| Jason "Ratboy" Collins |
|
|---|---|
| Personal information | |
| Born | July 4, 1974 Santa Cruz, California, U.S. |
| Residence | Santa Cruz, California |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Weight | 135 lb (61 kg) |
| Surfing career | |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Sponsors | O'neill, Vans, Stretch Surfboards, Kaenon Polarized, Docs Proplugs |
| Major achievements | (1999 & 2000) 1st Surfing Magazine Airshow Series, (2001) 1st Vans Airshow Series, |
| Surfing specifications | |
| Stance | Regular (natural) foot |
| Shaper(s) | Stretch Surfboards |
| Quiver | 5'6", 5'8", 5'10" to 10'2" |
| Favorite waves | Steamer Lane, Mitchells, Stockton Ave, Cowells (Santa Cruz) |
| Website | Official site |
Jason "Ratboy" Collins (born July 4, 1974 in Santa Cruz, CA) is an aerial surfer who graduated from Santa Cruz High School. Collins is one of the original nonconformists. He was able to take what Christian Fletcher did before him and dominate the air surfing world in the mid nineties. Ratboy took the air surfing community on its back and progressed it to the next level using creativity and style. Double grabs, reverses, three-sixty airs and an entire gambit of technicalities that up to this point didn't exist.
He landed a backside 360 air during the Expression Session at the O'neill Cold Water Classic in 1994 when other competitors were doing top turns and roundo's thinking they were ripping. By landing that air, Ratboy defined his persona in the surfing world. From that point forward his status grew. He dominated air shows, graced magazine covers and has his pro model boards, which resulted in Jason becoming one of the most popular surfers ever to come out of Santa Cruz.
In 2001, Ratboy competed in and won numerous events on the Vans Air Show series eventually taking the overall crown. Labeling Ratboy as just another "air guy" in a complete understatement. He is a complete well rounded surfer with great style, who can throw down carves and flawlessly ride the barrel as good, or better, than anyone. He is less known for his longboarding expertise, yet continues to be one of the smoothest noseriders on the planet.
Ratboy's surfing is perhaps more sharp now than ever because of his experience. Presently residing in Santa Cruz, he does not show any signs of slowing down...