LOST THE GRIFFIN- CLEAR/WHITE SURFBOARD

The SPEED DEMON was an original …Lost Surfboards model—a model synonymous with full-on, pedal-to-the-metal, furiously fast, small-wave surfing.

Originally developed with feedback from San Clemente Mafia maestro, Dino Andino, in the mid-1990s, it became one of our early, well-known models. Tuned at the long, sloping, flattish-faced waves of Trestles, with design details drawn from decades of down-the-line speed runs and big, head-snapping hacks.

With its speed-centric low rocker, plenty of width and thickness, deep concave, and some vee running through the rear of Dino’s signature extra-wide tail block, the SPEED DEMON was one of the first models that we successfully sold through surf shops around the country and across the world.

Cut to Spring 2025

Dino’s son, longtime design muse Kolohe, was focused on simply surfing local summer slop and occasional quality days around town.

On small days, bouncing between Puddle Jumpers, Sub-Drivers, and Rad Rippers—all to great effect—with an emphasis on sustained speed for freedom to do whatever you want on lackluster waves. At one point we handed him a Rad Zapper, our collab with Cheyne Horan. At Trestles, he laid down some truly inspiring, classic, calm, cool power surfing with vicious flair and finesse, that rapidly went viral.

As summer progressed, Kolohe came with a challenge:

“I want something that sits between the Rippers, Rad Rippers, and Sub-Drivers that I’ve been riding. Built for crazy bursts of speed, with the wild wide tail of the Rad Zapper… but more normal looking. More normal feeling. No beaks or double-bump butt tails. Normal rails… and normal size. 5’10”, but wider and faster and gnarly. I want to fly. Built solely for speed… if I can get speed, I can turn. A full-on Speed Demon. Don’t worry about the turning.”

Like so many times before, we went to work—attempting to reinvent the proverbial wheel. But not really. With Cheyne and the Rad Zapper, we learned just...