About the Modern Retro
The Modern Retro Longboard puts a contemporary twist on an old school design, made popular back in the late 60’s, when hanging toes was the in-vogue move.
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OUTLINE: The Retro is wide and incredibly stable. The long parallel rails create a huge stable platform to stand and walk the board, and the full rounded nose is ideal for riding the nose.
ROCKER: Moderately flat entry rocker provides fast paddling and flowing down-the-line trim speed. The flat section through the middle gives the board effortless glide, and slight lift in the tail enhances turning ability.
CONTOURS: A long, single concave under the nose provides lift for extended nose time, while vee through the belly and tail allows the rider to transition smoothly from rail-to-rail.
RAILS: Forgiving 60/40 rails not only provide bite on the wave face, but also allows for smooth transitional turns off the tail.
AESTHETIC: Double stringer with traditional resin tint, rail laps and gloss finish not only look striking, but guarantees that each board has its own unique appearance.
FIN: The Retro comes with a single fin box and 9.5″ inch Rake fin.
This log inspired Longboard is all about glide, flow and trimming down the line with style.
Specifications
NOTE: Rider weight is based on board volume and intermediate rider skill level
GLASSING KEY: D = Deck | B = Bottom | LD = Low Density | HD = High Density
| LENGTH | WIDTH | THICK | VOLUME | GLASSING | SUPPLIED FINS | APPROX WEIGHT RANGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9'1'' | 23 1/2'' | 3 1/4'' | 78.5 ltr | D: 2 x 6oz B: 1 x 6oz + 1 x 4oz patch | 9.5' Rake | ideal for all weights |
| 9'6'' | 23 5/8'' | 3 3/8'' | 86.5 ltr | D: 2 x 6oz B: 1 x 6oz + 1 x 4oz patch | 9.5' Rake | ideal for all weights |
RECOMMENDED SKILL LEVEL
Intermediate
Proficient
Advanced
WHAT SKILL LEVEL ARE YOU?
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What type of waves is the Modern Retro best for?
The Modern Retro performs best in small to medium waves, especially clean, open-faced conditions where you can trim and glide.
What skill level is the Modern Retro suitable for?
The Modern Retro is best suited to Beginner and Intermediate surfers, while still appealing to more advanced surfers who enjoy classic longboard surfing.
Is the Modern Retro good for beginners?
Yes, the Modern Retro's wide outline, stable platform, and easy paddling make it a great option for beginners learning to catch waves and stand comfortably.
Will the Modern Retro help me catch more waves?
Yes, the Modern Retro's flat rocker and high volume provide excellent paddle power, helping you catch waves earlier and more consistently.
What does the Modern Retro feel like to surf?
It feels smooth, stable, and flowing, with a focus on glide and trim rather than fast, aggressive turns.
Can you walk the Modern Retro or ride the nose?
Yes, the full-rounded nose and stable platform of the Modern Retro make it ideal for walking the board and nose riding
How does the Modern Retro differ from a performance longboard?
Compared to a performance longboard, the Modern Retro is more focused on stability, glide, and classic style rather than sharp turning and high-performance manoeuvres.
What is the rocker profile like?
The board features a flatter rocker through the middle for speed and glide, with subtle lift in the tail to assist turning.
What do the bottom contours do?
A single concave under the nose helps with lift for nose riding, while vee through the tail allows smooth rail-to-rail transitions.
What fin setup does the Modern Retro use?
The Modern Retro is ridden as a single fin, which enhances glide, flow, and classic longboard style.
Does the Modern Retro come with fins?
Yes, the Modern Retro comes with a 9.5" Rake fin.
Is the Modern Retro good as a daily go-to board ?
Yes, it’s a reliable longboard for everyday surfing, particularly in smaller, clean conditions.
Can the Modern Retro handle bigger waves?
The Modern Retro performs best in 1-4ft waves.
Will the Modern Retro help me improve my surfing?
Yes, the stability and wave-catching ability of the Modern Retro help build confidence, which helps improve timing and technique.
Such a fun board! Wide from the nose to tail. Perfect for our weak waves in North West Florida.
Got talked into this board by the dudes at my local surf shop while hunting for a proper nose-rider. They nailed it!! Love this thing. Catches all the waves and I can camp out on the nose. it maneuvers well due to the tail rocker and is fast AF. Looking into a new Modern Love Child for my next fun size board. Keep up the good work!
I ordered this board after doing a lot of research. I'm an intermediate level surfer and wanted something that would be stable, look great, have a retro feel, and be great value for money. So far I haven't been disappointed. I've had a few sessions on it so far and it has been awesome fun! I took the photo while waxing it up for the first time.
Love this board!
I've been surfing for 30 plus years. I have owned many longboards in my day and this one by far is my favorite. Holds firm while on the nose and very responsive when cutting back. I highly recommend it.
Great to hear Paul. Thanks for the review.
