Donald Takayama DT-2: The All-Round Longboard Explained
An all-round longboard that holds a fast line, turns smoothly and gives you a steady nose to walk up to.
Shop the DT-2
Quick answer: The Donald Takayama DT-2 is an all-round longboard: one 2+1 board that turns, trims and noserides without switching boards, from small days to waves well over your head. It builds on Donald's DT-1 speed shape and adds more room on the nose.
It suits intermediate longboarders who want one board for every kind of day, and it helps a surfer moving up from beginner learn every part of a ride. It comes in 9'0", 9'4" and 9'8", in Thunderbolt Red or Thunderbolt Black construction.
In This Guide
What Is the DT-2?
The DT-2 is Donald Takayama's all-rounder. It is a longboard that lets you turn, trim and walk to the nose without trading one for the other. Trim means holding a fast, steady line across the open face of the wave.
It grew out of the DT-1, Donald's speed shape, which has a narrower nose and tail for steeper waves. The DT-2 keeps that speed and gives you more nose to stand on.
That balance is why we think of it as a one-board longboard. If you only want one longboard for every day, this is the one to look at first.
Grab your DT-2
Who Is the DT-2 For?
The DT-2 is built first for intermediate longboarders. You catch waves and ride across them on your own, and you want one board that lets you work on turns and nose rides together.
Surfers moving up from beginner. If you can catch waves and stand up reliably and you are ready to learn more, the DT-2 gives you room to grow. It is stable enough to walk on and responsive enough to learn real turns.
Experienced longboarders. You want one board that handles small days and bigger days without a quiver. It holds a line when the wave gets steep and still sets up for long nose rides on clean walls.
Surfers coming back to longboarding and travelers. A classic shape feels familiar right away, and one Thunderbolt board is easy to pack when you can only bring one.
How Does the DT-2 Surf?
It trims fast, walks to the nose easily and turns smoothly. Each part of the shape has a job.
- Shallow nose concave: a shallow scoop under the nose that adds lift and steadiness, so the front is a comfortable place to stand.
- Low entry rocker: rocker is the curve from nose to tail. A low curve up front helps you paddle in early and carry speed through flat sections.
- 60/40 rails: rails are the edges of the board. A soft upper edge over a harder lower edge lets the board hold a line and release out of a turn.
- Rounded pintail: a tail that narrows into a curve for smooth turns from one edge to the other, with more hold as the surf gets stronger.
Put together, you can walk up the board on a smooth wall, then step back and make a full turn when the wave stands up.
One tip on that low entry rocker: on steep, late takeoffs the nose sits close to the water. Take off a little further back, angle the drop, and move forward once you are up.
What Waves Does the DT-2 Handle?
It works from ankle-high waves to waves well over your head. The low entry rocker keeps it moving on small, soft days, and the pintail holds when the surf has power.
That range fits Oahu's South Shore, where the same board can see knee-high summer days and a solid swell in the same week.
How the wave breaks matters as much as its size. A smooth, peeling wave is where the nose rides happen, and a steeper wave is where the turns happen.
What Sizes Does the DT-2 Come In?
The DT-2 comes in 9'0", 9'4" and 9'8", each in Thunderbolt Red or Thunderbolt Black construction.
| Length | Width | Thickness | Volume | Fins |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9'0" | 22 3/8" | 2 7/8" | 64.3 L | 2+1 |
| 9'4" | 22 5/8" | 3" | 70.7 L | 2+1 |
| 9'8" | 22 7/8" | 3 1/16" | 77.5 L | 2+1 |
Volume, measured in liters, is how much float the board has. More volume means easier paddling and earlier wave catching.
The 9'0" is the quickest to swing around, the 9'8" has the most float and room to walk, and the 9'4" sits in the middle. A surfer moving up from beginner usually does best with more volume.
We do not pick a size by weight alone. Send us your height, weight, current board and the waves you ride most, and we will tell you which length we would ride in your shoes.
How Does the Fin Setup Work?
The DT-2 is designed around a 2+1: a 7.25" or 8.25" DT pivot fin in the center with two side bites. A pivot fin is a wide-based center fin that helps a longboard turn in a tight arc.
