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The surfboard that looks, feels, and rides like a bodyboard

Bing Speed Square: a twin keel fin surfboard inspired by Morey Boogie's Mach 7-X | Photo: Bing Surfboards

Tom Morey was one of the most fervorous supporters of the concept of "surfers united."

The legendary surfboard shaper, inventor, philosopher, surfer, and father of the modern boogie board believed surfers, bodyboarders, kneeboarders, and all wave-riding enthusiasts were surfers.

No matter what you're riding on a wave, ultimately, you're a surfer.

Morey, an accomplished stand-up surfboard rider of his time, created an alternative craft that allowed people to glide down a wave with their eyes closer to the water and more in touch with the sense of speed.

He had no prejudice toward any watercraft. If you could ride it and you were having fun, that was all that mattered.

Tom Morey, founder of Morey Boogie, introduced the Mach 7-X, a best-selling model, in 1991. The board would become one of the riders' favorite vehicles and can still be seen in the lineups today.

Bing Speed Square: available in 3'10

The Bodyboard Turned Surfboard

In 2011, inspired by his fond childhood memories on a Morey Boogie Mach 7-X, Bing Surfboards team rider Chris Del Moro convinced shaper Matt Calvani to reinvent the famous magic bodyboard.

"This is the first board I surfed, really. For many people, this was like their first surfboard," explained Del Moro.

The outcome was a modern-day twin-finned version named the Speed Square, a template made just to have fun.

"Initially, I was nervous about the project," revealed Calvani.

"Essentially, we had to change some elements of the board but keep most of its core features."

"The outline is similar, the tail detail is very similar, with the bevel, but we had to change the rails."

"We put a concave in it to make it go faster and added some fins - so it's not finless anymore. These are fairly short keel fins, like you'd find on a fish."

Unique Shaping Features

Due to its short length, Matt added a belly in the nose with a quick transition into a hard, tapered rail in the tail so that the board would be quick and responsive.

The deep, straight concave that runs from where your front foot sits through the surfboard's tail was created to optimize glide and the thickness in the tail to improve wave-catching ability. 

The small twin keels provide a bit of control but not too much. Contrary to what some might think, you're supposed to ride it like a surfboard, i.e., standing up.

Moro explained, "The great thing about the fins and the overall rail concept is that you're essentially riding it like a finless board, but you can completely sink the rail, turn, and figure-eight."

"It reminds me of the Mach 7-X when I was a kid - just surfing all day, being pumped, and going really fast. Behind the alaia, this is the second-fastest board of my life."

The Big Speed Square is a magically fast and fun sled featuring a polyurethane/polyester construction and Futures twin fin boxes for keel fins.

It is produced and available in several sizes, including a shockingly small 3'10", a 4'0", a 4'2", a 4'4", and a 4'6".

Bing Surfboards was founded by Hebert "Bing" Copeland in 1960 in Hermosa Beach, California.


Words by Luís MP | Founder of SurferToday.com



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