Who - Most skill levels can ride the RNF ‘96. Beginners will size it up to make for an easy to ride and fun model once they have the essential basics down. Intermediates/Advanced surfers will ride this on average 2-5 inches shorter than their traditional shortboards to get the most performance out of it.
When - The RNF 96' can be ridden in a multitude of wave conditions. It is most comfortable on sub-average to good + conditions, but in the hands of the right surfer, this model can go below or above those range parameters.
What - The world’s all-time best-selling fish model is back. Still goes fast, still allows hard carving turns, still allows a wide range of performance in varied surf, still paddles great… and still makes you look good. Just more precise, fine-tuned, and ready for high performance surfing than ever! The RNF ‘96 features a thruster setup and was designed to be ridden as a twin plus one. The board also works great as a pure twin fin or try all three standard thruster fins for different conditions and a more performance feel. Based off the past 25 years of building boards, Lost tried to create a consistent surfboard based off, but not exacting to the varied RNF’s of 1996. With diligent testing being done by many of Lost Surfboards top team riders, including Kolohe, Coco, Ian Crane, Crosby Cola the last few months of 2020, Lost created as an all-around, rip-able fun machine, for a wide level of surfers. This fish as always is about performance, not just a crutch to go fast on in small surf like most. The rocker and curves remain the same as the original proven curves. The “secret” to this board’s success is that, unlike most all other “fish” the tail width on Lost’s is closer to that of a typical HP Shortboard. This allows much more control off the tail than typical fish designs and a much more high-performance design. The bottom concave is a classic single to double concave, accelerating vee combination. With the original RNF the board was all over the map in those rudimentary hand shape days. Each board was different, with most of them having noticeably different curves and thickness from one rail to the other. In re-creating these boards, Matt Biolos went with a gut feeling on what would work best, and it came out better than all of us dreamed.
EXACT UPDATES
Rocker and curves: Remain engrained to the original proven curves.
Outline and curves: Both nose and tail were usually the same width at 12” and remain true, but with more precision, including added curve and width around 6” from the tail. One “secret” about the original’s success was that, unlike most all other “fish” the tail width on ours was closer to that of a typical HP Shortboard. This allows much more control off the tail than typical fish designs.
Bottom Contours: The classic single concave to double concave, accelerating vee combination are defining design elements and hold true to adherence.
Thickness Flow, Deckline, Rails, and Tail Foil: They were all over the map in those rudimentary hand shape days. Each board was different, with most of them having noticeably different curves and thickness from one rail to the other. In re-creating these boards, which one is correct? In the end, I went with gut feeling on what would work best.
STANDARD DIMS
…Lost RNF '96 stock dimensions - standard dims
Length
Width
Thickness
Volume
4'10
18.13"
2.13"
21.25 L
5'0
18.50"
2.18"
23.00 L
5'1
18.63"
2.22"
24.00 L
5'2
18.75"
2.25"
25.00 L
5'3
19.00"
2.30"
26.00 L
5'4
19.25"
2.33"
27.25 L
5'5
19.50"
2.37"
28.50 L
5'5
19.25"
2.25"
26.50 L
5'6
19.75"
2.40"
29.50 L
5'7
20.00"
2.44"
31.00 L
5'8
20.25"
2.46"
32.00 L
5'9
20.50"
2.52"
33.50 L
5'10
20.75"
2.56"
35.00 L
5'11
21.00"
2.60"
36.50 L
6'0
21.25"
2.64"
38.00 L
6'1
21.50"
2.68"
39.50 L
6'2
21.75"
2.70"
41.00 L
6'3
22.00"
2.75"
42.50 L
6'4
22.00"
2.75"
43.50 L
WIDE DIMS
…Lost RNF '96 stock dimensions - wide dims
Length
Width
Thickness
Volume
5'5
20.00"
2.40"
29.50 L
5'6
20.25"
2.45"
31.00 L
5'7
20.50"
2.50"
32.50 L
5'8
20.75"
2.53"
34.00 L
5'9
21.00"
2.56"
35.25 L
5'10
21.25"
2.60"
36.75 L
5'11
21.50"
2.65"
38.25 L
6'0
21.75"
2.70"
40.00 L
6'1
22.00"
2.73"
41.50 L
6'2
22.25"
2.75"
43.00 L
6'3
22.38"
2.80"
44.50 L
6'4
22.50"
2.84"
46.00 L
6'6
22.75"
2.86"
48.00 L
RNF ’96 Quick Facts
…Lost RNF ’96 quick facts
Brand / shaper
…Lost Surfboards, Matt “Mayhem” Biolos
Based on
The original fish …Lost shaped for Chris Ward and Cory Lopez in the year leading up to the 1997 film 5’5” x 19 1/4”
Board type
Performance fish
Best waves
All sizes and shapes of waves, not only small surf
Skill level
Beginner-intermediate to pro
Tail
Swallow tail, with a tail width closer to a high-performance shortboard than a typical fish
Design
Nose and tail the same width at 12" from the tips; single concave to double concave with an accelerating vee; an outline based on high-performance late-1970s twin fins
Fins
2+1: twin fins with a trailer (FCS II or Futures boxes). Best template: a twin + trailer (2+1) set. Try the FCS II MR Twin + 1 or the Futures Mayhem Evil Twin+1 (a replica of the original RNF twin fins).
