Taj Burrow Emerges From Hermit Kingdom Donning 4 New Space Age Mayhems

Where’s Taj been?

The rookie of the year in 1998, perennial world title threat, superstar of the turn of the century surf video golden era who kick started the launch of Stab’s career in the surf media biz is simply put, the most famous and beloved West Australian in surfing.

Other than the brief glimpse we got of TB in Margs, whispering in the ear of Evans Head rookie Callum Robson and inspiring Kolohe Andino to glue two lead plates to his deck to deal with the chop, we haven’t heard much from him since he listed our SITD boards on Gumtree. 

If Taj had a book describing his long-term relationship history with board shapers, it would require at least four long chapters. The first three detailing his flings with iconic Australian shapers Maurice Cole, Greg Webber and Nev Hyman, the fourth detailing his long-distance affair with San Clemente’s Matt Biolos. 

Taj’s relationship with Mayhem first kindled in 2012 towards the tail-end of his competitive career, where San Clemente’s Matt Biolos shaped his winning board at the Gold Coast Pro “the contest win obviously sold me into riding his boards so I was Mayhems from then on,” he told Stab.

Mayhem has now easily been his longest standing shaper relationship. 

He’s been happily 90% loyal ever since.

So to answer our own question regarding his whereabouts, Taj is right where we left him, on the beach in Margarets this time ripping the California Twin, Driver 2.0, Rad Ripper and Round Nose Fish 96‘ in Mayhem’s space age ‘Light Speed’ pro-formance EPS.

For the tech geeks, LightSpeed is Lost’s brand new ProFormance Epoxy surfboard construction built with lightweight EPS foam and high strength epoxy resin. LightSpeed uses a combination of Rapid-Reflex Carbon Fiber as well vibration dampening Innegra-Fibers, woven into the finest custom performance fiberglass cloth. Basically they’re fast, light and strong.

Taj looks sprightly on them north of 40.

If TB became a little gun shy after reluctantly taking a last-minute wildcard to Rottnest and underperforming, none of it’s warranted. He’s still got a magnetism in front of the camera (in and out of the water) and a warmth of personality you’d love to crack open a tin with.

Could still rinse half the tour with his BS tail wafts too, IMO. 

Get your fix of TB here.