Badfish was born from a deep love for paddlesports and a passion for life on the river. No matter how much we grow, we remain true to those roots. We take pride in sharing that passion with our community and calling the Badfish Surf Shop the home of the mountain surf lifestyle.
Badfish was founded in a garage in Salida, CO, when co-owners Mike Harvey and Zack Hughes became hooked on surfing standing waves. Zack began shaping surfboards specifically for riding river waves, laying the foundation for Badfish’s innovative designs.
Former professional kayaker and paddlesports industry expert Luke Hopkins joined the team. Together, they channeled their shared passion for peak performance into designing the most advanced river surfboards and inflatable paddleboards on the market.
The Badfish Surf Shop opened in Salida, Colorado, just one block from the Scout Wave whitewater park on the Arkansas River—designed in part by Mike Harvey.