Lightning Bolt

Specialties

Lightning Bolt is a pure source of inspiration. A surf icon born in Hawaii in 1971. It became the trademark for progressive surfing, through skill in the water, distinction and bolt signature.

As Lightning Bolt continues to grow and evolve from its roots some forty years ago, the focus of the company now becomes developing a label that will endure and remain representative of the Aloha spirit so closely associated with Bolt at its outset. Lightning Bolt believes that the corporate climate of action sports has left many out in the cold and with no true representation of their spirit and lifestyle. Lightning Bolt sees that today’s consumer is so often pandered toward and inevitably inundated with logos with every turn. The brand sees an opportunity to create within this maelstrom a brand that emphasizes quality, style, and utility. Lightning Bolt remains committed to the ethos so aptly captured in its logo.

Lightning Bolt: A Pure Source.

History

Established in 1971.

Born in Hawaii in the summer of ’71, Lightning Bolt was comprised of Gerry Lopez and Jack Shipley at the time of its inception. During this period, Surfing was undergoing a transition as the migrations to the shores of Oahu throughout the 60’s were beginning to produce a newer breed of surfer. Previously, surfing had been largely associated with the style of Phil Edwards and his contemporaries in the 50’s and 60’s. A style best characterized by an adherence to trim. Many of the boards being ridden at the time were of heavy weight and typically still best characterized as single fin logs or variations of the design Bob Simmons and his contemporaries were working out. However, as Gerry and Jack continued their pursuit of the aloha spirit their board design began to take a radical turn toward the pinned out guns that began to hold the wall and allow them to sit deeper in the curl than ever before.