One of the benefits of having your wave pool the ability to test surfboards any time you want to. In this clip, Kelly Slater samples identical boards built in two different constructions – one light, the other ultra-light. Kelly’s Gamma design by Firewire comes in a Helium build, and the surfboard maker’s famous LFT build.

Subtle design and material differences are magnified in a wave pool, and The King spends a day at the Surf Ranch picking apart the subtleties in each. Kelly relays that the Helium Gamma is extra light and responsive, even feeling looser, while the LFT Gamma is more reassuring and stable underfoot.

The 11-time World Champ also ventures down a rabbit hole of fin theory and more. Check the clip below for an inspiring design exploration by Kelly…