Watch: Dane Reynolds Thrash Around Ventura On A Stock Neckbeard 2

Dane Reynolds not only popularized but validated the short, stubby, square tail movement in 2009, first by finishing second at Lowers on his 5’7 Dumpster Diver and proving that ‘performance’ is in fact subjective. Second, by any clip that came out of the ever missed, Marine Layer Productions, in the years to follow.  

In the past decade, a lot’s changed for the hip surf god: three kids, FORMER, Chapter 11, life off tour, etc. but Dane’s penchant for short square tails remains the same. The Neckbeard, Dane’s first evolution from the Dumpster Diver, when first released, you couldn’t walk a Southern California beach without seeing one in the lineup or parking lot. The Neckbeard 2 has become one of CI’s premier shapes, proving its worth with Dane’s high fidelity performance in the Electric Acid Surfboard Test, then later above the lip when Eithan Osborne won the highest air and $20k at Stab High.

During a recent visit to Channel Islands HQ, Dane plucked a Neckbeard 2 in CI’s proprietary Spine-Tek reflex technology off the rack. Waiting ages for a custom can be grueling but who doesn’t like their name scribed above the stringer.

Most the time, for the average surfer, a board straight off the rack will go just fine.

Hit play above if you aren’t already. Then tap below for the origin of the Neckbeard.