ACSOD Lotus + Jack Freestone Futures Fins Review - The Surfboard Guide

Welcome to the full review of the "Lotus" by ACSOD, Alex Crews Shapes or Die Surfboards!

I have been riding the Lotus as a 5'10 x 20 1/8 x 2 1/2 - 32.8L, and this is a thruster with Futures fins boxes, to which I rode both the Jack Freestone and Al Merrick AM2 find setups.

This is a slightly wider and thicker 5'10 as the stock is 5'10 x 20 x 2 3/8 - 31.6L

As mentioned, if you want to listen to our podcast with Alex Crews, please go to https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/alex-crews-acsod-surfboards-the-surfboard-guide/id1507499336?i=1000515024147

To learn more about the Lotus or to purchase, please go to https://acsodsurfboards.com/collections/popular-models/products/lotus

The Lotus is an ode to the 80’s thruster. Pioneered by Simon Anderson, Alex’s take on the early 80’s thruster includes all the original design elements like the bump flyer, beak nose, low smooth rocker and flat deck with chimed low/soft rails. Building from these features, the modern twist we’ve added to this classic design is in the length and bottom shape. Designed to be surfed 3 inches shorter than what was commonplace during that era, it allows the board to fit in tighter in the pocket and surf with a modern performance approach. Next was tweaking a traditional vee bottom. Keeping a slight vee in the nose to prevent catching, we added a shallow single concave under your chest that blends into a deep double concave between the fins, finishing with a flat exit. These changes have replaced a slower, rail-to-rail roll with more speed and release. Allowing you to skate fast down the line and perform reactive manoeuvres. Mixing old and new to reinvigorate a classic design.

OUTLINE

The overall plan shape is nice and wide, creating lift and speed in small surf. A bump flyer is placed just behind the front fins. Giving you a pivot point for sharp direction changes of the back foot.

ROCKER

A low entry rocker blends into an extended medium exit rocker with a massive sweet spot between your feet.

RAILS

Low/soft chimed rails.

BOTTOM SHAPE

Vee entry blends into a medium single under the chest, transitioning into a deep double concave through the fins, finishing with a flat exit.

WRAP UP

Mixing old and new to reinvigorate a classic design. The Lotus is a fast and responsive board with a classic feel that excels in average to decent surf.

SKILL LEVEL: Beginner to advanced

WAVE TYPE: Average to decent beach breaks, points & reef breaks.

WAVE SIZE: 1-4ft

I found two set of Futures Thruster fins that both worked really well with the Lotus:

Futures - Jack Freestone Control Series - https://futuresfins.com.au/products/freestone-1

The Freestone Control fin is a large size Speed Controlling fin with a Ride Number of 3.3. Jack rides this fin when the conditions are punchy and he needs a little more stability. Controlling speed is the key to survival in heavier surf. They are built from solid fiberglass panels with foils that are precision cut by CNC, then hand finished to perfection.

Template Category | Neutral (All-Around, Fluid)
Construction | Fiberglass
Ride Number | Speed Control – 3.3
Size | Large (75+kgs)

Futures - Al Merrick AM2 (Large) - https://futuresfins.com.au/products/am2-honeycomb-1

The AM2 Honeycomb, designed by legendary shaper Al Merrick of Channel Islands Surfboards, is a large size thruster in the Rake template category. Featuring a balanced flex pattern, this fin's wider base provides increased drive through turns, making it ideal for high performance surfing. The centre fin is smaller than the side fins for increased manoeuvrability.

Template Category | Rake (drawn-out, control, drive)
Construction | Honeycomb
Ride Number | Balanced – 5.8
Size | Large (80 kgs+)

Thanks to Alex Crews for the chance to check out this awesome board, it has been a lot of fun, and is a definite favourite!

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