Tokyo Betsu Bara – Skatey
The Tokyo Betsu Bara is the board you reach for when the waves look small, soft and full of potential.
Designed by Lee Willoughby and Bill Atlee, with valuable influence from Tokyo team member Tessa Footit, the Betsu Bara takes the classic retro fish idea and gives it a distinctly Tokyo interpretation — plenty of volume, a beautifully simple outline and the kind of speed that makes small waves suddenly feel much more interesting.
With a beaked nose, generous volume beneath the chest and a deliberately low rocker, the Betsu Bara gets moving early and keeps moving. The flat centre section creates effortless speed, while the single concave carries that momentum through the board before releasing through the V in the final section of the tail.
The result is fast, loose and gloriously uncomplicated.
The big keel fins give the Betsu Bara its characteristic drive and long, sweeping turns, while the wide tail and low rocker give it that unmistakable skatey feeling when you're flying across a small wave.
This isn't a fish designed to turn rubbish surf into perfect surf.
It's designed to make rubbish surf ridiculously enjoyable.
When the waves are too small for the shortboard, the Betsu Bara is already smiling.
Skatey. Fast. Full of life.
Design Philosophy:
The Betsu Bara was developed around a simple principle:
Small waves don't have to mean small fun.
Rather than trying to make a high-performance board work in weak surf, the Betsu Bara embraces the qualities that make a fish so effective in smaller conditions — width, volume, low rocker and speed.
The generous forward volume helps the board paddle effortlessly and get into waves early. The flat section beneath the chest then allows it to accelerate naturally once you're up and riding.
The single concave provides lift and speed, flowing into V through the tail to create a clean release.
The result is a board that feels fast almost immediately.
The big keel fins provide drive and hold while still allowing the board to break free and slide when you put it on rail.
It's not trying to imitate a shortboard.
It's not trying to turn small waves into big waves.
It's simply making the most of what you've got.
What does Betsu Bara mean?
The name Betsu Bara is a little Tokyo wordplay.
Loosely translated, it refers to having a "second belly" — the extra capacity to eat more even when you've already had enough.
It's an appropriate name for a board with a generous appetite for small waves.
When the surf is looking like it might not offer much, the Betsu Bara is the board that says:
Don't worry. I've got this.
Design & Construction:
Designed by: Lee Willoughby & Bill Atlee – Tokyo Surfboards
Master Shaper: Bill Atlee
Design Influence: Tessa Footit
Concept: Retro Fish / Small-Wave Twin
Construction: Individually hand-shaped in Britain.
Rocker: Low — flat is fast.
Nose: Beaked nose with generous volume carried forward.
Bottom Contour: Single concave through the majority of the board, flowing into V through the final section of the tail.
Fin Configuration: Twin, using large keel fins.
Glass Specification: Double 4oz deck / single 4oz bottom in S-glass.
Fin Reinforcement: All boards feature reinforced fin boxes, with additional fabric or glass reinforcement around the fin area.
Construction Options: Available with custom resin tints, pigments and bespoke artwork.
Designer's Notes:
The Betsu Bara was developed because sometimes you simply don't want to go home.
You've driven to the beach. You've got your wetsuit on. The waves are small.
So rather than spending the session wishing they were bigger, we wanted to build a board that made small surf something to look forward to.
The Betsu Bara has enough volume to make catching waves effortless, but it doesn't feel like you're standing on a giant foam platform. Once you're moving, the low rocker and flat centre section generate speed quickly, while the keel fins let you draw long, fast lines across the wave.
It's a board that encourages you to experiment.
Trim high.
Run down the line.
Put it on rail.
Let the tail slide.
Then do it again.
The Betsu Bara doesn't take small-wave surfing seriously. And neither should you.
Ideal Conditions:
Wave Size: Knee-high to waist-high. 1 1/2' - 3'
Wave Type: Small beach breaks, weak summer peaks and soft everyday surf.
Skill Level: All skill levels.
Best For: Surfers wanting maximum speed, wave count and fun when the surf is small or weak.
Not Designed For: Powerful, hollow surf or surfers looking for a high-performance fish for critical waves.
Size & Dimension Matrix:
5'2" × 20½" × 2⅜" • Approx. 33.5L — Compact, fast and highly skatey for lighter surfers.
5'6" × 21" × 2½" • Approx. 39L — A balanced everyday fish with plenty of glide and drive.
5'8" × 21½" × 2⅝" • Approx. 42L — Increased volume and wave-catching ability for maximum small-wave fun.
Custom dimensions are available upon request.
Tokyo Design Philosophy:
Every Tokyo Surfboard begins as a conversation.
Ideas are sketched, prototypes are built, outlines are refined and details are questioned until every element earns its place.
We don't chase annual model releases or passing trends. Every design in the Tokyo collection exists because it solves a problem, offers a unique surfing experience or reminds us why we fell in love with surfing in the first place.
Each board is individually hand-shaped in Britain by master craftsmen using carefully selected materials and construction methods chosen for longevity rather than planned obsolescence.
We believe the most sustainable surfboard is one that remains in the water for decades, not seasons.
Tokyo Surfboards was founded on a simple belief:
Build better boards. Build fewer boards. Build boards worth keeping.
