Butting Heads
Jeff Alexander's patented, double-nosed surfboard design burst onto the scene a few years ago like a vaudevillian nightmare. Everyday surfers reeled, pros shook their heads in disbelief and purists seethed with prejudicial rage. Despite the reaction, however, a cult of ardent separatists stood behind the concept: two noses blending into a conjoined hull and ending with two, twin-fin clusters close to each rail. If the buzz was brief, with only a few sightings out in the line-ups, it was enough to make surfers, shapers and geneticists shudder.
Yet, regardless of support or lack thereof, Alexander, an Imperial Beach local, believed he had bred a superior species, destined to deliver people from the single-hull dark ages. And now he says it's only a matter of time until people see the light.
The Gemini project-taken from the Latin gemin, plural of geminus or twin-has been refined over the past few years to give maximum speed, the ability to surf bigger waves with a smaller board and a sense of freedom inherently impossible with a Thruster. To the traditionalist, regardless of superior performance, it's the surfing equivalent of unethical breeding science gone awry. Alexander doesn't care. "It will change your life," he says. "The only question is 'Are you ready to step up?'"
Through endless trial and error and overwhelming ridicule, Alexander, now 44, has spent every waking hour getting all the bugs out. What he has now is a board that's faster because of added rail constantly in the water, looser because there's more concave at the groin of the noses and throughout the board, and more stable rail to rail because of the independent twin-fin clusters. "It drives like a twin-fin but it doesn't spin out like one," he says. Plus, he justifies the $600 price tag because one 6' 4" Gemini can perform in conditions from three-foot Oceanside to eight-foot Pipe, thus eliminating the need for a quiver of thrusters.
Next on Alexander's palette are Gemini guns and tow-in boards, which has perked the interest of chronic experimenter Brad Gerlach. "I haven't tried one yet," he admits, "but I appreciate that Jeff is committed to designs apart from the status quo, so I'm into testing it out."
Alexander affirms the theory is proven. "I'm over the Thruster," he says, "and I'm glad I hung on to my design." The only kink not quite worked out is public approval. Until surfers are ready to adopt the abnormal, despite its claim to open up a whole new and superior dimension of surfing, the Gemini will remain a freak of nature.
- Carl Friedmann
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READER COMMENTS
Sat Aug23, 2008, 1:07 AM
I'm going to be making this board for Jeff in Hawaii I just rode one.They are soooo much fun.It's too bad the once radical surf species have become conservative old ladies.Jon LaLanne shaper 30 year Malibu resident,future Big Island home owner.
Fri Nov 7, 2008, 10:41 AM
Yeah bro.... You know what I'm a beginner of this surf life. I'm proud to write that I love GEMINI so much at the first sight, it's so sexy and the design of the bottom makes sense to me. I'm not an expert yet but I know which one is the best for me and I'm really sure that GEMINI is my future and may be your future too. so don't be afraid just try first and then you'll know what you're talking about. SUKSMA..
Mon Jan 5, 2009, 11:33 PM
The Gemini works very well. I surfed a pumping beach break today and my session was awesome. This Board accelerates better than my C.I. Flyer. I was skeptical at first but with every wave I realize that this board is the best one I've ever owned. I say get one and get out there!
Thu Mar12, 2009, 1:52 AM
I have been riding the Gem's for 6 years and have never had more fun surfing, they are super fast,loose, yet very stable, no limits on these boards, your only limit is your own ability! LALA just made me a new Gem 1 and it is awesome! Thanks Jon! Jeff really has a great design in the Gem and he has refined it so it keeps getting better, it's too bad most surfers won't step up (I've heard that even Gerlach has yet to ride one, what's up with that?!) Try one, you just might be surprised...
Thu Sep10, 2009, 5:07 PM
Does anyone know if Jeff's email is still the same as on his website? I got a gem 1 from him 5 or 6 years ago when he was still in Hawaii, and now i'm badly needing a new one. I contacted him 2 years ago after he moved to Bali, and he convinced me to plan a trip down there and pick up a board from him rather than shipping it. I kept the idea in the back of my mind for the better part of 2 years and now it finally seem like it can happen soon. I been emailing him the last week with no response, i really hope i can pick up a new gem 1 (especially after he told me 2 years ago that he is building them out of eps epoxy with rail bass stringers that go to each nose and bamboo laminate...sounds to me like a light/durable board with tons of pop absent in most epoxy boards)
Sun Oct18, 2009, 5:20 PM
I just hand shaped my first Gemini.I DID it!!!! There is so much that goes in to this board.To hand shape one that works like the computer generated models is a feat in it's self .2010 I will bombard the surf market and show everyone that this board is a legit well thought out design.There is a reason for the double nose.It's an aqua Ferrari.I'm a licensed Gemini shaper.