The Best Surfboard Brands in the Surfing World: My Epic List

Last Updated on November 13, 2023 by Matt Hapgood

Since the very beginning of surfing, there have been amazingly skilled human beings who have been able to make surfboards with all manner of tools and materials. 

Over the years the surfboard industry has grown immensely – and from the early days in the surfing world of wood being the material of choice, nowadays with innovations such as CAD software, large-scale shaping machines, and production-line processes, humble surfboard shapers have evolved into globally recognized brands. 

And according to this site, over 400,000 new surfboards are produced in the USA alone. That’s a lot of surfboards, and they’re not just for the pro surfers! 

In this epic list, I run down the top surfboard brands from A to Z, let’s rip in. 

TL;DR (Too long didn’t read)

Aipa Surfboards

Based in Hawaii and carrying on his father Ben Aipa’s legacy, Akila Aipa focuses on modern performance board designs that still retain Hawaiian soul through the use of rounded pins, deep concaves, and fuller outlines.

Akila achieves a seamless blend of heritage and progression.

Album Surfboards

Operating out of San Clemente, CA, Album Surfboards is renowned for artistic custom surfboard designs tailored to each customer. Every Album board is a unique functional piece of art, with handpainted and handshaped details that reflect the rider’s personality and style.

Almond Surfboards

Almond Surfboards craft beautiful retro fishes and classic longboards in California.

Founded by Dave Allee in 2009, they have forged an uber-cool niche for themselves, creating high-quality surfboards that ooze style and high design-IQ.

One of my favorite surf brands out there. 

Al Merrick

Al Merrick shapes out of Santa Barbara, CA and has defined modern high-performance surfboard design through his collaborations with 11-time world champion Kelly Slater. 

The famous glass slipper design of the 90’s which only Kelly could ride opitimized the creativity of Al and Kelly – with crazy rocker and wafer thin rails, they allowed for all sorts of radical surfing at the time.

Now trading under the brand of Channel Islands, the legacy Al has left will leave an indelible mark on the sport of surfing.

Aloha Surfboards

Located in Maroochydore, Australia, Aloha Surfboards opened in 2011 and crafts custom high-performance shortboards designed in collaboration with each customer. 

Their one-on-one shaping process ensures every Aloha board has tailored flex and contours.

Andreini Surfboards:  

Andreini Surfboards originated in 1963 in San Diego focusing on finely crafted traditional longboards that pay homage to surfing’s roots. Their master shapers use subtle modern touches like foil bumps and concaves to improve speed while retaining flowing lines.

Bear Surfboards:

Founded by Matt Biolos in California in 2014, Bear shapes cutting-edge performance shortboards with the competitive surfer in mind. Bear’s extensive R&D yields boards demanding advanced skills focused on razor sharp explosiveness and maneuverability.

Bill Stewart Surfboards: 

Emerging from Stewart Surfboards in the 1960s, Bill Stewart Surfboards maintains Stewart’s legacy of quality board shaping while evolving designs to match modern surfing. Their diverse range serves all levels seeking style and performance.

BIC Sport Surfboards:

Originally a pen company in France, BIC expanded into surfboards in 1979, finding a niche providing durable boards for surf schools and day rentals. 

Their affordable pop-out boards support beginners learning proper paddling and wave-catching technique. Now they make all sorts of surf accessories for the budget minded surfer.  

Bushman Surfboards:  

Bushman originated in Torquay, Australia in 1969, handcrafting boards for high performance carving as well as classic logs honoring surfing tradition. Their master shapers carefully design each board using computer optimization before final hand finishing. 

Byrne Surfboards:

Established in 1960 by Dave Byrne in Ventura, CA, Byrne Surfboards produces functional art shortboards blending precision shaping, elegant lines, and performance. Byrne’s boards feature intricate fins, glassing, and resin tints complementing their flowing smooth shapes.

Catch Surf

Founded in San Clemente, CA in 2006, Catch Surf tapped into a growing market for soft-top surfboards, which provide more user-friendly, durable options accessible to all skill levels. Their high-density foam boards retain responsiveness while eliminating fiberglass dangers.

