Gallery: Dave Rastovich's Reluctant, Triumphant Return To The Spotlight - Stab Mag

Watch: Stab High China Presented By Monster Energy, Day One

5102 Views
Dave skipped the pond with his family for a rare and cherished public address. Photo: Brooke Raines

Gallery: Dave Rastovich’s Reluctant, Triumphant Return To The Spotlight

750 people, two Q+A sessions, and the World Premiere of this year’s Electric Acid Surfboard Test.

elsewhere // Sep 30, 2024
Words by Christian Bowcutt
Reading Time: 4 minutes

As a reminder, Episode 1 of the Electric Acid Surfboard Test with Dave Rastovich drops this Thursday, October 3rd at 5 PM PDT exclusively on Stab Premium.

It’s hard to get Dave Rastovich on a plane.

Dave and his partner Lauren Hill — whose brilliance appeared in How Surfers Get Paid, The Sexualization of Women’s Surfing — are very intentional about the size of their carbon footprint. This, of course, extends to air travel, the biggest gas guzzler of them all.

But, after some careful thought, Dave and Lauren decided it was worth the ethical demerit for a few reasons: (1) Promote The Electric Acid Surfboard Test and, especially, its focus on sustainable surfboard construction, (2) Visit Dave’s one and only sponsor, Patagonia, and (3) show their young son, Minoa, around the U.S. and visit family.

Lucky us.

For Saturday’s night premiere, we tried something a little different due to the titanic buzz around Dave and the project — we held two separate showings of the first episode of the Electric Acid Surfboard Test with Dave Rastovich with two separate Q+A sessions, surfboard giveaways, and a special quiz game concocted by Stab’s own Danny Johnson.

Dave was energetic, insightful, and funny — the decade of peaceful living in the forest has worked no evil on his social skills, it appears.

Feast (vegan-ly) your eyes.

All photos by Brooke Raines.

The view from the general admission line. Stab Premium members got first entry with their own line.

Does making the GA line watch Stab Premium members go in before them seem elitist? Oof, yes, but they funded the project, didn’t they?

Rasta, Taylor Steele, and producer Danny Johnson on set for the Q+A.

Danny J, the man who brought this year’s EAST to life.

Dave, calling on contestants for the quiz game.

The crowd for this premiere skewed a tad older than most Stab showings, which is cool. You’ll see some familiar faces out there in the crowd.

La Paloma’s campy brilliance.

Though the audience skewered Gen X-ier, a few wise younglings got involved in the Q+A session.

Showing #2.

Dave giving Stab’s TikTok guru, Josiah Amico, a board tour.

This competition came down to whoever could name the most EAST shapers from memory. Winner won a surfboard. (Spoiler: It was the guy on the right.)

“Oh fuck I forgot what I was gonna ask.”

The second showing’s shaper guess giveaway quiz. (Spoiler alert: the man on the left won).

Dave and shaper, Duke Aipa.

Our wise board winners.

Sign up for Stab Premium here to watch these boards in action.

Speaking of Gen-X — we utilized ’em for this quartet.

Lauren Hill meeting and greeting at Patagonia Cardiff.

Rasta, Ryan Lovelace, and a mini simmons off the rack.

Instead of randomly giving boards out, Dave asked the quiz winners a few questions about themselves and then prescribed them the board that would fit them best.

As a reminder, Episode 1 of the Electric Acid Surfboard Test with Dave Rastovich drops this Thursday, October 3rd at 5 PM PDT exclusively on Stab Premium.

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

Watch Live: Stab High China Presented By Monster Energy, Day One

Top comment from the next two days wins a free surfboard.

Nov 12, 2026

Watch: A Full Day Of Stab High China X Monster Energy Warm-Ups

Or, proof that the ramp is as big as we've been claiming.

Nov 12, 2026

The Other Kelly Slater Documentary

Our latest How Surfers Get Paid episode collided with a multimillion-dollar Hollywood production, and we…

Nov 12, 2026

Albee Layer’s Biggest Career Regrets, Getting Sober, And The Heaviest Wave On Earth | StabMic Ep. 38

+ why he wants to see more double grabs at Stab High.

Nov 10, 2026

Everything You Need To Know About Stab High China, Presented By Monster Energy

We're two days away from our biggest chlorinated ramp yet.

Nov 10, 2026

Can We (Scientifically) Predict Barelling Waves?

Kanoa Pick and Cliff Kapono are giving it a damn good shot.

Nov 9, 2026

Why Does China Send People To The Moon?

We asked the designers of the world's best air section.

Nov 6, 2026

Meet Axel Dominguez Before He Does Something Stupid At Stab High

The 19-year-old French surfer just dropped an SEOTY entry called 'Glint.'

Nov 6, 2026

World Title Race: Who Needs What At Pipeline?

Don't let the yellow jerseys fool you.

Nov 5, 2026

I Know You’ve Got A Good Kelly Story, Too…

Coming soon: Our first feature length 'How Surfers Get Paid' documentary.

Nov 4, 2026

Ocean & Earth Release First Full-Length Surf Film In 27 Years | ‘DUALITY’ Starring Dakoda and Harley Walters

A gene pool counting the latest Surf100 winner + a 2x Stab High finalist.

Nov 3, 2026

Medina Wins First CT In Three Years, Claims Cloud 9 For The Goofs

While a bruised and bloodied Simmers rock and rolls into World Title contention.

Nov 3, 2026

Exclusive: Stab & Quiksilver’s New 11-Piece Collection

With 2x Stab High winner Hughie Vaughan at the centre of the mood board.

Nov 3, 2026

A Truly Obscene Day Of Competitive Surfing At Cloud 9

Day 3 leaves behind a wake of broken boards, battered bodies, and sickeningly good highlights.

Nov 2, 2026

Is The Surf Industry Having A Crisis Of Imagination? | StabMic Ep. 37 | Pat Towersey

"Marketing is total bullshit."

Nov 2, 2026

Watch: Oxbow’s Laura Coviella in ‘Untamed’ 

Feat round waves in the Ments.

Nov 1, 2026

Marama Takong Just Reminded Everyone Who Runs Cloud 9

A thumping first day at the CT's newest stop.

Nov 1, 2026

The Land Of Dancing Pandas, Fireblowers, And Big Fucking Ramps

What to expect on the ground at Stab High in China, according to a former…

Oct 31, 2026
Advertisement