Jack Robinson's Stab In The Dark Shaper Reveal - Stab Mag
813 Views
Taste the rainbow. Photo: Arto Saari

Jack Robinson’s Stab In The Dark Shaper Reveal

13 world-renowned craftsmen enter — only one will win.

hardware // Feb 10, 2022
Words by Ashton Goggans
Reading Time: 3 minutes

Episode one of Jack’s Stab in the Dark premieres next Thursday, February 17th, only on Stab Premium.

This year’s Stab in the Dark lineup may very well make for the most prestigious quiver the franchise has ever seen. 

As a reminder, for our annual double blind taste test, shapers are asked to build their most current iteration of a high performance shortboard for one Mystery Surfer — and of this year’s 13 esteemed shapers, five have won Stab in the Dark previously. 

Ten of our thirteen have built boards for World Champions. 

Now, shapers are never provided with the Mystery Surfer’s true identity — only key details to guide their hand: the surfer’s height, weight, and the preferred length and volume of standard shortboard. 

Pre-reveal. Photo: Arto Saari

This year’s Mystery Surfer stands 5’11, and weighs in these days around 180lbs, or 82kilos. 

His standard shortboards are also 5’11, and range from 29 to almost 31 liters. 

Shapers are instructed to deliver boards clean-skinned and free of any markings, dimensions, signatures or logos of any kind. 

In hopes of total transparency, shapers enter Stab in the Dark entirely for free. 

Introducing our 2022 Stab in the Dark shapers lineup, from four continents and featuring three new Hawaiian wildcards. 

Post-testing. Some boards fared better than others. Photo: Sam Moody

Matt Biolos, …Lost Surfboards
San Clemente, California 
Past/Current Riders: Carissa Moore, Andy Irons, Kolohe Andino, Coco and Mason Ho, The Colapinto Brothers. 
Stab in the Dark 2020 Winner

Jon Pyzel, Pyzel Surfboards
Santa Barbara, California / North Shore, Oahu 
Past/Current Riders: John John, Nathan, and Ivan Florence, Tyler Wright, Jai Glindeman
(2x Stab in the Dark Winner, 2016 and 2017)

Timmy Patterson, T. Patterson Surfboards
San Clemente, California
Past/Current Riders: Italo Ferreira, Carlos Muñoz, Andy Irons, Matt Archbold, Chris Ward

James Cheal, Chilli Surfboards
Avalon, Australia
Past/Current Riders: Andy Irons, Mick Fanning, Joel Parkinson, Jay Davies, 

Johnny Cabianca, Cabianca Surfboards 
Maresias, Brazil / Basque Country, France
Past/Current Riders: Gabriel Medina 

Britt Merrick, Channel Islands Surfboards
Carpinteria, California 
Past/Current Riders: Dane Reynolds, Bobby Martinez, Parker Coffin, Tom Curren, Kelly Slater
2019 Stab in the Dark Winner

Marcio Zouvi, Sharp Eye Surfboards
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil / San Diego, California 
Past/Current Riders: Filipe Toledo, Tatiana Weston-Webb, Kanoa Igarashi, Jack Robinson 
2021 Stab in the Dark Winner 

Who’s who? Hell if we know. Photo: Sam Moody

Axel Lorentz, PUKAS Surfboards
Basque Country, Spain
Past/Current Riders: Sunny Garcia, Aritz Aranburu, Natxo Gonzales, Grant “Twiggy” Baker, Ainara Aymat
3x Stab In The Dark Finalists 2019-2021

Darren Handley, DHD Surfboards
Gold Coast, Australia
Past/Current Riders: Mick Fanning, Andy and Bruce Irons, Stephanie Gilmore
2015 Stab in the Dark Winner

Jason Stevenson, JS Surfboards
Gold Coast, Australia
Past/Current Riders: Joel Parkinson, Mark Occhilupo, Julian Wilson, Sally Fitzgibbons. 
2x Stab In The Dark Finalist

Eric Arakawa, Arakawa Surfboards
North Shore, Oahu
Past/Current Riders: Andy Irons, Michael and Derek Ho, Jack Robinson. 

Glen Pang, Town and Country Surfboards
North Shore, Oahu
Past/Current Riders: Billy Kemper, Brisa Hennessy, Sunny Garcia, Dane Kealoha, Kalani and Marvin Foster

Wade Tokoro, Tokoro Surfboards
East Side, Oahu
Past/Current Riders: Kelly Slater, Mick Fanning, Jamie O’Brien, Seth Moniz

Episode one of Jack’s Stab in the Dark premieres next Thursday, February 17th, only 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

Who Has The Right To ‘Protect’ A Hidden Wave?

In surfing's new-age colonialism, everybody's right and everybody's wrong.

Nov 16, 2025

Watch Snapt 5: The Final Cut

After twenty-two years, this is Logan Dulien's biggest mic drop yet. Probably.

Nov 13, 2025

Guess Who’s Back

New mom Carissa Moore to make her Championship Tour return in 2026.

Nov 13, 2025

Where Is Our Mind?

Why we just filmed another 'Stab in the Dark'... before releasing Kelly.

Nov 12, 2025

The Greatest British Surf Conspiracy Of Our Time

Multiple bankruptcies, Russian oligarchs, environmental fugitives and a... wavepool?

Nov 9, 2025

Unlocked: Shark-Eyed Prince João Mendonça In ‘Same Same’

You won’t hear much from the young Portuguese surfer's mouth, but his SEOTY entry says…

Nov 9, 2025

“I’ve Been In Pain My Whole Life. If I’m Going To Get Hurt Surfing, So Be It.” 

Jade Morgan recounts his latest spinal injury + the art of living with a body…

Nov 9, 2025

Inside The Illegal, DIY Operation To Bring Munich’s River Wave Back

Local surfers know exactly how to fix the Eisbach, but they risk a 50k fine.

Nov 8, 2025

“Not Only Did He Beat That Frickin’ Temper-Tantrum-Throwing Goober, Thank God, But He Did It On A Board He Crafted Himself”

Joel Tudor celebrates the maiden Longboard World Title of Kai Ellice Flint.

Nov 7, 2025

EAST With Mikey February, Episode Two

Five more shapers and five eliminations at rush-hour Malibu and Trestles.

Nov 7, 2025

“I’ve Won Three World Titles, But This Is The Biggest Win Of My Career.”

The true story of how Joel Tudor brought an international airline to its knees.

Nov 6, 2025

200 Anglegrinders Vie For Slab Tour, Bitcoin Winner Cut Loose, World Junior Champ Plunges Life Savings Into Luxury Eyewear

Industry news. Heaps of it.

Nov 6, 2025

Russell Bierke’s Latest Clip ‘Inner Mechanics’ Comes With A Content Advisory Warning

"Those tiny surface imperfections can give you clues as to how a wave breaks down…

Nov 5, 2025

Boat Flipped By Rogue Wave In Oceanside Harbor, Survivors Rescued By 12-Year-Old

Update: Second boat capsizes five days later

Nov 4, 2025

Episode Two Shaper Reveal — EAST With Mikey February

Five more shapers, 18 more finboxes — and a whole lotta righthanders.

Nov 4, 2025

The Best EXACT MOMENTS SURFING WENT WRONG, Ranked!

Includes: Floatergate (2011), board bags with wheels (2002), legropes (1970) + more.

Nov 3, 2025

For 24 Hours, Watch Every Episode Of Andy Irons & The Radicals — Free

15 years ago today, we lost AI.

Nov 3, 2025

Eye Witness Account: What Actually Happened At The GB Cup?

"I heard one of them say to the girls: 'Can you just fuck off my…

Oct 31, 2025
Advertisement