Dan Mann tells all on Kelly Slater, Stab in the Dark, and the DRK Surfboard
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Stab in the Dark X winner and the shaper behind Kelly Slater's boards, Dan Mann joins the Basis Surf podcast. We get into whether Kelly actually knew which board was his during the event, what Dane Reynolds and Zeke Lau noticed when he was riding it, and why Dan sees the whole thing as bittersweet despite coming out on top. From there we dig into the design differences between the DRK and FRK, what changed and why, and how those decisions translate for everyday surfers, not just Kelly. Dan also breaks down his approach to fins and why keeping one constant across every board you ride matters. We also discuss Dan’s different models and I share why the Dominator Pro has genuinely changed my surfing.
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Chapters
0:01:46 Welcome & Stab in the Dark X Introduction
0:02:10 Was Winning Bittersweet? Dan's Honest Take
0:03:44 Stab as Entertainment vs. Competition
0:05:43 Did the Show Manufacture the Drama?
0:07:18 Watching Kelly Surf Other Shapers' Boards
0:08:25 Kelly's Competitive Mind & the "What If" Factor
0:10:20 The FRK's Origin Story & Kelly's Loyalty Since 2017
0:12:15 Did Kelly Know Which Board Was His?
0:12:47 DRK vs FRK: What Actually Changed
0:22:41 Breaking Down the Full FRK Lineup
0:26:16 What Makes Dan Mann Boards Distinct
0:38:01 Fins & How to Tune the DRK
0:44:45 DRK vs Dominator Pro: Which Board is for You?
0:55:48 The Dominator Pro's Impact on Everyday Surfing
0:59:03 What's Next: Spun Honey Groveler & Materials Innovation
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