The Beginning
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, (remember, 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.
Production Begins
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 and error. Richard had made only a handful of hollow wooden boards, but paired with Frank's master woodworking skills the two began shaping and glassing foam boards. Soon the two board makers were shaping faster and more efficiently--Matador surfboard company was, quite literally, taking shape.
As surfing's popularity grew, the hand shaped Matador boards were being made by mold for a couple years to meet the demand, while the custom boards were labeled Collier Custom Surfboards. As their board making skills improved and their knowledge expanded, Richard and Frank saw the opportunity to branch out into other manufacturing areas. They soon began to produce not only surfboards, but also skateboards, belly boards, skimboards, wakeboards, and even buoys; however, surfboards were always their primary focus. As demand for boards began to grow, the Matador guys started shaping boards for other labels including Caribbean, Cheetah, Continental, Curcio, Cutlass, International, Pecks Beach, Seahorse, and Wavemaster. Matador also developed a close relationship with Foss foam, and even had the rights to make Foss brands on the east coast. The beauty of this relationship is that it elminated shipping costs--another brilliant business move by the Matador label.
Matador boards soon became known for their strong glassing, ornate wood inlays, and innovative stripes and figure eight stringer designs. All of this innovation was recognized by some of the bigger label surfboards and was soon replicated in their designs. It was not just the surfboard industry that was taking notice, companies like Kodak and Chevron were using Matador boards in their advertising while big retail stores like Macys and JC Penny's were ordering surfboards. On the sales front, things couldn't have been better; although, the location of their first and second factory was causing some problems. The resin fumes caused their eviction in 1965 and 1966, and as a result, Richard and Frank had to halt production of Matador surfboards. Despite receiving plenty of high volume orders, and already producing thousands of boards, Matador could not find a suitable new factory location. At this point the future of Matador surfboards looked uncertain. Frank decided it was time to return to his woodworking craft, but Richard was unwilling to leave the surf industry. It was at this point that Richard opened Brant Beach Surf Shop on Long Beach Island in NJ and began selling off the existing inventory. In the late 1960s Richard continued to shape a few custom boards out of his mother's house, but the days of mass production were done... or were they?
The 1970s . - "Our Surfshops"
The 1970's were a time of change for the surf industry, but also a time of growth on the East Coast. Skateboarding was a growing sport, and surfboards were getting smaller, making them easier to ship across the country. Beach culture was growing more common with people riding rafts, and the creation of the body board. Fewer people were asking for the classic long boards, but on occasion Richard would pick up his tools and build a 60s style board for someone who was asking. The 70s were about retail mostly for Richard. His store was growing a little every year so things were good just the focus was on selling other brands of boards. This led to knowing who was putting out quality designs
and producing quality boards.
The 1970's were a time of change for the surf industry, but also a time of growth on the East Coast. Skateboarding was a growing sport, and surfboards were getting smaller, making them easier to ship across the country. Beach culture was growing more common with people riding rafts, and the creation of the body board. Fewer people were asking for the classic long boards, but on occasion Richard would pick up his tools and build a 60s style board for someone who was asking. The 70s were about retail mostly for Richard. His store was growing a little every year so things were good just the focus was on selling other brands of boards. This led to knowing who was putting out quality designs
and producing quality boards.
THE 1980s - "Coming of Age"
The focus of the 80s was still retail for us mostly. But on occassion the Matador logo was
popping up a few boards here and there. The trade of the surfboard business was beginning to be passed down to both of Richard and Pauline’s kids. They were now in the business and working at the shop Caroline became an avid surfer and competed locally and for the University of Florida but would go on to another career in physical therapy. Michael who started to surf at age 9 slowly took to it and in his teens (mid-80s ) would start to take surfing a little more seriously and would start competing through in the mid-80s though he was very into skateboarding and was briefly sponsored by Variflex skateboards and then Santa Cruz skateboards for a couple years. He would carry this skateboard style into his surfing. Ding repair and occasional shaping were typical activities. The rule at the shop
was if you fixed a board up you were allowed to ride it. With a enormous collection of boards to pick from it provided a lot of ding repair practice and an education of surfboard shapes and riding through the decades whether it was 60s classics , 70s single fins , 1950s wood or the glamorous 1980s tris and quads. This education was second to none with 100s of different boards to ride and guidance and tips from all types of surfing legends. The opportunity to learn was constant and truly incredible. To have the history of boards explained by those who made surf history was epic. Michael was going through different phases in his surfing and was getting drawn towards classic longboards. He would also start doing surf lessons and coaching and in 1988 he opened Matador Surf School.
The focus of the 80s was still retail for us mostly. But on occassion the Matador logo was
popping up a few boards here and there. The trade of the surfboard business was beginning to be passed down to both of Richard and Pauline’s kids. They were now in the business and working at the shop Caroline became an avid surfer and competed locally and for the University of Florida but would go on to another career in physical therapy. Michael who started to surf at age 9 slowly took to it and in his teens (mid-80s ) would start to take surfing a little more seriously and would start competing through in the mid-80s though he was very into skateboarding and was briefly sponsored by Variflex skateboards and then Santa Cruz skateboards for a couple years. He would carry this skateboard style into his surfing. Ding repair and occasional shaping were typical activities. The rule at the shop
was if you fixed a board up you were allowed to ride it. With a enormous collection of boards to pick from it provided a lot of ding repair practice and an education of surfboard shapes and riding through the decades whether it was 60s classics , 70s single fins , 1950s wood or the glamorous 1980s tris and quads. This education was second to none with 100s of different boards to ride and guidance and tips from all types of surfing legends. The opportunity to learn was constant and truly incredible. To have the history of boards explained by those who made surf history was epic. Michael was going through different phases in his surfing and was getting drawn towards classic longboards. He would also start doing surf lessons and coaching and in 1988 he opened Matador Surf School.
1990s. Down to BUSINESS