Chilli Surfboards

Established on Australia’s Gold Coast by James Cheal, Chilli Surfboards is renowned for diverse high-performance shortboard designs meticulously crafted to suit individual surfing needs. Chilli shapers are celebrated for their ability to shape magic into every custom build.

Chris Christenson Surfboards

Operating since 1986 in San Diego, CA, Chris Christenson shapes innovative custom boards optimized for speed, drive, and maneuverability. By exploring alternative materials and CAD designing, he eliminates excess foam for maximized responsiveness.

Channel Islands Surfboards 

Founded in 1969 by Al Merrick in Santa Barbara, CA, Channel Islands Surfboards collaborates with the world’s best surfers to create cutting-edge performance surfboards proven on the World stage.  

Channel Islands have team riders across all disciplines in surfing too – from surfers at the highest level like Dane Reynolds and Joao Chianca, to alternative styles of Sage Erickson and Mikey February.  

Britt Merrick 

Their designs and marketing these days influence board shaping worldwide – probably one of the most iconic surfboard brands ever.

Dark Arts Surfboards

Located in Avila Beach, CA, Dark Arts focuses on shaping fully hand-crafted custom shortboards designed to harmonize with a rider’s style. Blending functional art and soulful craftsmanship, each Dark Arts board fuses board to surfer.

Dead Kooks Surfboards

Dead Kooks originated in Cocoa Beach, FL in 2011 with a mission to shape quality shortboards for high performance surfing. Their boards feature deep concaves and precise rails aimed at maximizing speed, drive, and responsiveness on the wave face.

Dewey Weber Surfboards

Dating back to 1950s Manhattan Beach, CA, Dewey Weber Surfboards maintains its heritage through handcrafting boards that blend classic California ease with contemporary performance enhancements. Their goal is stylish, smooth, soulful surfing.

DHD Surfboards

Formed on Australia’s Gold Coast in 2006, Darren Handley Designs (DHD) creates cutting-edge high performance boards favored by world champion surfers. DHD’s extensive R&D focuses on maximizing aerials through weight reduction, concaves, and precision composite construction.

Eric Arakawa Surfboards

Based in Lahaina, Hawaii, Eric Arakawa is regarded as a modern longboard shaping legend. His boards allow smooth walking the nose with enhanced responsiveness and speed through subtle bottom contours, concaves, and foils. Arakawa strives for the perfect harmony of classic form and high performance.

Firewire Surfboards  

Founded in California in 2005, Firewire utilizes lightweight durable materials like Timbertek epoxy and patent-pending Slater Designs’ Future Shapes technology to create strong, responsive, high-performance boards with smaller environmental footprints.

Gerry Lopez Surfboards

Shaped by Hawaiian legend Gerry Lopez since 1972, Lopez’s elegant longboards and midlengths exemplify his signature smooth soulful “Lightning Bolt” surfing style. With rounded pins, pulled-in tails, and specialized glassing, Lopez boards excel at stylish trim and nose riding.

Glenn Pang Surfboards

Glenn Pang shapes out of the North Shore, Hawaii, handcrafting heavy-duty big wave guns along with performance shortboards. Top Hawaiian chargers rely on Pang’s boards for stability and control in Oahu’s massive winter surf. He individually designs each board for a surfer’s size and skill.

Gordon & Smith Surfboards

Founded in 1952 in San Diego, Gordon & Smith is one of surfing’s oldest and most storied brands. Their master shapers blend vintage California ease with modern performance in boards that span longboards, midlengths, retro twins, and shortboards.

Grain Surfboards

Located in York, Maine, Grain utilizes locally harvested northern wood and plant-based materials like flax linen and bio-resins to handcraft unique, organic surfboards focused on sustainability. Their wood cores absorb less water for increased buoyancy and strength.

GSI (Global Surf Industries)

As a major surfboard manufacturing conglomerate, GSI licenses and distributes popular commercial brands like Channel Islands, Creature, and Hyfly, offering diverse board options for surfers across disciplines, skill levels, and budgets.

