Matador Surfboards

Matador surfboards was started back in 1961 by Surfing Hall of Fame's Richard Lisiewski. Richard made his first wooden, hollow, fin-less surfboard in the mid-1940s, riding it first in Seaside, NJ. After only a few sessions on the board, when Richard was driving home. The board blew off the top of the car and was destroyed by a tractor trailer, (rem... ember, there were no surf racks yet.) So, with his first board destroyed, Richard went back to the drawing board. The next board came out slightly better than the first, and was always strapped tight to the top of the car. In fact, we still have it on exhibit at the New Jersey Surfing Museum in Tuckerton, NJ. From the middle of the 1940's to 1960 Richard rode this board all over, from Atlantic City to Montauk, NY, (most of the time surfing alone.) Then, while traveling to California and Mexico he saw lots of guys riding the new foam boards, and he knew he had to have one. Although, once back in NJ Richard realized that the foam boards were not being built back on the east coast yet. This opportunity to turn his passion into a career was now open; therefore, in spring 1961 Richard decided to start his own surfboard label and build boards. But what to call it? After spending time in Mexico watching the bullfights, Richard decided that Matador was an appropriate name. There were a lot of similarities between the grace and style of the bullfighter and a surfer. The same soul arch as a noserider, the same love of the danger, and the closer you got to the critical spot the more you were applauded. Simply put, it was all about the style, grace and courage! Matador was born. Matador Surfboards went into mass production in 1962, after Richard's family sold their bar and restaurant business. Richard established a factory in Riverside, New Jersey, taking along with him a partner Frank Collier. It was within this factory where he utilized his board making skills, and incorporated his lifelong love of the ocean, to make his dream a reality. The first few years were full of trial ...Read More