Trip Forman: Welcome to the REAL Board Loft. I’m Trip Forman, and today we’re in the shaping room with Matt Biolos. Matt, thanks for having us.
Matt Biolos: Happy to have you.
Trip Forman: We’re stoked to be here. We want to talk about the Mayhem x Mark Richards California Mid. I’ll start by saying the Mayhem MR California Twin in Proformance Glass was my absolute favorite board you ever built for me—one of my all-time favorites in that size range. You got me hooked on Proformance way back with the Plank and the single layer deck. That board was magic. Everyone who’s ridden the California Twin has loved it. It kind of took off slowly because people thought it was more retro, but they didn’t realize how much performance was in it since it’s a spin-off from the Super Twin. It has a deep, aggressive concave through the tail, no retro V, and a modern tail rocker with a fishy nose. So we’re excited to now see that concept extended into a mid fish with the California Mid. Matt, tell us about it. It’s not just a scaled-up Twin, right?
Matt Biolos: Right. It’s designed to be ridden 6 to 10 inches longer than your California Twin. It keeps the same design characteristics—wing swallow, overall DNA—but we stretched it out and adjusted the thickness and scaling. So if you rode a 6’0” or 6’2”, you’d ride a 6’8” or 6’10”, maybe even a 6’6” if you’re pushing it. The idea came from our Australian partners. They’ve been working closely with MR, and after the California Twin and California Pin had been out for years, they suggested expanding the range with a mid-length for MR’s audience—guys in their 40s, 50s, and 60s. Most mids have pintails, but we wanted to keep that classic MR wing swallow. The swallow is more pulled in since the board is longer—about an inch narrower than the Twin—but it still has that aggressive wing. It’s very MR, with a tail and swallow reminiscent of his early ’80s boards. The rocker and concave are exactly like the California Twin, just extended. As you add length, the rocker scales naturally, and it keeps that deep single concave all the way through.
Trip Forman: That deep concave gives a lot of lift and pop.
Matt Biolos: Exactly. Combined with the wing and pulled-in swallow, it actually makes this a really good small-wave mid—more so than most. The concave creates lift, and the wing gives a defined turning point. I ride this exact 6’8” stock size and can surf it in stomach-high waves, move it around, and throw it. It scales well as it gets longer, keeping similar thickness and rocker. It’s designed as a 6’8” baseline, or up to 10 inches longer for lower-level surfers. The curvy tail keeps it controlled despite the deep concave. This one is 6’8” x 21.63” x 2.75” at 45 liters. It’s a great small-wave board, designed as a 2+1 with MR fins. The wing helps control the concave, which could otherwise feel loose. Compared to the RNF96 Kingfish, which has a smoother outline and V in the tail, this board has more lift and small-wave performance. It carries speed even in knee-high waves. If you’re struggling on a board your height or slightly bigger and want an easy-riding oversized mid fish, this is a great option.
Trip Forman: That small-wave spark is what impressed me with the California Twin. As a 200+ pound surfer on my backside, I could sit inside and catch everything—something I never do. The speed generation was insane.
Matt Biolos: And now with this board, you’re back outside because of the added paddle power and glide. You can get in early, set your line, and go. It has enough rocker to still turn and not feel like a straight-line board. The wider nose and parallel outline help with paddling and down-the-line speed, but it also has a bit more nose rocker than the Kingfish. The wing swallow controls the concave so it doesn’t get out of hand—you can lock it in and pivot.
Trip Forman: On the Kingfish, you mentioned going to a thruster at the upper end. Can you do that here?
Matt Biolos: Sure. You can ride it as a thruster if needed—like if the waves suddenly get big. It’ll feel more locked in, maybe a bit stiff, but it won’t slide out. We released this alongside another board, but this one was specifically requested by our Australian partners. It’s inspired by MR’s influence, while the other board represents our classic performance fish. They sit in a similar space but are quite different in design. This one has more spark in smaller waves and works as an all-arounder, while the Kingfish is better in average to better conditions. It also works great with MR fin templates, whether Futures or FCS.
Trip Forman: Awesome. Matt, thanks for breaking down the Mayhem MR California Mid. If you have questions or want to order one—stock or custom—give us a call at the shop or check us out online at realwatersports.com/surfing. Thanks for tuning in.
Matt Biolos: Thank you.
