Gato Heroi Longboards: An Informational Guide

Gato Heroi surfboards are special.  You tell immediately once you see and feel them for yourself.

Robin Kegel is a renowned surfboard shaper and he Shapes under the brand Gato Heroi Surfboards, celebrated for his innovative designs that pay homage to the surf culture of the 1960s and 1970s. RK's creations blend vintage aesthetics with modern performance, resulting in surfboards that are both functional and visually striking. 

Below is a guide to some of his most popular longboard models and our shop's current stock of both. Please contact us for information regarding custom surfboards.

Longboard Models

RK's collection of longboard models. RK developed and continues to refine these models, each of which is designed with a unique focus and and influenced by its own era and master shapers of the past. All of these boards embody the elegant, sleek GH style and incorporate the tradition of both Australian and Californian classic logging style. These are longboards that work in all conditions.

Smooth Operator

Classic pintail longboard with a balanced outline for the perfect blend of speed and maneuverability.

Smooth Operator

Classic pintail longboard with a balanced outline for the perfect blend of speed and maneuverability.

The Smooth Op is exceptionally stable. The continual rocker, rolled bottom and low volume rails allow the rider to stay and surf in the pocket. Thin rails and the curve out of the tail facilitate really aggressive, snappy turns and crazy maneuverability. The wide point is set slightly back, with more area in the tail enabling tighter turns and more stability on the nose.

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Gato Heroi | 9'7" Smooth Operator
$1,625.00
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Gato Heroi | 9'5" Smooth Operator
$1,595.00
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Gato Heroi | 9'9" Smooth Operator
$1,895.00

Playboy

A modern take on the classic Australian longboard. Wide point back. Lots of speed and performance.

Playboy

​The Gato Heroi Playboy is a longboard surfboard inspired by the designs surfed by Australians in 1966 and 1967, notably reminiscent of the boards seen in the "Hot Generation" era. It features a wide-point set back, pinched rails, and a pronounced vee through the tail, making it highly versatile—responsive off the tail and maneuverable from the nose. This design allows surfers to execute dynamic turns and enjoy sensitive control while noseriding.

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Gato Heroi 9'9" Playboy Old Mal Tint
$1,605.00
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Gato Heroi | 9'9" Playboy Clear
$1,590.00
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Gato Heroi T Fin
$120.00
Rust Sea Foam

Californian

The Californian is the perfect summer longboard, an incredible noserider that still turns really nicely off the tail. The parallel outline and fuller mid section ending in slightly kicked tail combine to make for dynamic noseriding. The scooped nose reduces swing weight through turns as well as providing flex when you’re up the front of the board. The Californian is wide and stable, yet somehow still holds in nicely on steeper sections. A Classic California log essence has been refined for trimming from centre, control on the nose and quick pivot turns. We have all been surfing it non-stop and highly recommend!!

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Quick buy
Gato Heroi | 9'6" Californian
$1,710.00
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Gato Heroi | 9'9" Californian
$1,745.00
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Gato Heroi B Fin
From $120.00

Californian

The Californian is the perfect summer longboard, an incredible noserider that still turns really nicely off the tail. The parallel outline and fuller mid section ending in slightly kicked tail combine to make for dynamic noseriding. The scooped nose reduces swing weight through turns as well as providing flex when you’re up the front of the board. The Californian is wide and stable, yet somehow still holds in nicely on steeper sections. A Classic California log essence has been refined for trimming from centre, control on the nose and quick pivot turns. We have all been surfing it non-stop and highly recommend!!

Dagger

Originally developed by shaper Robin Kegel for surfer Alex Knost, specifically designed for performance in punchy beach breaks

Dagger

The Dagger was first developed by Robin as Al Knost’s model and fine-tuned for punchy Blackies beach breaks. After many years development in all conditions the model has been greatly refined. A healthy nose rocker provides stability up front, transitioning into a low and fast tail rocker - trim speed balanced with all the control of a pulled in square tail. The dagger now has a more refined rail foil and is even faster and more sensitive than ever. Holds in tight for great noseriding in the pocket, while handling sharp turns and full blooded cutbacks with ease.