Gato Heroi 9'7 Smooth Operator
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Performance noserider. Thin, bladey, committed.
The Smooth Operator is a refined performance longboard with continual rocker and a rolled bottom. The bladey profile and thin foiled rails allow for committed surfing in the pocket—this isn’t a log that just trims, it turns. Set-back wide point enhances noseriding security while the tail scoop gives the tail release. Pair with a 10”–10½” classic or pivot fin.
How It Rides
The thin rails and rolled bottom create a board that responds to subtle weight shifts. Walking to the nose is stable—the set-back wide point and continuous rocker lock you in. But where the Smooth Operator really separates itself is the transition from nose to tail: the pinched rails and bladey foil let you drop back and drive turns off the tail without the board feeling heavy or resistant. For surfers who want to noseride and still rip.
The Shaper
Shaped by Robin Kegel. Originally based in California, now in France, Kegel travels between Gato Heroi outposts in Australia, Italy, and Japan. His shapes draw from 1960s–70s surf culture, refined through decades of hands-on testing.
Specs
| Length | 9’7” |
| Model | Smooth Operator |
| Series | Classic Edition |
| Shaper | Robin Kegel (Gato Heroi) |
| Rails | 50/50, thin, foiled |
| Bottom | Rolled throughout, slight belly |
| Tail | Pin |
| Rocker | Low, continuous |
| Fin Setup | Single fin box |
| Skill Level | Intermediate–Advanced |
| Origin | Produced in Australia, Europe, and Japan |
All surfboards ship from our shop at 4051 Judah St in the Outer Sunset. Contact us for a shipping quote.
All surfboards are final sale.


















