Aipa Sting Mark Richards "King Kong"

Hawaiian surfer/shaper Ben Aipa developed a unique surfboard in the mid 70s. The "Sting" surfboard featured a dramatic cut away rail design that in a way gave the board a dual personality. The forward 2/3 was wide and thick like a shortboard, the back 3rd was narrow and hard edged like a big wave gun. Whether the design was really inspired by racing hydrofoil boats or an accident in the shaping bay only Ben knows, but this design under the feet of a group of hot young Hawaiian surfers and emerging pro Mark Richards raised performance levels. This board features a step in the bottom (to accelerate water flow) a removable fin box and distinctive airbrushed artwork by Hawaiian artist/surfer Al Dove. The artwork was inspired by the 70s version of King Kong and shows Kong atop the World Trade Centre buildings. MR rode this board in numerous contests and was riding it when he finished runner up to Michael Peterson at the inaugural Stubbies contest at Burliegh Heads in 1977.