Bumble Bee Quick Facts
Mark Richards Bumble Bee quick facts
| Brand / shaper | Mark Richards Surfboards, designed by four-time world champion Mark Richards; built in the USA by …Lost Surfboards |
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| Board type | Retro twin fin: an exact replica of the first twin fin Mark Richards shaped, in May 1976, recreated from the original board |
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| Best waves | Small surf; the low nose rocker floats over dead sections and turns 1 ft to 3 ft waves into something to get excited about |
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| Skill level | Beginner, intermediate and advanced surfers |
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| Tail | Deep winged swallow: the wing reduces tail area to enliven turning response, with a concave fluted wing on the bottom for extra bite when turning |
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| Design | Classic round-nose fish outline with the thickness carried right up into a thick retro-style beak nose (it paddles like a baby mini mal), low nose rocker, and a flat-panel V bottom that helps rail-to-rail transitions in turns |
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| Fins | Twin fin. The signed limited-edition version has set (glassed-on) fibreglass twin fins; the clear or custom-colour version can be ordered as a twin, twin + stabiliser, quad, or with five plugs for a 4/5-fin option (FCS II or Futures). Best template for removable fins: Mark Richards’ own twin set, the FCS II MR Twin + 1 or the Futures Mark Richards Twin+1. |
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| Construction | PU (poly), built to order in the USA by …Lost Surfboards |
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| Stock sizes | Custom order only; the 1976 original was 5’11 x 22" x 2 7/8" |
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| Sizing | A wide, thick retro fish: order it several inches shorter than your everyday shortboard but much wider and thicker, as the original dims show |
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| Custom orders | Yes, through our custom order form; the Bumble Bee is a custom-order model |
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Bumble Bee Q&A
What is the story behind the Bumble Bee?
Mark Richards shaped his first twin fin in May 1976, after the 2SM-Coca Cola Surfabout in Sydney. He was riding a narrow-tail single fin and struggling in small waves, and was inspired after watching Hawaiian Reno Abellira skate over sections on a round-nose, low-rocker, fish-style twin fin. Reno suggested the dimensions, 5’11 x 22" x 2 7/8", and MR went home, shaped and glassed the board himself and sprayed a big bumble bee on the bottom, which is how it got its name. It was a revelation in small surf, fast and loose with lots of get-up-and-go, and he rode it on small days in Newcastle for the rest of the year. He only ever made one; he sold it in the late 70’s and it is now in Eddie Phillips’ collection in Byron Bay. Eddie lent him the board in winter 2011 so MR could recreate it exactly as it was in 1976, and that replica is the Bumble Bee in the MR range today.
What versions of the Bumble Bee are available?
Two. The limited-edition model is signed by Mark Richards, with the red and yellow spray design and the big bumble bee on the bottom faithfully recreated, and set fibreglass twin fins. The second version is a clear board, or one with a colour design of your choice, where you pick the fin option: twin fin, twin fin + stabiliser, quad, or five sets of plugs for a 4/5-fin set-up.
What fins does the Bumble Bee use?
The Bumble Bee is a twin fin at heart. The limited-edition version comes with glassed-on fibreglass twin fins, exactly like the 1976 original. The clear or custom-colour version can be ordered with removable boxes (FCS II or Futures) as a twin, twin + stabiliser, quad, or with five plugs so you can switch between set-ups. For removable fins, Mark Richards’ own twin set is the natural choice: the FCS II MR Twin + 1 or the Futures Mark Richards Twin+1, ridden as a pure twin or with the small trailer for extra control.
What waves is the Bumble Bee for?
Small surf. The low nose rocker floats over dead sections and turns 1 ft to 3 ft waves into something to look forward to, the wide round-nose outline and thickness carried into the beak nose make it paddle like a baby mini mal, and the wing swallow and flat-panel V bottom keep it loose and quick rail to rail.
What size Bumble Bee should I order?
It is a custom-order board, so you choose the dims. The original was 5’11 x 22" x 2 7/8": a wide, thick retro fish ridden much shorter than a shortboard but with far more width and thickness. As a guide, order it several inches shorter than your everyday shortboard and well wider and thicker, scaling the original dims up or down for your weight. Our shop staff can help you pick a size.
Who is the Bumble Bee for?
Beginner, intermediate and advanced surfers who want a fast, loose retro twin fin for small days, and anyone who appreciates a piece of surfing history: it is an exact replica of the board that started Mark Richards’ twin-fin story, with the colours, decals and bumble bee faithfully recreated.
What construction does the Bumble Bee come in?
The Bumble Bee is built to order in PU (poly) in the USA by …Lost Surfboards, which produces Mark Richards’ models. It is a custom-order model, so we do not normally carry it in stock; the limited-edition version comes with glassed-on fibreglass twin fins and the clear or custom-colour version with the fin boxes you choose.
Can I custom order a Bumble Bee?
Yes, the Bumble Bee is a custom-order model. Use the Custom Order Bumble Bee button on this page, or open our custom order form directly, and tell us which version you want (signed limited edition, or clear/custom colour), your dims and your fin option.
