Head Shapers:

Terry Martin, Gary Larson, Mark Johnson

Behind the Brand:The Hobie Surfboard factory—which was built in Capistrano Beach, CA, in 1962—was the first facility built specifically for surfboard production. During the 1960s, no other shop on the coast turned out more classic longboards. At that time, Hobie produced 1,000 boards a week with a 24/7 production schedule that was manned by some of the finest glassers and shapers in the world. At the center of this operation was Hobie Alter, one of the most influential industrialists of the modern surf industry, an inventor and innovator who constantly experimented with alternative designs and materials. That tradition continues today. In 2009, with the explosion in popularity of stand-up paddleboards across the country, the Hobie Factory changed from traditional forms of surfboard production to high-tech epoxy resins and EPS foam to help meet this demand—a transition not easily accomplished. The team of glassers at Hobie pulled it off, however, under the leadership of laminating and color extraordinaire James Mckinnie, hot coat and box master Murphy McMannis, gloss and pin-line guru Tom Sutherland, and sander and polisher perfectionist Vick Goddard. The Hobie Factory now turns out carbon fiber and other exotic composite, epoxy masterpieces that are some of the most sought-after surf and race SUPs in the world.

About Hobie's Most Popular Models: “The classic noseriders are still a hit. The Uncle Buck and Auntie Mo models are always big sellers, but we’ve been selling a lot of the Spitfire lately, too. It’s a high-performance single-fin with extra volume in the rails and width. It catches waves easily, but it’s also a progressive longboard, which means powerful turns, noserides, turns off the bottom, and quick rail-to-rail transitions.”

Shop Talk: “We’ve been hard at work developing our SUP designs. Our Colin McPhillips Ultimate Series is one of the best all-around, high-performance SUPs in the water. One of our other test pilots is “Battle of the Paddle” winner Chuck Patterson, who charges 20-foot Puerto on his 10'6" Hobie SUP gun and also grinds the competition into submission racing his 12'6" CR-1 carbon fiber race board.”

What makes your label different from the other surfboard brands on the market? “For over 50 years, Hobie has been focused on quality, craftsmanship, innovation, and design. The key factor in all of this is our R&D factory in Capistrano Beach. Having a factory focused on product and material innovation allows us to get new designs and materials into our customers’ hands as soon as they come out. We have, and always will, push the envelope to provide our customers with the most current designs and cutting-edge materials available.”

What’s the most important thing for customers to understand when they order a board? “Try to avoid over-thinking it. It’s easy to get lost in the moment. Try to explain what you are looking to get out of your new board and make sure to give some of your personal likes and dislikes about your past boards. It also helps to let us know where you like to surf.”