No serious surfboard collection is complete without a Geoff McCoy designed Lazor Zap. One of the most influential and controversial of all of the designs of the innovation period. Yet this must have design is not easy to ride, in Geoff's own words is " To take advantage of the Lazor Zap design you need to be a high level surfer".
Geoff says "In 1978 I began a design revolution with the introduction of my Lazor Zap concept; with its wide area, thick tail and extremely pointed low resistant nose area this Lazor Zap design revolutionised surfboard design." Indeed Simon Anderson credits Geoff as one of the 5 fathers of the 'Thurster' as he incorporated the 'no nose' and pulled back mid point into his 3 fin design.
This particular example is a US version of the design shaped by Tom Watson in Cosa Mesa in August 1983.
Beautiful in its simplicity and decoration.
I'm pleased to share with the before and after pics of my US made zap as the original stickers tell as much of a story as does the board.
I was fascinated to read the following statement on the Mc Coy website by Goeff McCoy about the star fin made famous by Cheyne Horan and synonymous with the Lazor zap design-
"McCoy Ben Lexcen Fin Disclaimer:
This statement is to inform people that the Ben Lexon designed keel fin is in no way my fin of choice. I do not recommend it to be used in any of my Geoff McCoy designed surfboards.
Never have I had any involvement with the design and I certainly have not and do not recommend its use in a surfboard.
The original Lazor Zap fin is a refined Dolphin fin design. In recent years I have developed and recommend my Gull Wing fin.
My Gull Wing has been designed specifically for my wide thick tail single fin boards and has proven itself to be extremely efficient and a very reliable performer in a wide range of wave sizes and conditions.."
