Turning Dane Gudauskas into a G-Skate Demo Test? Check ✅

Fast forward to Dane traveling the Basque and French coast with a big boardbag filled with a 7 board quiver of Channel Islands G-Skate's in PU and Spine-Tek he picked up at our warehouse. 

But there's a lot more to talk about when it comes to what happened at our coasts last week. So let's just start with the beginning.

The G-Skate by Channel Islands Surfboards 

The collaboration between Britt Merrick and the three G’s has really paid off with this new fast, skatey and responsive swallow tail design. They have put all these features under our feet using a light single to double concave, low entry rocker, wide point forward, and contemporary shortboard rail for precision control. The CI G-Skate brings you lightning speed!

 

Fun and performance are the goal of the G-Skate so it will be a strong member of our quiver for sure, specially because even if a twin plus trailer fin set up is suggested, it also thrives as a thruster. Who doesn’t like some options on your board to be able to adapt to a variety of conditions, right? 

There's a lot of technical information about every surfboard, but still, the best way of understanding a surfboard and getting to know if it suits you or not is actually surfing it. And that's something Dane was really aware of. After the three amazing Demo Tape's that CI had filmed about the G-Skate in Indonesia, Australia and Hawaii Dane wanted to spread the word out to Europe too. 

· Welcome to the Basque Country Dane!

After a few phone calls, emails and some changes in dates to get the best conditions possible, finally, Dane arrived in the Basque Country. And guess what. It was probably the first time he went on a Surftrip BOARDLESS. And he f***ing loved it!

First stop: Pukas Surf Shop HQ's. 

Knowing Dane Gudauskas was coming, the crew prepared a full quiver of CI G-Skate's covering the whole size range. From 5'2" to 6'2". In PU and Spine-Tek. The idea of having Dane taking all those boards into different conditions, spots and having them surfed by all types of different surfers really clicked right away. 

After some great board-talk with him, that helped us understand the board even better, he chose 7 boards to take with him for the whole surftrip.

Dane's Size Choices: G-Skate's in PU. 5'2" x 18 3/4 x 2 5/16 - 25.36L 5'3" x 18 7/8 x 2 5/16 - 25.9L 5'5" x 19 1/8 x 2 3/8 - 27.8L 5'6" x 19 1/4 x 2 7/16 - 29,1L 5'8" x 19 5/8 x 2 1/2 - 31,38L 6'0" x 20 1/2 x 2 3/4 - 38,04L G-Skate's in Spine-Tek. 5'4" x 19 x 2 3/8 - 27.21L 5'6" x 19 1/4 x 2 7/16 - 29.10L

 

All the boards he took with him are now available for 2nd hand purchase here.

Now we're talking. Boards are packed. Next important part is making the right call with the conditions and spot choices. After some chat between friends and pros from the region the choice was made.

Second stop: Mundaka, Basque Country.

The day started with an early morning. The drive from Zarautz to Mundaka takes around 1 hour and a bit. So, to be there early to score the spot with the right tide (which btw in Mundaka is at Low tide 🤭) the guys left pretty early.

Once arrived in Mundaka they met with everyone that surfs in the area. That's just what happens when Mundaka works. @oscarvalencia also joined the crew to take some rad clips of the session.

Quick wave check to notice that the conditions weren't ideal. A bit too small. The direction of the swell seemed to be off. But still, there where some beautiful waves waiting to be scored. Dane went for the G-Skate in 5'5".

· How did the G-Skate feel in Mundaka, Dane?

"Today I was riding the 5'5". It was just feeling really perfect in the smaller and more hollow sections. It was flying. The conditions where ideal for what the board is built for. It felt very good to be able to try it in Mundaka. I was stoked." Dane Gudauskas.

 

Get the board Dane surfed in Mundaka here.

 

Third stop: Getaria, Basque Country. After a fun session in Mundaka, the plan was another hour drive back, stopping in Getaria. The conditions weren't good but there's nothing that can stop a Dane Gudauskas and his G-skate from ripping.

 

· How did the G-SKATE 5'5" feel in Getaria, Dane?

"The conditions in Getaria were chunky, 3-4 foot and resembled the typical average day of anyones home beach break. The original idea behind the G Skate was to build a board that would make these average conditions more fun and exciting. On this day the design worked well, riding my 5’5” and trying to connect all the sections as the waves bent into the small cove. It was a blast. Riding the twin trailer fin combination was really the secret to finding the explosive speed to make it all possible." Dane Gudauskas.

Fourth stop: Hossegor, France. After these two Basque sessions Dane went straight to France for the rest of his stay. The swell was perfect. Off shore and 30 degrees. Barrels after barrels. He also scored some smaller days to the test the drive and reactivity of the board in European waves.

· But Dane, how did the G-Skate hold up in those French waves?

“In France we encountered a huge variety of conditions and tidal swings. It was incredible to see the swell on offer. On the bigger days I ended up riding the longer G Skates in the quiver and found particular success on the 6’0” as it paddled like a dream through the raging current and steep drops.  As the swell faded we found some very rippable sand banks with clean walls to work with. I opted for the 5’6” G Skate made with spinetek technology and I loved the extra bit of spring and “pop” the epoxy contributed. In my opinion, that is my absolute dream for that board… spinetek underfoot and shoulder high peeling waves." Dane Gudauskas.

 

Photo by: @baptistelauroua. Get the board Dane surfed here.

He also met up with @charlyquivront and @sampiter40 who tried two of the G-Skates our Santa Clause Dane was carrying in his magic boardbag. Charly went for the 5'6" in PU and Sam Piter went for the 5'3" in PU, with which he actually RIPPED at the @quiksilver_festival that was being held at Les Culs Nuls during that week. Also @mikeyfebruary kept one to himself. The G-Skate 5'6" in Spine - Tek was his pick.

Guess what? Those boards never came back to us. Not because they broke in those heavy barrels but because they just turned into a board they really wanted to have in their quiver. They surfed it. They loved it. They kept it.

Photos by: @pauldanielvideo

 

During this trip, Dane has become a Demo Test himself by travelling the coast with a 7 board quiver allowing everyone to give it a try. The surfing industry has always been used to building quivers for the pros which no one but the pro gets to try. Dane managed to change that this time and it was just awesome to join him along the way. The G-Skate has come to life strong and feels closer to all of us in Europe. 

 

Find all second hand surfboards from the demo test here. 

Watch the G-Skate demo tapes here: