The full VS boards range will be available in Oz in June. European riders have had the chance to ride the boards even earlier since most boards were delivered in April/May in Europe. The range includes the Mitch Rawlins boards (Jarrod Gibson designed), the Ryan Hardy Boards (Todd Quigley designed) and the PLC boards (Dan Sivess designed).
We tested the Hardy PP crescent tail 41.75 board for Sponger City and it’s an awesome board! We’ll post the test online ASAP.
Check and download the whole range on PDF format here: VS Catalogue.
The VS guys sent us 2 cool interviews from Mitch and Ryan that you can read here:

Mitch Rawlins interviewed by Ryan Hardy:

What excites you most in bodyboarding right now and what are you amped to achieve in the near future?
Well just to get good waves good photos good footage and good results in the world tour is what drives me right now and it excites me to dream about achieving these goals.

What do you think it will take for the next generation of Aussie’s to crack it into the big time alongside the likes of yourself, Ben Player, Kingy, Lester, etc?
Some of the guys are already there I think in some ways I think we need to play catch up. But for them a lot of motivation and good timing would definitely help them get to the top.

You are renowned for having one of the best styles in bodyboarding; is this something that comes naturally or something you have to work at?
There will always be an element of your natural style in your surfing but you have to work on it day in day out full stop.

What is the best night out you’ve ever had on the piss and whom did it involve?
Too many nights I love it and there are so many girls in Perth, it’s a wonderland.

Not many people know of your current golf fetish; how did you get into this and can we expect to see you on the PGA tour anytime soon?
I love the game; it is so much like surfing. One minute you think you are ripping, the next it looks like you just started. It’s a joke how that happens but its so fun. As for the PGA, those guys are too good. It would take at least 5 years playing everyday just to get an even par handicap, then you have to go under that so it is very hard, I love to dream about it though.

Ryan Hardy interviewed by Mitch Rawlins:

How are you enjoying the gold coast it’s a big change from the south west in terms of everything how are you handling that change?
I’m totally stoked on my lifestyle change, moving to the Goldy. I feel that
having the gold coast as my base right now gives me the perfect balance in
my life. I love being there and cruising and I love going away from there
and chasing waves and the bodyboarding dream…It’s perfect.

If you could be ten foot deeper in a 10ft wave towing would you rather
tow into the wave or paddle and get a big barrel but not as deep…what would you
choose?
On a ten foot wave, if it were make able to paddle in, I would paddle even if
it meant I couldn’t be as deep. For me, the art of riding heavy waves that
are paddle in able and getting deep is by far the most challenging thing I’ve
ever experienced in my life…Period. I really only feel that a ski is necessary when the wave is simply moving too fast to be able to paddle in, make
the pit and come out of the barrel, but by that stage in big waves your
dealing with some serious life-threatening shit!! I get shaky just
thinking about that.

Do you want to win a world title more then you did last year?
I want to win a world title as much as I did last year with the added fuel
from the pain of losing and coming so close. The competitive animal inside me
will stop at nothing until that title is mine.

Are you still as psyched on surfing as to say 10 years ago is it still a
challenge and is there new levels to be reached?
I’ve actually been thinking about that quite a bit lately in the past year
or so, I think once you get through the grom froth stage and you’ve achieved
many of your childhood dreams and basked in the glory of being a
high-profile professional, you begin to question what is it exactly that
motivates you to still be bodyboarding. The answer to that comes purely
from your heart and your self-evaluation. If you think you’ve done enough
and you can’t progress any more; you won’t progress, if you think you’re
over the hill and you’ve seen your best days, then you’ve seen your best
days, you’ve peaked. For me, I feel that I am still improving. I dream of constant progression and therefore I believe I am constantly progressing. I feel there is still the obvious goal of being world champion still there to be achieved, but
beyond that I also feel there is room to improve and perfect. With that in
mind I feel I am as motivated to perform and improve, as I was when I was 17.
Perhaps the things that have changed most since I was 17 are that I know
my ability and am much more confident. I know I don’t have to surf everyday
to improve. I know I am at the top level of bodyboarding in the world. I
know that regardless of whether I win the next comp or receive the best
sponsor deal I am the best bodyboarder I can possibly be.

Will you win the tennis comp in Sydney this year even though you serve
like a decrepit old man?…hahaha!
For comments such as this Rawlins I dare say you will wear the wrath of my
ferocious serve come July…ha-ha. I’m looking forward to the comp, my court
at home on the Goldy has been getting a good work out so I look forward to
meeting up with the fever again and giving him a good run. COME ON!!!