2024’s Electric Acid Surfboard Test Star Is…

Previous Electric Acid Surfboard Test (EAST) stars Dane Reynolds, Stephanie Gilmore, Noa Deane, Mason + Coco Ho, Mick Fanning and Shaun Manners have something in common. And that is: they mostly ride HP thrusters. 

Since launching EAST with Dane in Mexico back in 2017, Stab’s playbook has remained largely unchanged. Take talent out of their comfort zone, task them with ripping an experimental unmarked quiver, and see if these so called “alternative designs” cut the mustard under the surf world’s most critical and influential hoofs.

There’s a reason why we have typically sought out talent from the conventional world to validate these left field designs. For one, we all know how well they can rip HP’s, so there’s a control variable baked in. And two, watching pro surfers ride alien equipment can be way more awkward and interesting than their tried-and-tested. 

Having said that, many members of our audience remarked that we’re barking up the wrong tree getting trad surfers to test experimental boards. “Why doesn’t a surfer more familiar with unconventional shapes take EAST on?” We’ve always loved a collision of ideas — not dissimilar to when we had Haz Roach ride three HP shortboards for The Mysterious Affair. 

In that same spirit, this next one’s a little different. 

The star of the next EAST is Dave Rastovich who’s no stranger to sampling off-menu surfboard designs. In fact, you might even be tempted to label him a connoisseur of these forbidden fruits insofar as they have expanded his surfing repertoire, allowing him to explore waves in ways that transcend mortal wisdom. 

As one shrewd commenter @aidan noted in the latest BSIES w Erik Knutson, “How many cameos does Rasta have on this series now… four? Spanning how many decades… two? Rasta’s reclusiveness seems to be making surfing’s collective heart grow fonder.”

As true lovers of the intricacies of surfboard design and the unique characters who create them, we are privileged to work with Dave Rastovich on a project that also highlights his passion for environmental issues.

Episode one of the EAST w Rasta drops October 2.