The tradewindsurf Matt Biolos Interview August 9, 2012 – Tags: Chilli, DHD, interviews, Kolohe Andino, Lee Stacey, lost surfboards, Matt Biolis, Rod Dahlberg, shaper, shaping
A passionate guy and revolutionary shaper, tradewind surf has bought you an interview for arguably the most popular name in shaping Matt Biolos. With someone having a reputation like his you would think it might be easy to brush off a hands on online store like TWS for an interview, but when i asked the big guy, he jumped at the chance.
The thing i loved about interviewing Matt was the feeling i got that each answer is given, brutally honestly, no rubbish & all different insight, answers you maybe don’t expect. With no more introduction needed read on & see what Biolos had to say about all things shaping, where its going, patenting models, what influenced him & fading at his home break Lower Trestles.
Willow-
Hey Matt, the first thing I would like to ask is about the marketing of lost surfboards, for example, when I started here in Oz with your boards, all we heard about was the Rocket, the following year it was the Sub Scorcher, now it’s the Sub Driver, [Each model surfed sick, sold truckloads & still do] do you pick which board/s you will push for the year, or do you base it on rider feedback, I mean I must say, I am riding a blunt at the moment & it is fun as hell to ride but wasn’t pushed as heavily, as well as a heap of your other models which us here and our customers have had a ball on?
Matt Biolos-
ITS NOT LIKE WE GET TO CHOOSE WHICH MODELS RESONATE WITH THE PUBLIC. IT SEEMS LIKE WHEN WE “PUSH” A MODEL, IT FALLS ON DEAF EARS AND SOMETHING ELSE BECOMES WILDFIRE. WITH THAT SAID, A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH WORD OF MOUTH. THE ROCKET WAS A COMPLETE WORD OF MOUTH EXPLOSION. THIS YEAR, THE MINI DRIVER REALLY TOOK OFF DUE TO MASONS VIDEO SEGMENTS HE MADE FROM HAWAII THIS WINTER… HE MADE IT LOOK REALLY FUN. ITS A PRETTY GOOD ALL AROUND DIVERSE BOARD.
Willow-
I have heard a bit of talk here & there about shapers possibly patenting there models, I personally think it would be a hard thing to police properly but definitely felt that if it was possible, would be welcomed by some, what are your thoughts, do you think its possible & would you welcome something like that?
Matt Biolos-
ITS DEFINITELY POSSIBLE TO TRADEMARK THE MODEL NAMES EASILY. NOT THAT I LIKE TO SPEND THE $ TO DO SO. PATENTING THE DESIGN WOULD BE A REALLY HARD THING TO DO. YOU WOULD NEED TO SHOW SOME SIGNIFICANTLY DIFFERENT ELEMENTS TO WHAT HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE. ITS NOT SOME THING THAT INTERESTS ME REALLY. I SUPPOSE IF YOU REALLY BROKE DOWN THE DOOR WITH SOME THING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT, THEN IT MAKES SOME SENSE… BUT WITH THE NEED TO PADDLE TO CATCH WAVES AND WITH CURRENT MATERIALS, I DONT SEE THAT HAPPENING IN THE NEAR FUTURE.
Willow-
When I was a grommet, board shapes that were all the rage were refined performance shortboards, that when I look back were a lot harder to surf than the boards that I surf on now e.g squashed shortys with more volume, in turn being easier to surf up to generally around four foot. It seems that you were one of the only guys doing boards like that when the majority of boards were really sharp, thin, knifey shapes. Do you feel partially responsible for the explosion in board shapes being the way they are now or are you more like, ‘What’s the big deal we have been doing this for years?
Matt Biolos-
IN REGARDS TO THE LAST STATEMENT IN QUOTES, YES, I FEEL THAT WAY. BUT AS FAR AS TAKING CREDIT OR ANYTHING, THAT IS FOR THE PUBLIC TO DECIDE. I DO KNOW THAT AS A KID, I GREW UP RIDING HIGH VOLUMED 80’S QUADS AND THRUSTERS WITH DEEP VEE BOTTOMS THAT NEUTRALIZED THE VOLUME, AND BEING CLOSE TO 200LBS , EVEN IN MY 20’S, I ALWAYS LIKED HAVING FOAM UNDER MY FEET…AND BELLY.
Willow-
Where do you see board shapes going from here staying where they are for a while or heading back to the days of the 6’2 x 18 1/4 x 2 1/4 maybe you have something mental on the horizon you would like to talk about?
Matt Biolos-
I THINK WITH THE DIVERSITY OF WAVES BEING RIDDEN AND RIDERS WHO RIDE THEM THAT THERE CAN BE ALL SORTS OF DIFFERENT OPTIONS IN THE FUTURE. THAT SAID, I THINK YOU WILL SEE A LOT MORE SPOT SPECIFIC BOARDS BEING DESIGNED FOR THE GUYS ON TOUR AND THAT WILL TRICKLE DOWN TO THE PUBLIC. IF SURFING BECAME MORE HOMOGENISED WITH WAVES POOLS FEATURING REPETITIVE WAVES THAT DONT REQUIRE PADDLING OR COMPETING FOR CATCHING THEM, THEN YOU WILL SEE A MASSIVE CHANGE IN THE BOARDS PEOPLE RIDE ON THOSE TYPES OF CONTROLLED SITUATIONS. MORE LIKE WAKE BOARDS/ SNOW BOARDS I FEEL.