Hayden Shapes

Established on Australia’s Central Coast in 2011, HaydenShapes quickly took over the surf World.  

With pioneering futureshapes construction techniques like aerospace composites to create light, strong, performance driven boards like the Hypto Krypto. Their goal is progression through design innovation resulting in super high performance boards. 

Hobie Surfboards

Hobie Alter forever changed surfing by pioneering mass production of polyurethane foam and fiberglass boards in the 1950s. The Hobie brand continues his legacy of quality and innovation, recently applying hydrodynamic “V” hulls to improve speed. 

Hansen Surfboards

Steve Hansen opened his iconic Santa Cruz, CA surfboard label in the 1970s. His extensive experience fine-tuning big wave guns ridden at Mavericks led to a reputation as one of the world’s premier big wave board shapers.

Harbour Surfboards

Harbour originated handcrafting surfboards in Sunset Beach, Hawaii in 1959 before relocating to California. The Harbour team pioneered lighter high-performance shortboards ideal for tackling Oahu’s big winter waves with greater maneuverability. 

INT Surfboards

Located in Imperial Beach, CA, Island Nui Tech (INT) utilizes cutting-edge materials like aerospace composites and 3D shaping software to manufacture advanced high-performance shortboards with precision optimized foils.

Iron Cross Surfboards

In Hanalei, Hawaii since 1995, Mike Lishner individually handshapes Iron Cross boards that balance classic Hawaiian big wave designs with performance improvements like concaves, channels, and new materials for increased responsiveness and stability.

Jim Phillips Surfboards

Jim Phillips opened his surfboard label in Oceanside, CA in 1963, quickly earning distinction as a longboard shaper. His artistic flowing boards defined the San Onofre style. Phillips’ traditional shapes and craftsmanship have endured across generations of surfers.

Joel Tudor Surfboards

Located in San Diego, Joel Tudor Surfboards caters perfectly to Tudor’s soulful surfing style through the handcrafted longboards and midlengths it produces. Their emphasis is on smooth polished footwork and nose riding, evoking surfing’s roots.

Josh Hall Surfboards

Josh Hall individually hand shapes custom surfboards for high performance progressive surfing out of his Oregon workshop. With an artistic eye and deep shaping knowledge, Hall infusion functional designs with beauty, flow, and soul.

JS Industries

Founded in 2001 on Australia’s Central Coast, JS (named for founder Jason Stevenson) produces cutting-edge shortboards bearing Stevenson’s influence as a former WCT surfer. JS Industries makes high performance boards 

 is respected for technology-driven designs that push progression.

Keogh Surfborard

Michael Keogh established his Maroubra, Australia surfboard workshop in 1974, gaining distinction through his shortboards built for aerial maneuvers and retro expressions like twin fins favored by experienced surfers. His personal shaping approach ensures each board matches an individual’s style.

Lib Tech Surfboards

Located in Washington State, Lib Tech was founded by snowboard makers who applied new technologies and sustainable materials to surfboard production. Lib Tech boards feature lightweight durable construction and performance enhancing bananagram rockers.

Lightning Bolt Surfboards

Ingrained in the surfing culture Lightning Bolt originated handcrafting surfboards in Hawaii during the 1970s shortboard revolution. Their clean, functional shapes aimed to optimize speed, projection, and control for riding Oahu’s powerful waves. The Lightning Bolt brand maintains its legacy through its dedication to quality.

Linden Surfboards

Randy Linden established his Cocoa Beach, FL shaping workshop in 2006, earning distinction crafting high performance custom surfboards. Through decades of experience, Linden blends old school techniques with modern advances to create boards matched to an individual surfer’s style.

Lost Surfboards

Founded by Matt Biolos in San Clemente, California, Lost quickly gained renown by providing diverse cutting-edge board designs tailored to top professional surfers. Lost Surfboards utilizes extensive R&D and feedback from its team riders to continuously refine designs and construction.

Round nose fish 

Love Machine Surfboards

Love Machine originated handcrafting surfboards in Angourie, Australia before relocating to the Gold Coast. 

