will be my review of the FRK Swallow Surfboard as I surf it.

At the bottom of this article, you can add any questions or your experience with the FRK Swallow surfboard.

The FRK swallow is a high-performance shortboard (HPSB). This board is at home in high-performance waves. It has been described as a surfboard that also works in average waves, but that is not its strongest characteristic. I will definitely be testing the FRK swallow out in a variety of waves.

FRK Swallow surfboard for review

Why the FRK Swallow Surfboard

Originally I had been looking at the Sci-Fi 2.0 then noticed the newly brought out FRK Swallow. I was looking for a board that covers the types of waves that I surf at my local break and the surrounding area.

The waves are normally 2-5ft kinda punchy with fat/flat sections thrown in here and there on a kooky day.

My local surf break

The FRK Swallow was promoting itself as a good go-to from average to good conditions with the ability to maintain speed across flat/fat sections. That kinda sums up my local surfing wave conditions.

Previous Surfboard before the FRK Swallow

I am the person who just rides the one board pretty well 99% of the time and over the last 5 or so years it has been a V3 Stealth. Dims below.

It has been a great board and ticked all the boxes for my local breaks, from fun small waves to punchy beach breaks and semi-slabby rock ledges.

Replacing my v3 stealth lost surfboard for the FRK swallow, notice the volume and height differences

Surfers Review of the FRK Swallow Surfboard

First Surf on the FRK Swallow Surfboard

Well, I have to admit I was just super keen to get out there and start catching waves on the FRK Swallow. The first session was really poor conditions say 1-2ft, semi-punchy with lots of fat sections.

For now, I can say it wasn’t as forgiving as the V3 Stealth, which is more of a hybrid design. However, it was quite fast and came alive in the more punchy sections. It may have been just too small, as it didn’t like the fat sections. Then again, this was my first time riding it and transitioning from a smaller board. Also, this surfboard isn’t a groveller, as stated on the Firewire website and the surf conditions were really a bit of a mish-mash.

In general, I am positive about the board and look forward to riding it in good surf conditions or some more size.

Additional surf sessions

Well, it is a curse since buying this board as the last 6 surfs have all been knee to waist height in rather a mish-mash of surf conditions. I am getting little glimpses of this board though and it has been fun riding it all the same. Maybe this is my wax-on wax-off moment before getting the FRK swallow into decent surf.

Paddling into a very small wave on the FRK swallow surfboard

Even though the surf has been pretty bad I feel good riding the FRK Swallow. Hopefully, I can get some good waves in soon to give a bit more feedback on my surfing experience with the surfboard.

WILL UPDATE SURFBOARD REVIEW AFTER EACH SESSION

The FRK Swallow Surfboard key features and benefits that make it a standout choice:

Enhanced Versatility:
The swallow tail design improves maneuverability and control, making it ideal for a wide range of wave conditions, from small to medium-sized surf. This versatility allows the FRK Swallow to perform well in diverse environments.
High-Performance Shape:
The board’s refined rocker and rail profile are tailored for speed and responsiveness, allowing for sharp turns and excellent drive down the line. It’s a great choice for advanced surfers seeking precision.
Durable Construction:
Built with Slater Designs’ signature eco-friendly LFT (Linear Flex Technology) construction, the FRK Swallow is lightweight, durable, and offers a lively flex pattern. This ensures both performance and longevity.
Refined Tail Design:
The swallow tail adds extra bite and grip during turns, especially in steeper sections of the wave. It combines the benefits of a pin tail and a squash tail, offering both control and lift.