The Ambidextrous Surfboard > The Ambii
(Pronounced Am Bee)
The Ambii Initiative
Greetings and Welcome to the source for information on the Ambii. What started as a dream in 2010 is now a Free Culture initiative designed to enable creation in surfing and in life. On this page you will find videos about the Origin of the Ambii, design details, the Creator Document, FAQ, and the Proportion Generator that enables interested individuals the opportunity to create personalized Ambii dimensions.
Origin of the Ambii
In the Spring of 2010, CBO was set to embark on a journey to Costa Rica. With the trip looming, CBO was encountering nights of sleeplessness with the logistics of the trip rattling around his mind. During one of those sleepless nights, he drifted off and experience riding what he described at the time as a "double nosed longboard". Once he awoke, with the feeling fresh in his mind, he sketched the idea down:
Original Ambii Sketch inspired from a dream April 2010
For years after, CBO researched the twin end concept that surfers call double enders. While working as a Ski & Snowboard Technician in Breckenridge, Colorado, down time was spent sketching ideas and brainstorming with OG shredder Tommy Leggett who grew up surfing in Florida. His research lead him to other avant-garde surfboard designers like Jeff Alexander and his Gemini which inspired CBO to move forward with the idea no matter how different it was relative to the surfboards used today. In early 2014, CBO raised money to build the first prototype with an IndieGoGo campaign and relocated to the Big Island of Hawaii were CBO worked with Jeff Hunt to create the first Ambii, dubbed 'The First Lady'.
After 8 months on the Big Island, CBO relocated to Kauai for the 2014/2015 Winter to continue testing. Winter waves on the North Shore quickly illuminated a bevy of design improvements that CBO integrated in the version two Ambii, the 'V2', shaped by Andy Johnston in March 2016. In March 2017, CBO got fepic with the concept, going public with the idea, creating this page, and publishing the Proportion Generator found below in an effort to share the idea with all who might be interested in it. CBO is continuing the concept development and plans to create using more sustainable materials and alternative construction methods.
After 8 months on the Big Island, CBO relocated to Kauai for the 2014/2015 Winter to continue testing. Winter waves on the North Shore quickly illuminated a bevy of design improvements that CBO integrated in the version two Ambii, the 'V2', shaped by Andy Johnston in March 2016. In March 2017, CBO got fepic with the concept, going public with the idea, creating this page, and publishing the Proportion Generator found below in an effort to share the idea with all who might be interested in it. CBO is continuing the concept development and plans to create using more sustainable materials and alternative construction methods.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it Work? Yes.
What is the biggest challenge in making an Ambii? Finding a suitable blank that enables the twin end rocker.
How's it ride with skegs in the front? The increased drag of having fins in the front is barely noticeable mainly because they are only in the water during paddling/take off. After planning, they act just like any other skegs.
What does it feel like? A sensation all it's own; Feels like a wakeboard/snowboard or finless/loose surfboard.
Why do you chop the skegs (fins)? Chopping the skegs decreases hold making the board looser. Full size skegs hold the board inline while chopped skegs allow the rider to get on edge, slide, or revert more predictably and with less effort.
What do people say when they see it in the water? "Your board is backward, brah" "What is THAT?"
What is the biggest challenge in making an Ambii? Finding a suitable blank that enables the twin end rocker.
How's it ride with skegs in the front? The increased drag of having fins in the front is barely noticeable mainly because they are only in the water during paddling/take off. After planning, they act just like any other skegs.
What does it feel like? A sensation all it's own; Feels like a wakeboard/snowboard or finless/loose surfboard.
Why do you chop the skegs (fins)? Chopping the skegs decreases hold making the board looser. Full size skegs hold the board inline while chopped skegs allow the rider to get on edge, slide, or revert more predictably and with less effort.
What do people say when they see it in the water? "Your board is backward, brah" "What is THAT?"
Ambii Proportion Table
This table enables you to scale the dimensions of the Version Two Ambii to your size.
Step One, figure out Your Length. I would recommend sizing Your Ambii between 2-4 inches smaller than your short board size.
Step Two, Multiply your length with the Width @ 1/2 Coefficient to get Your Width.
Step Three is same as Step Two, but multiply Your Length by the Width @ 1' Coefficient.
Repeat this process down the table to generate all the dimensions for Your Ambii.
Step One, figure out Your Length. I would recommend sizing Your Ambii between 2-4 inches smaller than your short board size.
Step Two, Multiply your length with the Width @ 1/2 Coefficient to get Your Width.
Step Three is same as Step Two, but multiply Your Length by the Width @ 1' Coefficient.
Repeat this process down the table to generate all the dimensions for Your Ambii.
Values in Inches |
6'4" V2 Ambii |
Coefficients |
Start Your Ambii Here |
Length |
76 |
X |
Step 1 - Pick Your Length |
Width @ 1/2 |
21.375 |
.28125 |
Step 2- Your Length * .28125 |
Width @ 1' |
16.625 |
.21875 |
Step 3- Your Length * .21875 |
End |
9.5 |
.125 |
Your Length * .125 |
Rocker |
3.298 |
.0434 |
Your Length * .0434 |
Rocker @ 1' |
.7916 |
.0104 |
Your Length * .0104 |
Thickness @ End |
.9236 |
.0121 |
Your Length * .0121 |
Thickness @ 1' |
1.847 |
.0243 |
Your Length * .0243 |
Thickness @ 1/2 |
2.77 |
.0364 |
Your Length * .0364 |
The Ambii Creator Document
This document is designed to communicate the objective of the Ambii, describe the basic design characteristics, and share a static version of the Proportion Generator. This document certified free culture by CBO, so any one who resonates may use, derive, remix, or share the information it contains.
