The RETRO TRIPPER is inspired by the desire for a short and wide, with plenty of glide, fish alternative, for surfing punchy and powerful waves with confidence and control. It’s wide (Beaked) nose, winged pin tail, mellow retro-rocker, flat deck and steep downward rails, combined with Twin+1 fin set-up, excels in good waves, powerful waves, hollow waves, fast waves and big waves, but is still wide and skatey enough for every day fun. Developed in early 2021, first for myself as a board for smaller days on an early season Salina Cruz, March strike mission. My first one worked well, with room to improve, so I made another for April in The Mentawais, while back on the move. At the same time, inspired by my own, we made a few more, for some team riders around home. STAB Electric Acid came with a call, so we made two for the siblings Ho, glassed on fins and all. From these early prototypes, feedback was made…and by July ’21, on the road to El Salvador…hoping they passed the grade. With Coco Ho and Luke Davis as the ponies, we scored solid surf and realized The Retro Tripper was money! Based off the RetroRipper chassis, but significantly shorter (with lower entry rocker), thicker, wider and with a forward outline. RETRO TRIPPER is similar to our classic #MonkFish-round pin, ridden by Cory Lopez, in his seminal Skeleton Bay segment, from 5’5” Redux. The Flat deck, forward outline and foil, steep downward rails and wide outline make for a stable, easy paddling momentum making machine. The bottom curves, with a soft rolled vee up front, blending to the slightest of single concave though center and gradually receding to a double concaved vee in the tail, combine with a curvy tail rocker and wing enhanced reduction of surface area. These elements align for a forgiving and precise ride than negates the significant volume and allows nimble surfing and high speed and in critical sections. Wether tossed in the bag for a “TRIP”, paddled out for punchy local beach break mornings, or saved for lined up days at the closest pumping point break, or even just a mellow vibe glide in typical daily surf, the RETRO TRIPPER will deliver. Glassed standard with single sided opaque laminations and minimalist logos, for a stylistically mellow 70’s gold than an in your face, 80’s bold. BlackSheepBuilt boards begin with light weight, 1.5lb virgin EPS and utilize the most advanced “Triax-NCF” (Non-Crimp Fabric) high-quality carbon fiber, to create a fast, response and lively surfboard. A board that is both lightweight and flexible, but also surprisingly strong. “Triax” Carbon is laminated only on the deck, with a short bottom lap and sandwiched with multiple layers of 4oz, “D-size” fiberglass, top and bottom, for both durability and performance. Engineered for rapid reaction and maintain a forgiving flex and dampened overall feel, under foot. The combination of both Triax Carbon and fiberglass helps BlackSheepBuilt boards feel lively and exciting, but familiar at the same time. The unique performance of BlackSheepBuilt boards comes from the Triax Carbon, which combines a triple-axis +30/-30°/0 layup. It is an “un-crimped”, multi-directional carbon, which enhances and controls torsional force from rail to rail. The 0° nose to tail fibers, provides a lively “stringer”, increasing flex rebound speed and the feeling of a quick response, when loaded up under pressure. The +30/-30° fibers control and speed up the return of torsional twisting through the length of the board. Multi-axial carbon fiber is a great alternative to traditional woven carbon fibers because it is made up of alternately aligned layers of unidirectional carbon reinforcement. Because it’s not woven, the fibers do not “crimp” under and over perpendicular fibers, in the way that traditional woven fabrics do. The fibers lay flatter, retain less resin, remain smoother, straighter and stronger, with a more natural flex. Unlike traditional woven fabrics, there is also no 90 (degree) rail to rail carbon, which creates weak points and easy fissures for deck buckles, cracks and breaks. The +30/-30° fabric orientation, the torsion force and pressure from the surfer’s feet radiates outward to more of the rail line, creating greater drive, connection and thus control, with the edges and perimeter of the board. Strength and stability underfoot and along the rail line, work together as one. WARNING: Carbon Fiber surfboards can easily get Hot! They’re dark…and like all things dark, they soak sun and heat up. The BlackSheepBuilt boards are made with lightweight EPS foam and a Carbon Fiber shell. BlackSheepBuilt boards are a high end surfboard construction. Treat them that way. Do not leave them in your car when shopping. Do not leave them in direct sunlight, while bronzing on the beach. They will get hot and It is possible for them to overheat and bubble up. Protect and take proper care of your investment. We recommend keeping these boards safe in a heat reflective day bag. Take the bag all the way to the beach, if you plan to hang out in the sun, before or after surfing. If the boards do get dinged, let them dry out and fix them properly. With proper care and a little love, these boards will take the day to day bumps and bruises very well, remain light and extremely lively on the waves and provide hundreds of days of surfing enjoyment.
