AIPA X MAYHEM Surfboard collaboration.
Aipa “STING” The STING is a surfboard design attribute, inspired by speed boat hydroplane hulls. Invented and developed for surfboards by legendary Surfer/Shaper, Ben Aipa, in the early 1970’s. The design is focused on surface area reduction, by utilizing a unique wing placement that allows a wider forward surface area, for “planing” and carrying speed, with an abruptly reduced tail curve, behind the STING, to initiate early release, intuitive pivot and radical maneuverability reaction, when engaged in turns. It is often used to make larger, wider, grovel type boards, more maneuverable...or to maximize the performance of HP short boards.
The STING was the first winged surfboard of its kind and was the blueprint for what would become the winged twin, winged swallow and later on, influence the bump wing, thruster of the the 1980’s. It is one of very few board designs that when you see it, even from afar, you know who created it.
Historically speaking:
Aipas STING was a pivotal design advancement that made boards wildly more maneuverable. Test piloted by revolutionary Hawaiian surfers,Larry Bertlemann and Buttons Kaluhiokalani, who used the STING, to pull off maneuvers never before dreamed of. A key ingredient in the explosion of high performance surfing during that era, the STING rapidly went thru a multitude of refinements. During this process, these freewheeling Hawaiian hotshots were igniting the waves with intense carving 360’s, “Larry” Laybacks and other never before seen, hybrids of power surfing and skate style antics. It soon caught the attention of young World Tour Surfer/Shaper, Mark Richards, who rode quivers of Aipa STINGS and used them as a direct influence for his forthcoming 4 World
SurfingTitles on self shaped, winged swallow, twin fins. Ben Aipa is accredited as one of the most influential shapers of modern surfing. His work and design philosophies impacted many of the worlds best surfers and shapers. His contributions are many ...but most popularly known for inventing the swallow tail and following up with the iconic STING. Continually updating the STING, though the decades, to align. with performance levels of the times, Ben educated many young shapers through the years, including his two sons. Eventually handing over the AIPA Surfboards label, to his youngest son, Duke, who now continues pushing Aipa designs into the next era.
Says Duke: Dad always said, “In order for surfing to change, surfboards need to change”. Duke takes pride in evolving the AIPA shapes for tomorrow's surfer with. an emphasis on applying the AIPA STING as an element that enhances a boards design. Duke continues: "The collaboration with ...lost and Mayhem is a perfect example of this....taking Matts proven models and including the STING design element, to create radical new sensations of a familiar model and introduce new surfers to the one and only STING."
Collaboration with ...Lost:
To launch the STING collaboration between ...lost and Aipa, we chose two longstanding, popular models, to inject the STING. Working side by side with Duke, we built these two unique spins on a pair of well known faves...The Sub Scorcher and The Puddle Jumper. We approached every detail, from the obvious outline adjustments and introduction of the STING, to the rocker, foil, fin placement and of course, graphic presentation, with painstaking detail. Creating radical new possibilities, by incorporating the iconic STING into a pair of proven
performers.
CARTOON BY Drew Toons.