Ryan Lovelace 

Their quiver includes performance shortboards along with retro twin fins, asymmetric fish shapes, and classic logs inspired by surfing’s roots.

Machado Surfboards

Launching in 1996 in San Diego, Machado Surfboards reflects founder Rob Machado’s smooth, soulful style through quality handshaped boards prioritizing flow. Rob Machado also utilizes eco-friendly and sustainable manufacturing practices within its production.

Mandala Surfboards

Mandala originated in Indonesia combining traditional boat building with modern surfboard shaping to create quality handcrafted boards personalized for discerning surfers. Their goal is beauty and performance merging through dedication to finely tuned custom craft.

Mark Richards Surfboards

4-time world champion Mark Richards developed his Australian board brand, which specializes in user-friendly performance designs well-suited for intermediate to advanced level surfers looking to maximize enjoyment in quality surf.

Maurice Cole Surfboards

Regarded as a master craftsman since opening his board workshop in 1980 on Australia’s Gold Coast, Maurice Cole finds satisfaction hand shaping custom surfboards designed for optimal personalized performance. Cole works one-on-one with local customers.

McTavish Surfboards

Bob McTavish pioneered performance shortboard shaping in the 1960s then relocated his Australian brand to California, gaining global renown for his flowing handcrafted longboards. McTavish’s smooth concave hulls improve glide, allowing graceful walking the nose. 

Mick Fanning Softboards

Named for Australian pro surfer Mick Fanning, his beginner-friendly soft-top boards provide a durable, sustainable, user-friendly design made from recycled materials. The board construction allows worry-free progression while maintaining responsiveness.

Modern Surfboards

Founded in Australia by legendary shaper Maurice Cole, Modern shapes quality surfboards with the average surfer in mind. Their goal is improving skills through user-friendly designs, accessible prices, and a foundation of expertly refined craftsmanship.

Mollusk Surfboards

With shops in California, Mollusk merges quality board construction, beautiful artistic handcrafted details, and soulful design to create a quintessential riding experience. Each unique Mollusk board aims to perfectly express an individual’s surfing passion. 

Morning of the Earth Surfboards

Morning of the Earth originated handcrafting surfboards in Australia in 1959. In addition to stock boards, they create custom performance shapes designed through collaboration between shaper and customer, resulting in boards tailored to individual needs.

Munoz Surfboards

Originally under the UWave label, Munoz became an independent Hawaiian surfboard brand founded through a partnership between Ben Aipa and Pete Cabrinha. They create hand shaped high-end boards with precision refinement at every stage of construction.

NSP Surfboards

Founded in Australia in 1963, NSP evolved into one of the largest global surfboard manufacturers, offering a wide range of affordable durable boards distributed through retailers worldwide and branded with the distinctive NSP rainbow logo.

Orion Surfboards

Greg Geiselman of Orion Surfboards opened his Australian board workshop in 1979, gaining distinction through experience shaping shortboards for world champions. Orion’s quiver now ranges from high performance comp models to classic longboards to meet all surfing interests.

Pat Rawson Surfboards

Located in San Diego since 1959, Pat Rawson creates quality custom surfboards by hand, focusing on performance with clean lines and artistic touches like immaculate glassing and fin details. Rawson works closely with locals to shape boards tailored to their needs.

Pukas Surfboards

Pukas originated in Spain’s Basque country shaping high-quality performance shortboards. Their collaboration with top professional surfers allows Pukas to refine designs and expand into a global leader in surf equipment and apparel. Similar to that of Almond Surfboards, Pukas oozes style and quality. 

Proctor Surfboards

Proctor Surfboards opened in 1969 in Torquay, Australia, establishing a longstanding tradition of hand shaping precision boards designed to perfectly match an individual surfer’s style, local conditions, and skill level. Performance with proper fit is Proctor’s priority.  

Pyzel Surfboards

Jon Pyzel a student of board design,    launched his Australian board label in 2004 through a partnership with John John Florence. Pyzel’s science-driven template framing technology optimizes performance specifications to create cutting-edge competitive surfboards.

