Yeah I also see they seem to have re-labeled all of their shortboards as "neutral"
I am aware the low entry high exit volume slightly forward models are popular at the moment, and are marketed as being better for the average surfer. Lots of CI pros on the Happy and of course JJF on the Shadow, Italo IF-15, etc. Maybe the pros like them because they make landing crazy airs easier? I thought the CI Fever and Lost Driver were supposed to be more back-footed and those are also very popular with expert-pro level surfers.
I still don't really understand the front-footed vs back-footed distinction. I can buy that some pros today like volume forward boards, but I have a hard time believing that is because they are "front-footed". FF surfing just sounds wrong to me.
There's a great new slow-mo video from JJF we can look at, is this front-footed surfing? I'd genuinely like to know