Head Shaper:

Rusty Preisendorfer

Behind the Brand:Even legends have individuals who influenced their early work, and California shaping icon Rusty Preisendorfer is no different. “I’m indebted to the following:” says Preisendorfer. “Mike Croteau, Dick Brewer, Mike Hynson, Skip Frye, Mike Eaton, Jim Turner, and Bill Barnfield. They all played a role in my development as a shaper.”

The son of a Scripps Institute research mathematician, Preisendorfer began to shape at the age of 16 in a chicken coop in La Jolla, CA, in 1969. By the mid-’70s, he’d made a name for himself working for both G&S and Canyon Surfboards, and was propelled to further renown when he built boards for both Peter Townend and Shaun Tomson, the 1976 and 1978 World Champions, respectively. In 1983, however, he developed a relationship with a 16-year-old World Tour rookie named Mark Occhhilupo, who rode one of Preisendorfer’s thrusters with devastating results during his first year on the circuit. The result: Preisendorfer developed an unassailable reputation as a craftsman and founded Rusty Surfboards in 1985. Today, Preisendorfer continues to be one of the most well-respected and successful shapers in the business, and his label continues to work with a stable of some of the best surfers in the world, a list which includes Jamie O’Brien, Josh Kerr, Derek Ho, and Nate Yeomans.

About Rusty's Most Popular Models: “The Dwart, GTR, Hustler, Catfish, and Big Cat are all popular models,” says Preisendorfer. “They’re all for everyday-types of waves and are designs that are user-friendly, yet still offer a lot of performance.”

Shop Talk: “Materials will change as we head into the future. There will be a continuing shift toward epoxy resin and non-urethane cores. Polyester resin will be legislated into extinction, and eventually so will isocyanate foam. Performance, durability, and cosmetic issues with EPS, XPS, EPP, and blends glassed with epoxy will improve. People will eventually realize that there will be life after PU/PE and actually begin to appreciate the upside of these types of construction, not to mention the upsides of eco-friendliness.”

Tell us about the changes you’ve seen in recent years in the shaping realm, and how it has affected your craft. “CAD design is an incredible tool. It offers control and consistency. Volume calculation is a great side benefit. Contrary to a common misperception, you can be very creative with the software and if you stumble onto something good, you can repeat it or have the same baseline.”

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? “I ask them about what they have been riding, where they surf, the pluses and minuses of their last few boards. I encourage them to bring in boards that they have been riding, or have tried and liked. It’s useful because terms like thicker, thinner, wider, narrower, more rocker, less rocker, etc. are all relative. I also ask where they want to take their surfing—figuratively and literally.”

What is the most important feedback you’ve received from team riders or customers regarding your boards? “Shorter, wider boards that are practical for everyday surf.”