The side bites add hold and help you carry speed through a turn. With the center fin alone, the board feels smoother and more relaxed on small, clean days.
Fins are sold separately. Our Takayama Halo Fin guide and DT Flex Fin guide cover other setups, and we can help you choose.
Where Did the DT-2 Come From?
The DT-2 is a Hawaiian Pro Designs shape with a long history. Hawaiian Pro Designs was building DT-2 boards by the early 1990s.
Today the DT-2 is built in Thunderbolt Red and Thunderbolt Black construction, with the same outline in every length.
Donald Takayama (1943 to 2012) grew up surfing in Waikiki, moved to California as a teenager to work for the shaper Dale Velzy, and won the U.S. Masters title from 1971 through 1973. He founded Hawaiian Pro Designs, and Joel Tudor, a world longboard champion, was his protégé.
Read more in Who Was Donald Takayama?.
How Is the DT-2 Built?
Thunderbolt construction builds a tuned flex into the board. It bends and twists as you lean into a turn and springs back as you come out of it. That spring back is called rebound.
Each board starts with an EPS foam core, a light foam, laminated by hand in epoxy resin. There is no wooden stringer, the strip of wood down the middle of most boards. Flex parts inside, laid out for this model, control how it bends, twists and springs back.
Thunderbolt Red and Thunderbolt Black are two constructions, not two colors.
| Thunderbolt Red construction | Thunderbolt Black construction | |
|---|---|---|
| Inside | Carbon fiber flex parts | Flex parts set up for a quicker spring back |
| Carbon fiber outer skin | No | Yes |
| Rebound | Medium and predictable | The quickest of the Thunderbolt builds |
| Weight and feel | A little heavier, so it feels settled in wind chop | The lightest Thunderbolt build |
| Finish | Gloss | Gloss deck, matte bottom |
| Our starting point | Most surfers and changing conditions | Heavier riders, strong turns, powerful surf |
Pick Thunderbolt Red construction for a balanced, predictable feel in a wide range of waves. Pick Thunderbolt Black construction if you are a heavier rider, push hard through your turns and want the quickest spring back.
More on how it works is in our Thunderbolt construction guide, and every model built this way is in our Donald Takayama Thunderbolt collection.
How Do I Care for It and Fix a Ding?
Use epoxy repair materials only, never polyester resin. Polyester resin can damage the EPS foam core.
If it dings and water can get in, get out of the water. Bring it to us or send us a clear photo and we will help you decide what it needs.
Keep it out of a hot car and long direct sun, and take old wax off with a plastic comb.
Ready to Ride One?
If you want one longboard that turns, trims and noserides, the DT-2 is built for that. Send us your height, weight, current board and usual waves, and we will help you pick the length, build and fins. Come by the shop to see both builds in person.
Hawaiian South Shore
320 Ward Ave, Suite #111, Honolulu, HI 96814
Call or text (808) 597-9055
sales@hawaiiansouthshore.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the DT-2 be my only longboard?
For many longboarders, yes. It turns, trims and noserides, and it works from ankle-high waves to waves well over your head, so one board covers most days.
Is the DT-2 a noserider or an all-around longboard?
It is an all-around longboard with a strong noseriding side. The nose concave and low entry rocker make it steady to walk forward, and the 60/40 rails and rounded pintail let it turn and hold a line.
Is the DT-2 good for an intermediate surfer?
Yes, it is built first for intermediate longboarders, and it helps a surfer moving up from beginner learn turns and nose rides on one board. If you are still learning to catch waves on your own, tell us what you ride now.
What is the difference between the DT-1 and the DT-2?
The DT-1 is Donald's speed shape, with a narrower nose and tail for steeper waves. The DT-2 keeps that speed and adds more room on the nose.
What fins does the DT-2 take?
It has a 2+1 fin setup, designed around a 7.25" or 8.25" DT pivot fin in the center with two side bites. Fins are sold separately.
Is Thunderbolt Red a color?
No, Thunderbolt Red and Thunderbolt Black are two constructions, not colors. Red has carbon fiber flex parts inside and a medium, predictable rebound. Black has a carbon fiber outer skin and is the lightest build with the quickest rebound.