Mayhem’s Fresh Spin on a Killer 1980s Surfboard

Originally posted on SURFER | By August Howell | Last updated Jul 29, 2025 6:53 PM ET

Though Matt "Mayhem" Biolos can make killer surfboard models with his own files, the man behind ...Lost Surfboards throughbreads has put out several solid collaborations over the years. The California Twin with Mark Richards, the Cobra Killer with Paul Lefevre, and the Puddle Jumper Sting with Duke Aipa, just to name a few.

The Rad Zapper follows that same track, this time with 1980s Australian standout Cheyne Horan. The name is a hark to Cheyne’s Lazor Zap model shaped by Geoff McCoy. It wasn’t for everyone. As Matt Warshaw put it, the Lazor Zap worked well under Cheyne’s feet, but for everyone else, it was like riding an air mattress pumped up to 75 PSI.”

But the shape was clearly influential. Cheyne rode it to four runner-up finishes on the world tour with his fast and loose style. An impressionable teenager was all about it. As Matt wrote on …Lost’s website, “I watched him win the first OP Pro, as a frothed out 13yo, standing on Huntington Beach, with 100,000 people, in 1982…and knew I wanted to be a part of it. Life changed forever.”

More than four decades later, Matt and Cheyne got together to modernize the Lazor Zap into something more contemporary but still showcased the signature flair. This summer, Kolohe Andino took out a cherry red model with a checkerboard stripe for a glassy day at Lowers and well, you'll have to see for yourself. Not only does the speed and power leap off the screen, but I also loved how smooth he looked on the transitions.

Flat deck, soft rails, low rocker, wide tail, this thing is meant to haul in softer surf. Another strange-looking signature is the soft swallow “butt” tail and double hips on both sides. But if it works, it works.

This article first appeared on SURFER and was syndicated with permission.

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