Rusty Surfboards

Rusty Preisendorfer founded his San Diego brand in 1986, quickly gaining renown for his high-performance thrusters blending speed, power, and maneuverability. Rusty’s shaping expertise and eye for design produces functional art performance boards.

Robert August Surfboards

A pioneering big wave rider in the 1960s, Robert August partnered with Gordon & Smith before founding his esteemed board company in 1969, pushing shortboard performance innovations. The Robert August name carries on today with skilled shapers who refine classic shapes for surf enthusiasts the World over. 

Ryan Burch Surfboards

Ryan Burch shapes performance-driven boards accentuated by unique curved bottom contours that increase speed, responsiveness, and the ability to hold a line through hollow powerful waves. Burch personally handcrafts each board start to finish.

Ryan Lovelace Surfboards

Ryan Lovelace opened his San Diego board workshop in 2006, gaining recognition through his custom hand shaped surfboards designed meticulously for a surfer’s body type, ability, local break, and style. One-on-one service ensures a perfectly fit board.

South Bay Board Company

Evolving from 1960s South Bay Surfboards, South Bay Board Company offers a range of user-friendly surf and paddleboards aimed at beginner to intermediate wave riders looking for durability combined with performance across surf conditions.

Salt Gypsy Surfboards

Founded in Virginia in 2014, Salt Gypsy creates quality women-specific surfboards shaped by Laura De Armond, focusing on environmentally sustainable construction, community, and celebration of stylish surfing.

Byron Bay 

Sharp Eye Surfboards

A Brazilian high performance surfboards brand, Sharp Eye utilizes advanced parabolic shaping technology to produce competitive oriented shortboards with edges tuned for precise rail-to-rail performance, speed, and aerial maneuvers.

Simon Andersen Surfboards 

Simon Anderson pioneered the thruster fin set up, changing surfboard design forever. Based in Australia, Anderson first experimented with three fins in 1981, looking to enhance control and response in the water. His signature thruster design featuring two side fins and a central fin quickly became the standard across the sport.

After a storied professional career built on his innovation, Anderson established his own surfboard brand. Simon Anderson Surfboards specializes in distributing thrusters that exemplify Anderson’s original design ethos – crafting boards that allow smooth flowing lines and delicate maneuvering for a harmonious glide across the wave.

Simon Anderson Surfboards utilizes advanced materials and precision shaping techniques to engineer high-performance thrusters. However, the brand stays true to Anderson’s penchant for a traditional hand-shaped feel and aesthetic. Each Simon Anderson board artfully blends efficiency, control, and soul.

Skip Frye Surfboards

Operating since 1952, Skip Frye pioneered the three-fin “thruster” design that fundamentally transformed board performance. The Skip Frye name carries on through his San Diego workshop’s goal of crafting boards offering a magic harmony of form meeting function. 

Slater Designs

Slater Designs emerges through the partnership between 11-time world champion Kelly Slater and board maker Daniel Thomson. The brand engineer boards with Space Age materials and hydrodynamic profiles optimized for competitive high performance.  Surfing industry 

Son of Cobra

Founded in 2009 and located in Southern California, Son of Cobra shapes retro inspired performance shortboards with contemporary materials and a soulful style recalling 1960s – 70s transitional designs that initiated shorter boards and more radical maneuvers.

Spyder Surfboards

Spyder originated handcrafting boards in Cardiff by the Seaside, California in 1969 under legendary local shaper Hank Warner. Their goal is maintaining quality handshaped custom boards despite increasing global production and competition.

Superbrand Surfboards

Emerging from Durban, South Africa, Superbrand offers a range of surfing equipment with an emphasis on performance shortboards aimed at intermediate to advanced surfers looking for boards designed for radical aerial maneuvers.

Surf Prescriptions

With locations in Florida and California, Surf Prescriptions analyzes individual surfer metrics using advanced computer modeling to design boards hand shaped for optimized speed, projection, and control. Each Rx board is customized.

Surftech

Surftech evolved board manufacturing beginning in 1971 through pioneering the use of lightweight durable composite materials to create high-quality surfboards on a larger production scale. Their goal is maintaining performance while making boards more accessible.

