Head Shaper:

Bob Yinger

Behind the Brand: Founded in 1967 by Les Shaw and Bill Frierson, WRV has always focused on progression and—obviously—building surfboards. With its main factory located in the surf-rich Outer Banks in North Carolina, the brand is both an East Coast staple and a national network, boasting a headquarters in Virginia, production complexes in California and Florida, and company stores in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina; Haleiwa, Hawaii; and Aguadilla, Puerto Rico. WRV’s head shapers, Jesse Fernandez, Pat Mulhern, and Bob Yinger credit an array of influences for their current level of craftsmanship. “My influences were Rusty, Rick Hammond, and Steve Barto,” says Yinger, while Fernandez and Mulhurn cite Greg Loehr and Donald Takayama—among others—respectively. With a stable of riders that includes Ben Bourgeois, Jeremy Johnston, Justin Jones, Jeff Myers, Dave Wassel, Aamion Goodwin, and Mark Healey, WRV is constantly refining their designs for their customers and team in order to give them each the best products on the market. “All our boards are 100 percent hand-shaped,” they say, “with an emphasis on quality and the soul of surfing.”

About WRV'S Most Popular Models: “The Chronic is popular with our team guys at the moment. It’s a high-performance board for various conditions, excelling in surf anywhere from 2 feet to 2-feet overhead. Our customers also seem to like the Chronic. They’re into The Rockfish as well for small to medium surf, and the Nugget, which was also designed for smaller waves. They’re drawn to these models for their quality craftsmanship and price.”

Shop Talk:“All of the salesmen in the surfboard department are in the water everyday and ride our boards. They’re also in constant communication with the factory.”

What makes your label different from the other surfboards in the market? “We’re tried and true. We’ve been building the highest quality boards at the best price for over 40 years. Building surfboards is the center of our gravity. It has been that way since the beginning. It’s all about hard work and a love for the sport of kings.”

Tell us about the changes you’ve seen in recent years in the shaping realm, and how it has affected your craft. “It’s nice to see guys trying to match a surfer to the design instead of matching the design to the rider.”

What is the most important feedback you’ve received from team riders or customers regarding your boards? “It’s important for customers and team riders to offer consistent communication. That always leads to evolution and refinement.”

What trend in the water, or the marketplace, would you like to see continue? “Convertible fin systems, with regards to thrusters and quads. This feature gives boards a lot more versatility.”

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? “Everyone who comes in looking for a surfboard is analyzed with an eye for their height, weight, and needs. We also ask them about their current board style, where they surf, how many/type of fins they want. We’re here to give them the board that’s going to take their surfing to the next level.”