The first mass-production surf board in history
At the beginning of the 90s, the windsurf market is in steady decline and diversification seems like THE solution to maintain the company’s growth. At this moment, surfing is really taking off big-time, in France and in the rest of the world, there’s an enormous market but there is no major player capable of manufacturing/offering any other construction technologies than those offered by the individual shapers making their custom boards. With his solid experience, creative nature and open mind, Gérard Dabbadie becomes the man of the moment. He will be the man to launch the first ever BIC Sport production surf boards.
Launch of the Natural Surf 7’9
The first mission for the Hossegor-based shaper is to design an easy-access all-round board for learning and perfecting your surfing. BIC Sport goes completely opposite to the market of the moment and its ever-more radical custom shapes. Gérard
was already interested in easier-riding boards, such as the as yet under-appreciated Malibu. Released in 1993, the first ever BIC Sport mass production board, the Natural Surf 7’9 is born !
But the surf world isn’t yet as open as the windsurf world and the board gets a very cold reception. The market is still a closed shop, just hand-shaped polyester customs, and in a market like that the new mass-production boards aren’t especially welcome…
Expanding the range
But BIC Sport hold its course, believing in the Natural Surf, which is gaining interest especially among newcomers to surfing. Not only that, the first surf clubs and schools that are starting up welcome with open arms this UFO among boards, easy to ride and tough enough to take the punishment.
Encouraged by the interest, BIC Sport asks Gérard to design some new shapes, to create a proper product range. A 6’7 Evolution, aimed at more experienced surfers, appears very soon. And the Mini-Malibu 7’3 quickly follows, finding a big place in the market and rapidly becoming BIC’s best-seller. In 2013 the Mini Malibu passed the 100,000 mark in manufactured units !
Longboard triumph
In 96, Dabaddie developed a 9’0 longboard, modern design and high performing, just as he likes them. To everyone’s surprise, the board is very well received. Longboard is taking off in a big way at this time, and becomes one of the main focuses of development for BIC Sport, who also use the moment to sign up some well-known French team riders such as Martial Toubois and Ronan Chatain, triple-winner of the French Cup circuit (98, 99, 01).
On the international level, the company partnered with the Australian legend Nat Young and her shaper, Darrell Rooster, to conceive a new 9’4 Longboard, followed by a 10’ board developed by American Bob Pearson from Santa Cruz. They also call on the services of Peter Pan, an emblematic figure on the east coast scene, to gain more credibility in the American market. He’s the man who designs the 8’4 Magnum, like an XXL Malibu for heavy-weights, and then a 5’10 Fish, to complete the range.
A total revolution
As from 2000 there’s a complete range of boards, they’re selling well, and the gamble on mass-production surf boards is well and truly won ! BIC Sport opens the door to surf’s industrial era which is still how the system works to this day. Long gone are the days when anyone who wants a board had to call up a shaper who would custom build him one ! 20 years later, the range of boards available on the worldwide market is immense, production boards with something to suit every taste. Seeing BIC Sport’s success, competitors saw the potential and from 2000 onwards rushed to push through the door, with Thai manufacturer Cobra a powerful entrant, soon followed by other Asian factories.
Proud of our values
By offering production boards manufactured in France, easy to ride and affordably priced for many surfers, BIC Sport has, at a stroke, revolutionised the surf market. The company changed the whole way to learn surfing, kicking off a huge intake of beginner newcomers, which has been to the benefit of all surf businesses big and small ever since. The gamble had paid off and the first adventure into diversification from windsurfing has been a total triumph!
Surf competitions on equal terms
In 1996, the first BIC Surf One Design events were organised. The idea being, like Formula racing, all the surfers have identical boards. Suddenly there were events everywhere : Natural Surf expression sessions, the 9 and 10’ Longboard Challenge, the 7’0 Egg Instructors’ Challenge, the BIC Kids one design…
TAHE, riding the same wave
It’s been a few years since the change to TAHE, and the best-selling Origin range, featuring the Malibu, Egg and Shortboard, was replaced in 2023 by two new ranges, Comet and Meteor. Recent developments in manufacturing techniques have enabled the TAHE team to create two new construction technologies : Tough Tec (rigid) and Skin Tec (soft). These boards are made without using solvents, resins or fibreglass. We make long-lasting easy-ride boards for surfers of all levels.
The rigid Comet series was shaped by Jon Henderson and the softboard Meteor by the in-house TAHE R&D team. Alongside the no-waste manufacturing systems, both boards are 100% recyclable at the end of their lives.
Accompanying these two made-in-Vannes series, we have also developed a brand new range of Stellar fins, made from recycled fishing nets. Conceived in collaboration with Fil&Fab and manufactured at the Tahe Outdoors unit in Cognac, these eco-fins deliver the same performance levels as classic fins. Our values are the same as they have ever been : learn, progress, enjoy yourself, share the experience…
#ENDLESSPLAYTIME