Takayama Surfboards

Takayama continues the Hawaiian surfboard shaping legacy of the late legendary Donald Takayama through its precisely crafted boards, especially elegant flowing traditional longboards. Each Takayama board aims to create a timeless harmonious feel.

T Patterson Surfboards

T Patterson originated in Noosa Heads, Australia shaped by Tim Patterson, gaining renown through Patterson’s high-performance shortboards honed through feedback from the world’s best competitive surfers.

Thunderbolt Surfboards

Thunderbolt started handcrafting classic California boards in Los Angeles in the 1960s, evolving into an esteemed local label through the decades while expanding production capabilities and board options.

Tomo Surfboards

Founded in San Diego in 2006, Tomo merges masterful hand shaped craftsmanship with environmentally sustainable practices and materials, includingREC recycled foam blanks and elimiNAT resin, to create quality performance boards.

Torq Surfboards

Torq opened in 1997 in Australia using advanced thermal molding technology to create durable, user-friendly boards strong enough for surf schools yet lively enough for experienced riders. Their construction allows consistency across production scales.

Trimcraft Surfboards

Located in Santa Cruz since 1968, Trimcraft specializes in handcrafted custom surfboards, now utilizing 3D CAD design and CNC milling to refine shapes before finishing each board by hand. Their goal is quality boards tailored to individual surfers.

Varial Surfboards

Former pro surfer Grant “Twiggy” Baker founded Varial in South Africa in 2001, bringing experience as a lifelong waverider. Varial aims to make high-performance boards accessible while retaining shaping precision, quality materials, and responsiveness.

Walden Surfboards

Steve Walden established Walden Surfboards in Western Australia in 1970, gaining global renown through champion surfers riding his boards. Walden creates performance shortboards alongside masterfully crafted traditional logs and midlengths.

Webber Surfboards

The Webber family started handcrafting classic boards from their Capistrano Beach, CA shop in 1960. Through generations they maintain a tradition of quality and innovation in custom surfboards, providing an individualized approach to each surfer.

Xanadu Surfboards

Xanadu originated shaping high-performance boards when they opened in Santa Cruz, CA in 1973. While growing in scope, they remain dedicated to creating magic boards through a combination of skill, knowledge, and passion for the art of surfboard craft.

Yater Surfboards

Yater Surfboards was started in 1952 by Reggie Yater in Santa Barbara, CA, pioneering mass production while retaining custom hand craftsmanship. Yater boards exemplify smooth flowing soulful style.

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Surfboard Brands: Q and A 

What surfboard do professionals use?

Pro surfers at the top competitive level demand the highest performance equipment to match their skills.

They will almost exclusively ride shortboards with a three-fin setup or thruster setup. The WSL recently started tracking the manufacturers with the most competitive success.

No surpise these brands are in the top five:

• Lost
• DHD
• Sharp Eye
• Pyzel
• Channel Islands

What is the most popular type of surfboard?

For recreational surfers, the most popular all-around board is likely the funboard (or hybrid board). Funboards range between 7-8 feet in length, combining elements of longboards and shortboards. They provide a versatile ride that’s forgiving and stable enough for beginners, yet lively enough for more advanced surfing.

What brand of surfboard does Kelly Slater ride?

As an 11-time world champion, Kelly Slater works closely with premier shapers to develop his equipment. He often rides boards from his brand Slater Designs, created through a partnership between Slater and Daniel Thomson. Slater also rides Firewire Surfboards and Channel Islands models shaped specifically for his competitive needs.

What is a surfboard maker called?

The traditional term for a surfboard builder is a shaper. Shapers design the contours and dimensions of a board before crafting the physical product from start to finish. Some may use a mix of hand-shaping techniques alongside computer-aided design and manufacturing. The goal is always maximizing performance.

What type of board do pro surfers use?

Elite professional surfers utilize equipment tailored precisely to their abilities and the competition conditions. Most favor high-performance shortboards in the 5’8” to 6’2” range. The shortboard’s reduced surface area allows quick rotation in the pocket and unmatched aerial capabilities. Yet they still provide the drive and speed needed to tap into the wave’s power.