Head Shaper:

Peter “PJ” Johnson

Behind the Brand: Kane Garden Surfboards was founded in San Diego as a local surfboard company, which grew into an internationally recognized label in the 2000s. Their philosophy was simple: Build the best quality surfboards using innovative, practical designs that would work well in average conditions, but excel as the surf got better. As one of the original owners, Peter “PJ” Johnson has been working and building surfboards for most of his life and brought in a small team of shaping talent that worked together on an old San Diego design (the Fish) to revamp this incredibly versatile concept into a line of high-performance surfboards. “I started working on boards when I was 12 years old,” says Johnson, “fixing dings and cutting down and reshaping my friends old longboards during the frenzied period of the shortboard revolution. My friends and I were always excited about all the new innovations happening during this period, and my cousin was a glasser in one of the old factories in South Bay in San Diego, so I was around surfboards my entire life. My early shaping and design influences were master craftsmen Jeff Logan and Richard Jolie of the original South Coast crew in the ’60s, Jeff Ching and John Belik, along with Skip Frye and Rusty Preisendorfer. My mentor and close friend Pat Rawson worked with me in the ’90s and 2000s and continues to have a big influence on me anytime I pick up a blank.” Today, Kane Garden Surfboards is committed to improving its Fish Series line and its models for 2010.

About Kane Garden's Most Popular Models: “Our most popular models are the Sea Viper, Nautilus, and Orca, followed closely by the Kingfish,” says Johnson. “People are drawn to these designs because they look great and are built to last. They are easy to paddle, very stable, but fighter-jet fast—and that translates into section-making speed with precise turning.”

Shop Talk: “Quality shape and glassing is our main focus so our customers get the most out of their surfing experience.”

When a new customer comes to you for a custom shape, what kind of questions do you ask to ensure you’ll make them what they’re looking for? “We ask what model they’re looking for, what model and size board they’re currently riding, where they ride, and what do they want to get out of the surfboard design. We also take their height, weight, and age then determine, along with their help, if the model-size and dimensions they had in mind are a good fit.”

What kind of feedback are you getting from your customers and team riders with regard to design? “Convertible fin systems, with regards to thrusters and quads. This feature gives boards a lot more versatility.”