Willow-
How long have you been shaping for?
Matt Biolos-
25 YEARS THIS THIS JUNE.
Willow-
Is it hard to come up with new idea safter all this time, Lost always seems to have a fresh new range each year, do you put that down to personal ideas, pro rider feedback, your average surfer feedback or a mixture of the three?
Matt Biolos-
I HAVE NO SHORTAGE OF IDEAS. ITS THE OPPOSITE, I AM ALWAYS NEEDING TO SHRINK DOWN MY IDEAS TO THE MOST COMMERCIAL CONCEPTS IF I WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS WISE. TOO MANY IDEAS!
MOSTLY A MIX OF MY PERSONAL NEEDS AND WHAT THE PROS ARE DEMANDING. ITS TWO SEPARATE CAMPS THAT SOME TIMES INTERTWINE.
Willow-
In my experience pro surfers are hard to please in the board department, liking maybe one in 5 just as a figure to put out there, how is someone like Kolohe Andino to shape for? Happy with most boards or is he another fussy surfer.
Matt Biolos-
HE IS NOT A FUSSY SURFER, NO. WE DO MUCH BETTER AVERAGES WITH HIM THAN THAT..MORE LIKE THE OPPOSITE. KOLOHE HAS BEEN A DREAM TO WORK WITH. IS FATHER IS VERY DISCERNING THOUGH. HE DRIVES ME TO BE THE BEST I CAN BE.
Willow-
The break that springs to mind when I think of Lost is Lower Trestles, are a lot of your boards shaped to suit differing conditions of that wave? There must be a lot of Mayhems in the line up from day to day, as i know that it’s a very crowded break these days, if some ‘blow in’ fades you & he is riding a Lost are you still able to snap on him or does it make it a bit harder Haha?
Matt Biolos
I DO MORE FADING THAT GET FADED!
Willow-
Do you try all of your board models that you create?
Matt Biolos-
NOT ALL, BUT MOST. I HAVN’T RIDDEN A TAJ BURROW WHIPLASH AND DON’T REALLY HAVE A DESIRE TO. I KNOW WHERE TO SEPARATE THE PROS FROM THE BROS, AND KEEP MY PERSONAL OPINIONS OUT OF CERTAIN THINGS. HE AND I SHOULDN’T BE RIDING THE SAME BOARD.
Willow-
You have always from what I have heard & seen to be very hands on with your label, even now that it is worldwide & going very well, is that a business decision or are you just genuinely still passionate about the label after all these years!
Matt Bilolos-
ITS MY LIFE. ITS MY BABY. I HAVE 4 KIDS THAT ARE THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IN MY LIFE, BUT THIS BRAND IS MY FIRST BORN.
Willow-
Where to for shaping now, is there room for more shapers to start or is there already to many flooding the market?
Matt Biolos-
THERE IS ALWAYS ROOM FOR A TALENTED YOUNG DESIGNER WITH CREATIVE IDEAS , WORK ETHIC AND PASSION FOR WHAT HE DOES…IN ANY VOCATION.
Willow-
Finally how did you get so good at shaping, who were your influences & who were you inspired by? Was it a team rider/s or a certain shape that got the ball rolling to get where Lost is in the states & all over the world today?
Matt Biolos-
I HAVE BEEN INSPIRED BY MANY THINGS. THE FIRST BEING THE PUNK ROCK, DO IT YOURSELF MINDSET OF THE 80’S PUNK ROCK SCENE. WRITE YOUR OWN SONGS, PLAN A PARTY, PRACTICE, PUT ON A SHOW…MAKE YOUR OWN TEES,AND FLYERS BUILD A BRAND THAT WAY. THEN I STARTED WORKING AT HERBIE FLETCHER SURF SHOP IN 1987 AND THE FLETCHER FAMILY WAS A HUGE INFLUENCE ON MY PATH IN THIS WORLD. FROM THERE THE LIST GOES ON. TIMMY PATTERSON, WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN MY SKILLS DEVELOPING. ONCE I STARTED TRAVELING THE INFLUENCES GOT MUCH WIDER. SURFBOARD SHAPERS AND BOARDS FROM AROUND THE WORLD. AUSTRALIAN SHAPING HAS BEEN A HUGE IMPACT ON MY LIFE..FROM GREG WEBBER AND ROD DAHLBERG, TO DHD, JS, MY GOOD FRIEND AND BUSINESS PARTNER CHILLI, LEE STACEY AS WELL.
Willow-
Thanks very much for your time Matt it’s been great to have you share your insight into the industry with me & all our customers!
WHAT OUR CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN SAYING-
Will from West oz-
The lost boards i bought, The Driver as well as the Mini Driver are insane, quick, responsive and are holding up well!
Dan From Gold Coast-
My 6’2 Stealth goes really well at 3-4 foot Burleigh the unique tail allows for nice carves but releases to, thanks Willow
Al From West oz-
Loving my 5’10 Lost black sheep in the junk, a fast mobile fish!
Pat from Sunny Coast-
5’7 Rocket bottom turns like a regular short board releases off the top like a proper fish!
