Stab Magazine | Meet The Electric Acid Surfboard Test's Sunshine Makers

EAST with Harry Bryant is here

1215 Views

Meet The Electric Acid Surfboard Test’s Sunshine Makers

A look at the ten (or eleven) boards submitted for Dane’s critical consideration.

style // Oct 16, 2018
Words by Stab
Reading Time: 7 minutes

It took ages to decide our first roster of board builders for The Electric Acid Surfboard Testthe White Board in our LA offices a mess of names, shapes, categories, etc. 

In 2018, surfboard design is as wide-open and free as any time in history, lineups the world over littered with a variety of equipment more diverse than any time in history. 

After spending the ‘90s sinking to our tits on sub-18”-wide elf slippers, the last decade-and-a-half has seen a seismic shift in surfing’s collective consciousness, design-wise, as the post-Sprout cocktail took the edge off the Momentum Generation hangover, and sent surfers down the alternative design rabbit hole.

Wary of hipster hyperbole, Stab wanted to know what these designs look like ridden by the world’s best surfers, and of these unorthodox dogs, which ones are all bark and which ones have bite.

So, meet the boards and builders behind the first annual Electric Acid Surfboard Test, Stab‘s Sunshine Makers. We’ll be rolling out profiles on each of these gents every week ’til Christmas (though you can of course always take the plunge and check out the full length, here), 

 

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 5

Think a Santa Monica Surf Case is overkill? We weren’t taking any chances with glass-ons.

Photography

AVG

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 1020

Your 2018 Electric Acid Surfboard Test lineup.

Photography

AVG.

Michael Arenal / Trimcraft 

Ventura, California

5’4″ Rich Pavel / Steve Lis Fish

Fin Set-Up: Ryan Lovelace Twin Keels c/o True Ames

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0016

Trimcraft/Michael Arenal Lis/Pavel Fish

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0645

Trimcraft/Michael Arenal Lis/Pavel Fish

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0637

Trimcraft/Michael Arenal Lis/Pavel Fish

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0649

Trimcraft/Michael Arenal Lis/Pavel Fish

Photography

Sam Moody.

Tyler Warren

Dana Point, California

5’7″ Bullet Twin Keel

Fin Set-Up: Glass-On 11″-Base Marine Ply Twin Keels

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0062

Tyler Warren Bullet Twin Keel.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0065

Tyler Warren Bullet Twin Keel.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0860

Tyler Warren Bullet Twin Keel.

Photography

AVG.

Ryan Lovelace

Santa Barbara, California

7’4″ Thick Lizzy Mid-Length Glider

Fin Set-Up: 2+1 Single Center w/ Bonzer Side-bites

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0077

Ryan Lovelace Thick Lizzy Mid-Length Glider.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0079

Ryan Lovelace Thick Lizzy Mid-Length Glider.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0891

Ryan Lovelace Thick Lizzy Mid-Length Glider.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0894

Ryan Lovelace Thick Lizzy Mid-Length Glider.

Photography

AVG.

Ryan Burch

San Diego, California

5’9 Pickle Fork Double-Double Asymmetrical 

Fin Set-Up: Twin (Shawn Stussy S-Doubles from True Ames)

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 47

Ryan Burch Pickle Fork Double Double Asymmetrical.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0054

Ryan Burch Pickle Fork Double Double Asymmetrical.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0256

Ryan Burch Pickle Fork Double Double Asymmetrical.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0424

Ryan Burch Pickle Fork Double Double Asymmetrical.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0418

Ryan Burch Pickle Fork Double Double Asymmetrical.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0407

Ryan Burch Pickle Fork Double Double Asymmetrical.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 215

Ryan Burch Pickle Fork Double Double Asymmetrical.

Photography

AVG.

Scott Anderson/Greg Liddle 

Los Angeles, California

6’10 Liddle Designs Death Machine 

Fin Set-Up: 8″ Single Fin—Liddle Designs Flex Fin from True Ames Fins.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0073

Scott Anderson / Greg Liddle Designs Death Machine.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0074

Scott Anderson / Greg Liddle Designs Death Machine.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0793

Scott Anderson / Greg Liddle Designs Death Machine.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0774

Scott Anderson / Greg Liddle Designs Death Machine.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 795

Scott Anderson / Greg Liddle Designs Death Machine.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0761

Scott Anderson / Greg Liddle Designs Death Machine.

Photography

AVG.

…Lost Surfboards/Matt “Mayhem” Biolos

San Clemente, California

5’7″ Round Nose Fish Retro. 

Fin Set-up: Quad

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0041

…Lost / Matt “Mayhem” Biolos Round Nose Fish Retro.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0042

…Lost / Matt “Mayhem” Biolos Round Nose Fish Retro.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0045

…Lost / Matt “Mayhem” Biolos Round Nose Fish Retro.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0197

…Lost / Matt “Mayhem” Biolos Round Nose Fish Retro.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0326

…Lost / Matt “Mayhem” Biolos Round Nose Fish Retro.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0291

…Lost / Matt “Mayhem” Biolos Round Nose Fish Retro.

Photography

AVG.

