Kelly Slater's First-Ever Midlength: Boss Up

Meet Kelly Slater's first-ever performance midlength, the Boss Up. The Boss Up is the bigger brother of the S Boss.

This utility midlength is the most well-rounded and versatile shape in the Slater Designs range, designed by Dan Mann. The shape was designed to work well in both weak waves as well as heavier conditions - it can cruise across flat wave faces while also shoot through cavernous overhead tubes.

The Boss Up is the board you would travel with if you could only bring one board with you. Your one board quiver with maximum performance in a purely versatile package.

Our crew has really been enjoying this midlength when keeping it mellow and cruising is top-of-mind (or the need to be more mobile to battle crowds). That said, Dan Mann's also been putting it in punchier surf with an open face - as it's perfect for carving. Michel Bourez has ridden well-overhead barrels at home in Tahiti, and loved it equally in those conditions.

For fins, we'd recommend running the KS1 template as a Quad. This template has a lot of pivot for a neutral template, and when combined with the long rail line of the Boss Up, you want fins that can pivot immediately like the KS1. Or, start with your favorite fin set and if it feels too stiff, add more pivot with the KS1 template.

For size and volume, the beauty of this shape is that it doesn't command you dial-in your volume perfectly. Any single surfer can ride the Boss Up in a variety of sizes. Dan Mann has been enjoying both the 6'8" and the 7'0", while Kelly, Shane Dorian and Kevin Schulz have stayed on the 6'8", and Michel has been riding the 6'10". We recommend riding this around 13 liters more in volume than your standard shortboard. The increased volume means paddle power is incredible, but doesn't compromise performance.

[sebastiaosantos]

I just want to see a video of kelly surfing with this surfboard! Love the outline.👍🏻

[danodonnell]

❤❤❤ He is such a salesman, he doesn't need to surf it! This week a thousand will be sold!!!

[moscaman]

Kelly’s always been into board design and thinking out of the box. Many years tweaking and testing…. always fascinating listening to his thoughts ! 🐐🐐

[ItsWesSmithYo]

Big ups 50+ squad…I’ll keep my eyes peeled for one in the jungle 🤙🏽

[Anthony-fdlz]

Thankyou Kelly for Al Merrick's boards. 👍

[Steven_Oliver_Resurfaced]

this board looks so fun!! - 40 liters at Waimea!? 😅

[hawaiiansouthshore]

The boards look sick! Can't wait to hear surfers review on this one 🤙

[arrzfr]

Now we also want to know about the 5'4 Fugazi for Kevin Schulz 1:37

[jeffg]

It's a nice one for FL - definitely.
Would personally like to see a standard thruster option.
Why not take that same shape down to 36L option - whatever size that works out to be.

[DeforestLCooper]

The experiments at the end are akin to Lindsey Lords, Naval Architecture of Planing Hulls - to see how well a bottom hull planes on top of the water.

[scottyknowsurf]

can't wait to see his personal edits, he should make a channel! upload his surfs, easy.

[thestow]

board looks great...and so do plenty of others :)
I thought Kevin Schulz was raving about the Mid 6 not too long ago? - but I guess he can't rave about it anymore because Thunderbolt and Firewire parted ways.

[twomako]

would loVe to try one but for me i c'ant because it 's so expensive and no lightweight models for me 21, 5 liters

[jw]

Thanks for the info lm going to buy my first board and that would suit lm in my mid fifties and thought it was time to finally have a crack at some water therapy

[boltup]

Soon to be on craigslist...."Tried it at waist high cardiff. It wasn't for me. $600."

[Sweetheart_of_the_rodeo]

Came here expecting to see Slater surfing a mid length, I’ve never seen that

[XanOG]

Heavy reality right here. Shit...

Go out in style.

[brba]

So Kelly comes out with a Mid6 lookalike. I wonder if he'll make a version of the Moe?

[surfbum]

Retired and already riding a mid length, sponsored by AARP

[twomako]

45 years old ripping from Caribbean, Guadeloupe