Surfline says

2-3 ft +

knee to chest high

FAIR CONDITIONS

SHOP AVAILABLE SPECIALLY PRICED PLACEBO FLEX-LITE BOARDS

Cory Lopez “CL Pro I” – Shop Now
“SB” Shortboard – Shop Now
Psuedo Fish – Shop Now

NEW FAMOUS PRO MODEL TRACTION PADS AVAILABLE NOW!

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Pat Rawson has been shaping surfboards since 1966, and manufacturing surfboards on the North Shore of Oahu since 1972. Rawson is well known for his contributions to modern Gun development in the early 80’s and onward, and in so doing was nicknamed the “Godfather of Guns”. Starting with his surfboard blank designs and gun rockers produced through Clark Foam, and validation through making pro quivers for half or more of the top 16 pro surfers visiting Hawaii for 10 years in a row established Rawson’s title. Tom Carroll, Mark Richards, Tom Curren, Gary Elkerton, as well as Hawaii pros: Derek Ho, Bobby Owens, Jon Damm, Sunny Garcia, and later, Kalani Robb, Bruce Irons, and Ryan Rowson. These were surfers that rode exclusively on Rawson’s boards in Hawaii. Feeling the need to expand his niche into other areas worldwide: Rawson started traveling extensively in 1997 onward, to places like California, Australia and later Europe, Peru, Brazil, and Central America. In 1999, Rawson moved his California production to San Diego, California, where he was influenced by fish gurus; Larry “Larmo” Mabile, Skip Frye, and others who were the developers of the early “post modern shortboard” fish surfboard design movement there. That strong influence inspired Rawson into producing his own ”S.U.V.” lineup, such as the San Diego Fish model, and his quads and other “alternative” board designs, for the Hawaiian local market, as well as his other worldwide markets around the surfing world. Rawson takes his shaping experience, quality control, and long standing work with professional surfers worldwide, to earn him the title of “The BMW of modern surfboard design”!

These kelp beds are home to a rich array of life. Kelp offers protection for prey, a hiding place for predators, and a substrate upon which smaller creatures can grow.

My shaping career began at age 13, when I got an electric planer for Christmas. There was no such thing as Pro Surfing in those days, and if you surfed, the dream career was to work in the surfboard industry. I’d been a keen competitor since working my way through Schoolboy, Amateur, Cadet and junior events. I came second to Terry Fitzgerald in the Australian titles Open division while still a Junior in 1973. Around this time a few prize money events started to appear around the world, and it was a logical step to give these a try. The International professional Surfers (IPS) Tour kicked off in 1976. I competed selectively up until 1980, mainly in Japan, Hawaii, and Australia. I was concentrating on two careers. Pro Surfing and shaping. Only surfing in a few of the World Tour events gave me time to hone my shaping skills. During this time I was fortunate to work with, and learn from, some of the world’s greatest shapers, including Geoff Mc Coy, Ben Aipa, Jim Richardson, Tom Parish, Gerry Lopez, Spider Murphy, Reno Abellira and Dick Brewer. Spending a month working with Dick Brewer in Hawaii at his Chuns Reef shaping room in the winter of 1976 / 77 was when it all gelled. Up until that time, I could use the tools and I had ideas and pictures in my head of what I wanted to shape, but the hand technique wasn’t there. Dick Brewer taught me the technique so that I could create what I had pictured in my mind. The seed for the idea of the reborn twin fin came from these shaping sessions.

The founding owner of Chilli Surfboards, Jamie Cheal, did his first top turn on a surfboard at Greenmount on the Gold Coast at age 13 and he’s been surfing most days since. In his late teens Cheal moved to Sydney and started working at a surfboard factory sanding boards and sweeping the floor of it’s shaping bays for a buck. In 1995, at age 22, Cheal shaped his first board. When he eventually took his creation to water he was more than a little surprised….it actually worked! “It was a total fluke” he laughs. “I shaped about 20 more after that first one and they all went like wet towels. He knew it wouldn’t be a walk in the park, however, with that first gem in mind, Cheal persevered with the shaping gig and not long after it all started to pay off. Two years on Chilli Surfboards was born in a small factory in Brookvale, 10 minute drive from North Narrabeen. Back then Cheal made one board per week and to keep money coming in he also finished boards for Aloha & webber Surfboards. In the years that followed the demand for Cheal’s boards grew and each week he produced more. He was able to quit working for other craftsmen to concentrate on his own designs. Pretty soon some of Australia’s best surfers were riding Chilli Surfboards to victory.

It wasn’t long before surfers on the ASP World Tour started knocking on the door of Cheal’s shaping bay asking for boards too. In 2004 Andy Irons rode Chilli Surfboards in his successful campaign to claim a third world title. Andy still gets boards from Chilli today. Cheal loves seeing the best surfers in the world ride his boards but would take just as much pride in seeing one under your feet. That’s why he’s worked hard to create a model range that has something for everyone. Check them out on The Kelp Bed and find your next dream board!!

Ever need an excuse to go surfing? Well on June 2oth you finally have one. International surfing day created by Surfing Magazine, this unofficial, official surfers holiday gives us to promote and celebrate the sport while bringing awareness to the state of our oceans and beaches.

The goal is simple, take the day, or at least part of the day to go down to your favorite surf spot to catch a wave or two, or watch your your favorite agro local grom snake you, whatever it takes. While your at it take some time to clean up your local beach. Surfrider Foundation will be organizing a hand full of official beach cleanups, but that shouldn’t stop you from fixing up your own stretch of sand.

Join ISD at http://www.surfingmagazine.com/isd/