The fish surfboard (or fish for short) is one of the most popular board types worldwide today. But how did an unconventional kneeboard design become a surfing icon that has dominated lineups for over 50 years? The history of the fish is marked by necessity-driven innovation, stubbornness, and a dash of late 1960s Californian surf culture.
The most important information in brief:
- The fish design is not for small waves, but for hollow reef breaks.
- The innovation was invented from a broken longboard, which was shared.
- The name “Fish” comes from the outline of the board and the swallowtail shape of the tail, which resembles a fish.
- Originally, the Fish was surfed as the inventor’s kneeboard, but when he lent it to a friend, he tried it standing up.
The birth of the fish: Steve Lis and a broken longboard (1967)
The story begins in 1967 in Point Loma, San Diego. Sixteen-year-old kneeboarder Steve Lis was faced with a problem: his fins kept rubbing against the narrow rails of his pintail kneeboards. The solution was radical—he split the tail of a broken longboard, creating the distinctive swallowtail shape that would give the fish its name.
The design was not an aesthetic gimmick. Lis wanted to surf the steep, hollow reef breaks of South San Diego – spots like Big Rock and Newbreak – more aggressively. The split tail provided exactly the width his fins needed without sacrificing maneuverability. However
Incidentally, the name “Fish” comes directly from the shape: the tail is reminiscent of a fish fin. But the analogy goes even further – the board’s riding characteristics, with its flowing, smooth turns, are also reminiscent of the movements of a fish in water.
The underground phase: Kneeboarding culture in the 1970s
In the early 70s, the Fish remained an insider tip among kneeboarders. At the time, the surfing scene was obsessed with surfing deeper into the barrel, and kneeboarding offered exactly that opportunity. With its wide tail, flat rocker, and twin fin setup, the Fish enabled radical maneuvers in critical wave sections.
It wasn’t until San Diego local Jeff Ching borrowed Lis’ board and surfed it standing up that its potential began to show. The Fish didn’t just work on your knees—it revolutionized surfing. Jeff was so excited about the board that he didn’t give it back—Steve had to shape a new one.
The wide shape and generous volume made the Fish extremely fast. The flat rocker provided maximum glide, while the split tail optimized water flow and enabled precise control in turns. What began as a kneeboard solution evolved into a full-fledged surfboard design.
The breakthrough of the fish design: Mark Richards and four world championship titles (1979-1982)
The fish finally made its breakthrough at the end of the 1970s – thanks to an Australian. Mark Richards, known as “MR” or, due to his unorthodox style, “Wounded Seagull.” Mark Richards took Lis’ concept and developed it further.
In 1978, Richards debuted his own twin-fin design on the World Tour. The result was historic: four consecutive world championship titles from 1979 to 1982. Richards proved that the fish was not just a fun board for small waves, but competitive high-performance equipment.
What made it special was that Richards shaped his own boards, making him the first surfer to become world champion on boards he had built himself. His twin-fin setup with wider rails and customized rocker set new standards. Suddenly, the fish was no longer underground, but mainstream.
The Thruster Era: Temporary Disappearance (1980s/1990s)
Ironically, the success of the Fish led to its temporary decline. Fish boards were surfed with two fins, which is why they were also nicknamed Twinnie. In 1981, Simon Anderson invented the Thruster – a three-fin setup that offered more control and more versatile performance. The surfing industry and competition scene completely changed course.
The fish largely disappeared from lineups. Only die-hard purists and free thinkers remained loyal to the design. This phase was important: the fish became a symbol of alternative, free surfing away from the mainstream of competition.
The revival: 2000s to today
The fish experienced a renaissance in the 2000s. Surfers were looking for alternatives to performance shortboards and rediscovered the joy of more relaxed, flow-oriented surfing. The fish offered exactly that: speed, maneuverability, and a unique riding experience.
Modern shapers combined the classic retro fish design with contemporary technologies. Epoxy constructions made the boards lighter and more responsive. New fin setups—quad configurations alongside the
Surfers such as Rob Machado,
Why fish is more relevant today than ever before
The modern surfing scene appreciates the fish for several reasons:
- Versatility: While the original was designed for hollow reef breaks, today’s Fish works in almost all conditions. This makes it the perfect “one-quiver” travel board if you’re going on a surf trip with just one board.
- Paddle power: The generous volume and wide outline provide excellent paddling characteristics. You catch more waves and have more contact with the water—the best way to improve your skills.
Speed generator: The flat rocker and efficient water flow of the tail make the Fish extremely fast. In weak sections where other boards get stuck, the Fish glides effortlessly. - Einzigartiges Fahrgefühl: Das Fish surft sich grundlegend anders als ein Thruster. Die Bewegungen sind fließender, organischer – eben wie ein Fisch. Diese spielerische Qualität bringt Abwechslung ins Surfen und macht einfach Spaß.
Not all fish are the same: the most important varieties
Das ursprüngliche Design hat diverse Evolutionen durchlaufen:
- Retro Fish: The classic version according to Steve Lis – short (5-6 feet), very wide, thick, flat rocker, twin fin setup. Ideal for small to medium waves.
- Modern Fish: Slightly longer outline, modified rocker, often with a quad setup. More versatile and suitable for larger waves.
- Hybrid Fish / Mid-Length: Lengths between 6’6“ and 8’0”, combining fish characteristics with more volume. Perfect as an all-rounder or for stronger surfers.
What you should look out for when buying
The Fish is not a beginner board. You should be confident on a softboard or funboard before switching. Switching too early will lead to frustration and stagnant progress.
The rule of thumb for size is: 5-15 cm shorter than your height, depending on weight and ability. Surfers with some experience prefer more volume, while advanced surfers can go shorter and thinner.
The fin setup is a matter of taste. Twin fins are loose and fast, quads offer more grip in critical sections. Try both setups and decide which suits you better.
Conclusion: A design for eternity
More than 50 years after its invention, the Fish is more relevant than ever. Steve Lis’ pragmatic solution to a kneeboard problem evolved into one of the most influential surfboard designs in the history of surfing. The Fish stands for innovation, individuality, and the pure joy of riding waves—values that still define surfing today.
Whether as an addition to your quiver or as your only board, the Fish offers a surfing experience that no other board design can replicate. It is fast, agile, playful, and works in a wide variety of conditions. That’s why it will continue to have a loyal following in the future – from tricky reef breaks to windy North Sea beach breaks.
