The Story Behind The Grip

“In rock and roll we’ve got Iggy Pop and Mick Jagger, in surfing we’ve got Herbie Fletcher.” Commendable words courtesy of journalist Jamie Brisick back in 1996, and praise that still holds weight. What, with Herbie being the 1966 World Surfing Championship runner-up, leader of the 1970 longboard renaissance, father of Christian and Nathan and much more. In the newest addition to RVCA’s Inspired By series, Herbie’s campaign as the founder and head innovator behind Astrodeck is thrown into the spotlight and next to the microphone. From the earliest days of inspiration after reasoning that rubbing candle wax was insufficient for keeping grip. To pouring what’s essentially liquid sandpaper directly onto boards. To the full deck visions that turned palpable — which were big back in the 90s (you really can’t make it one day without a reference to the naughties, can you?) and are being re-embraced today — and more.