Who - Launched in 2018, The RNF_RETRO was Lost Surfboards spin towards a more classic, almost 1970's inspired, fish. Generous dims, low rocker, flat deck, steep rails and wide tail, made catching waves and speeding along, easier than any fish they ever designed. What set the RNF_RETRO apart from the endless schools of fish, was the use of a snowboard inspired design element, reverse radius side-cut, in the outline.
When - The RNF Retro can be ridden in just about anything. But this model really favors clean, slopey surf (ranging from knee high to overhead). That is where the characteristics of this board really shine. The right surfer can also take this board in steep surf and reap the benefits of the Retros sheer speed.
What - Lost first used side-cut, in our "Pelagic" model, a decade or so earlier. Side-cut outlines are nothing new in surfboards, San Diego pioneers like Mirandon and Caster had used them for ages. We feel the sidecut enables a flat rockered and generally parallel outlined board, to turn sharper and retain speed in tight radius turns. They "lock in" to the wave face and carve, off the rail, without sliding out or digging. The RNF_RETRO uses not one, but two side cut radiuses: one between the feet, starting just behind the wide point and another, shorter/tighter one, right under the rear foot, in place of a hip, or wing. Lost believes this outline lends the RNF_RETRO a truly unique ride in a sea of relentlessly similar "fish".
Here is what... Lost did for the RNF Retro Revamp '23:
• Moved the wide point slightly forward, but gently narrowed/pulled in, the forward 12" of the nose, to get it outta the way, in tighter turning situations.
• Deepened the rear side cut, for bite and control, right under the back foot and also added a hint of width to the tail block, for horizontal trim.
• Without changing the tip or tail, we adjusted the rocker curves, both fore and aft. The tail rocker hangs lower in the rear third of the board, but then swoops up quickly, though the fins, creating more curve under the rear foot without actually adding rocker. Up front we took a more direct route to the nose, cutting out some of the curve in the forward 1/3rd of the board. At the same time, we eliminated the slight forward vee.
• We carried the thickness foil further forward, adding paddle power, ease of entry into waves and front foot drive, to balance the now more curvaceous tail rocker.