Gary McNeill 

Byron Bay, Australia

5’7″ Taurus Twin

Fin Set-Up: Twin

 

 

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0023

Gary McNeill Taurus Twin.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 32

Gary McNeill Taurus Twin.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0027

Gary McNeill Taurus Twin.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0631

Gary McNeill Taurus Twin (or, what was left of it).

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0476

The Corona x Parley Promo Board: A Gary McNeill Taurus Twin.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0996

Corona x Parley Gary McNeill Taurus Twin.

Photography

AVG.

Josh Hall 

San Diego, California

6’9 Pisces Twin Keel Long Fish

Fin Set-Up: Bamboo Twin Fins

 

 

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0084

Josh Hall Pisces Twin Keel Long Fish.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0161

Josh Hall Pisces Twin Keel Long Fish.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0086

Josh Hall Pisces Twin Keel Long Fish.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0152

Josh Hall Pisces Twin Keel Long Fish.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0147

Josh Hall Pisces Twin Keel Long Fish.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0149

Josh Hall Pisces Twin Keel Long Fish.

Photography

AVG.

Britt Merrick / Channel Islands

Carpinteria, California

5’7″ Neckbeard 2

Fin Set-Up: Glass-On Thruster

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0014

Channel Islands/Britt Merrick Neckbeard 2.

Photography

AVG

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0013

Channel Islands/Britt Merrick Neckbeard 2

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0102

Channel Islands / Britt Merrick Neckbeard 2.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 716

Channel Islands/Britt Merrick Neckbeard 2

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0812

Channel Islands/Britt Merrick Neckbeard 2

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0489

Channel Islands/Britt Merrick Neckbeard 2

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0727

Channel Islands / Britt Merrick Neckbeard 2.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0721

Channel Islands/Britt Merrick Neckbeard 2

Photography

AVG.

Matt Parker, Album Surfboards

San Clemente, California

Board: 5’8 Dissasym

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0056

Not a thruster, but kind of.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0059

“This looks pretty cool.”

Photography

Sam Moody.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0619

5’7″ Matt Parker/Album “Dysasym.”

Photography

AVG

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0480

“In a weird way, it doesn’t work like a quad/twin, instead it almost feels a little more like a thruster.”

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0575

Album/Matt Parker.

Photography

AVG.

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 0591

Needless to say, Dane didn’t seem limited in any way by the board.

Photography

AVG

AcidTestMEX AlanvanGysen 1025

On location in Mexico filming The Electric Acid Surfboard Test.

Photography

AVG.

You can watch The Electric Acid Surfboard Test on iTunes, here. 

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Replay: Rip Curl Cup Padang 2026

Quite the show.

Aug 19, 2026

Watch: EAST Starring Harry Bryant, Episode One

10 non-conforming surfboards vs your favorite blonde mop.

Aug 18, 2026

We Will Never Run A Live Surf Event In The Ocean

Mother Nature remains undefeated.

Aug 18, 2026

Kolohe Andino Is Sick Of Watching Surfers Eat Breakfast | StabMic Ep. 27

"We need to make surfers look cool again."

Aug 17, 2026

Want A Free Trip To Kandui With Some Custom Boards In The Mix?

Benji Brand can vouch for goofy season on Karangmajat island. 

Aug 17, 2026

Why There’s “No Free Ride Anymore”In Pro Surfing

Ian Crane on modern Surfenomics, bigger airs, and why creativity still matters

Aug 16, 2026

Hossegor Beach Cocaine Episode 2: The White Tide

What happens when a sleepy surf town is flooded with sniffly white powder?

Aug 14, 2026

Shaper Reveal: EAST With Harry Bryant

10 shapers, hand-picked and delivered blindly to our first goofy-footed test pilot.

Aug 14, 2026

The Underdogs Shall Inherit The Earth

Low seeds reign on Teahupo'o finals day.

Aug 14, 2026

How To Have A Tits Out Summer On Your Terms

Stab's 2026 swimwear review.

Aug 13, 2026

Don’t Believe In Fairytales

The four things you need to know from Day Five at Teahupo’o.

Aug 13, 2026

54-Year Old Kelly Slater Just Combo’d Medina At Evil Teahupo’o

Bad day to be Ronny Nelson.

Aug 11, 2026

2026 Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico, Episode 06

100 points decide our first finalist.

Aug 10, 2026

Mason Ho On Farming, Andy Irons, And The Day He Punched Kelly Slater | StabMic Ep. 26

"Farming is completely opening my brain."

Aug 10, 2026

Kelly’s Quinquagenarian Dominance, Eli’s Gumption, And Eimeo’s Upset

Three takeaways from six heats on Day 1 at the Outerknown Tahiti Pro.

Aug 9, 2026

Hossegor Beach Cocaine Episode 1: Y2K To Infinity

A new Stab Premium podcast series.

Aug 7, 2026

Take Stab’s 2027 Audience Survey, (Maybe) Win A Trip To Kandui

...and two custom surfboards.

Aug 6, 2026

Biblical Swell To Greet The Youngest, Oldest, And Most Unhinged Wildcards In Teahupo’o History

A Tahiti Pro preview.

Aug 6, 2026
Advertisement