Stock sizes
Standard dims 4’10 to 6’4 (21.25 L to 43.50 L); Wide dims 5’5 to 6’6 (29.50 L to 48.00 L)
Sizing
Shorter and wider than your regular shortboard, with 1 to 2 L more volume; about 4" to 5" shorter than a Driver 3.0
As a fish, the RNF ’96 is ridden shorter and wider than your regular shortboard, with a tad more volume: we recommend 1 to 2 liters more. In …Lost’s stock dims that works out about 4" to 5" shorter than a Driver 3.0. For example, if you ride a 5’11 Driver 3.0 (28.50 L), look at the 5’6 (19.75" x 2.40", 29.50 L). Standard dims run from 4’10 (18.13" x 2.13", 21.25 L) to 6’4 (22.00" x 2.75", 43.50 L), and Wide dims from 5’5 (20.00" x 2.40", 29.50 L) to 6’6 (22.75" x 2.86", 48.00 L). If you don’t know your volume, use the Volume calculator at the top of our …Lost 3D board builder: enter your height, weight, skill, fitness and the waves you surf, and it recommends a volume by board type, from shortboard to fish, hybrid and mid-length. Our shop staff can help you pick a size.
What fins does the RNF ’96 use?
The RNF ’96 has a 2+1 setup: twin fins with a trailer. FCS’s official …Lost fin guide pairs it with the FCS II MR Twin + 1 (Medium-Large): Mark Richards’ twin template for drive and speed, with a small centre fin that adds control. Futures recommends riding it as a twin+1, and its own picks for the RNF ’96 are the Mayhem Evil Twin+1 (Medium, Large), whose template is a replica of the twin fins designed for the original RNF, the Rasta Twin+1 (a more upright twin) or the Mark Richards Twin+1.
What is the RNF ’96 based on?
The original fish …Lost shaped for Chris Ward and Cory Lopez in the year leading up to the 1997 film 5’5” x 19 1/4”. …Lost says the ’96 is based with reverence, but not 100% compliance, on those boards.
What waves is the RNF ’96 for?
All sizes and shapes of waves, not only small surf. …Lost says the relatively pulled-in tail was developed through trial and error for maximum performance and control in all sizes of waves, with a tail width closer to a high-performance shortboard than a typical fish.
What skill level is the RNF ’96 for?
…Lost rates it from beginner-intermediate to pro.
What constructions does the RNF ’96 come in?
We always stock the RNF ’96 in PU (poly), Light Speed II and Black Sheep Built, and we have also stocked it in Light Speed, Black Dart, Double Dart, Lib Tech, C4, EPS and Agave. Each in-stock board on this page lists its construction. All constructions are available for custom order through our …Lost 3D board builder.
Can I custom order an RNF ’96?
Yes. Use the Custom Order RNF 96 button on this page, or open the …Lost 3D board builder directly, to design one: you choose the dims, construction, fin boxes, colors and art.