Great in knee high to overhead over here in NC
Just got my new modern retro and have had two surfs. One in knee high cross shore beachie and the other head high perfect Kirra. The board performed great in both situations but have to say being able to get on early on sucky low tide Kirra was the highlight. It's fast and stable and from just 2 surfs I can say it has just enough rocker to make it a really well balanced board. Thanks again to the Global Surf team for their excellent service and love that you don't use plastic in your packaging just 100% recycled cardboard.
Best board I have ever owned (and I have owned a bunch !)
The guys were brilliant to deal with. Board arrived within 2 days - super impressed.
This board is extremely forgiving and a great choice for anyone looking to get I to long boarding.
What is there not to love about riding the Modern Retro Longboard. A perfect board to paddle out on, it looks great, is stable and for a long board it acts like a performance board, turning like a dream. Caught many a wave at Crescent Head during the holidays. Being a young fella I have many surfing years ahead of me to enjoy and will always give a big shout out to Global Surf Industries for creating such an awesome collection.
Such a fun all round long board! Great on most types of waves. Surfs well on the nose but also very manageable to maneuver. Highly recommend. Quality board for a reasonable price
I had purchased a couple of long boards from a competitor which where right , so i decided to spend a bit more and finally decided on the 9.6 modern and so glad i did , so easy to catch waves big or small actually got my first barrel on this last weekend super stoked on how it rides , would recommend to any giving this board a go 10/10
Board performs exactly the way I wanted it to very happy with the outcome
Love this board, this is my 3rd retro 9’1. The glass job is thinner than the first generation as I believe they are making the 3rd gen now. Get one! You won’t be bummed🤙🏼
Absolute wave catching machine. I can ride this board forever, catches ripples and blows through the whitewash to get on the face of the wave. Noserides like nothing else and feels stable as anything.
Only downside is handling, but that's more me adjusting to a single fin. Would recommend if your goal is just getting out in the water and having fun 😀
I’ve been serving for over 60 years and purchased the 9‘6“ modern retro because it feels the bill. Updated touches turn this 1960s classic longboard shape into an all-around fun board. I’m all smiles 😊
It’s an excellent board, and locks in incredibly well when trimming.
Awesome board. Absolutely love it!
Struggling to work it out. Find the fin too large. Trying other fins. Great when you move forward but more difficult off the tail. Very impressed with the look and build.
Hi Mark, thanks for the review. With these Retro Style Longboards the steering wheel is in the tail. You have to have your weight over the back fin and use your finesse to glide the board around. The fin isn't too large as you want a large fin in the board to hold the tail down with you go to the nose. Good luck finding your sweet spot. Cheers Kel @ GSI
Great ride up to 4ft. Can obviously charge bigger sets but works wonders on smaller waves. Fun board, takes getting used to, but otherwise really beautiful shape.
Great board! I’m a big guy, 56 yrs and started surfing more earnestly 4 yrs ago here in Oregon on big foamies. Paddle through the surf was a nightmare, but now with my retro it’s a breeze. The Retro with its bottom shape picks up waves beautifully and is terrific for riding the wave face- simply put, I recommend it to any one who wants a wave catching machine.
Had the chance to try a friends 9´6 and t felt like a cadillac... soooo smooth. Currently riding an 8´0 mini longboard so the difference was quite obvious. ordered myslef a 9’1. Cant wait
Bought the 9'6 retro with a blemish in the paint on top of the board, which I could never see!! Took it out in small 1/2 foot waves and for a heavy board was surprisingly easy to paddle and and responsive. Then I took in out in 3/4 foot sucky surf and the big retro surprised the hell out of me. Quick to paddle and an early take off, it stuck to the face of the wave, and once trimmed it had plenty of speed to beat the sections. Very stable on the nose! Great board for the price! Everyone should have a big boppa in their quiver!!
The board is a real retro I really like the board . Very easy to pick up waves . Thanks for your the Quality off this board.
This is my second Modern longboard.
My first snapped in half on a super large day. My fault.
So shopping around for a replacement I decided to try a Modern again. The price point and shape sealed the deal.
No sooner was it out of the box then I was back out at the points loving life. The wide shape and plenty of volume favour my larger frame. Having said this the board is very responsive and easily makes sections whilst still being able to stall and spend some quality time on the nose. I’m looking forward to many great years with this board.
I am extremely pleased with the Modern Retro I purchased. I ride another performance trifin longboard in most sized surf but its not as responsive in smaller waves. I wanted a more traditional board with the modern improvements which allow great turning, nose riding and the ability to pick up nearly any wave I paddled onto when the waves are smaller. For the price the board is exceptional. Great service from Mark Kelly and delivered in two days.
Experience with GSI was great. Board showed up on time and exactly as advertised. Would recommend!
Very easy board to ride, makes me look better than I really am.
Have bought 2 of these over the years and would buy another in a heartbeat, such a smooth ride and so easy for an old fella , great for the days at Kirra or weekends at Agnes. Thanks guys