Surfing was different in the late ‘90s, early 2000s. Boardshorts were baggy, adorned with skulls and flames; the WSL was the ASP; and Slater still had (some) hair.
Surfboards weren’t the same either. Generally, most elite surfers rode ultra-thin, super narrow, heavy-rockered shortboards. That was the go-to design – unlike today when most surfers (elite or not) have a variety of different shapes and sizes in their quivers.
But one surfboard, and the surfers who rode it, helped spark a change.
Matt Biolos, the man behind …Lost Surfboards out of San Clemente, California, shaped a young Chris Ward a 5’5” x 19 1/4 ” fish. Wardo was inspired to try the new design after seeing Tom Curren kneeboarding on a similar shape in New York.
Little did they know the impact that board would have.
After 25 years, and the iconic 5’5” x 19 ¼” surf film, the RNF (round nose fish) is still one of the most popular surfboards on the market and in lineups across the world.
And to honor the long-lasting legacy of the board, …Lost has rolled out a video series. Episode two, seen above, features a few of the original test riders of the board – including Wardo, Cory Lopez, and Taj Burrow – in addition to some younger generation rippers, too.
For more about this episode, here’s the description:
“We sit down with Chris n Cory, as they reminisce early days in Hawaii on the first few fish, then immediately make off to Mexico, as Chris works out the kinks in the sweltering Salina Cruz sun.
“Next, we catch up with Cory, at Kandui, meeting and mixing with Ian Crane, trading punches in a myriad of Mentawai line ups.
“Then, we delve deep Down Unda’ and way out West, to find Taj Burrow, “fishing” around the punchy powerful peaks of his frequent home town haunts, under ominous overcast skies.
“Stick around for the credits, featuring father/son forehand frothers, The World’s Highest Rated Rep, Gorkin going boom, and Mason n Chris re-united for more Mexico mishaps.”
Stay tuned for episode three.
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