Photo Gallery: The Craftsmen Shaping Texas Surf Culture

In Texas, a good surfboard has to earn its keep. Gulf Coast waves can be fickle, the wind rarely takes a day off, and when a proper swell rolls through, you’d better be ready. Making the most of those fleeting opportunities takes more than a favorable forecast. It takes ingenuity, experience and the right board beneath your feet.

Those boards and the people that make them took center stage at the 11th annual Surftoberfest in downtown Corpus Christi, where The Board Walk brought together more than 20 Texas surfboard shapers for a celebration of the people and craftsmanship behind the boards. Organized by photographer Jon Steele alongside surfers and Executive Surf Club owners Brad and Richard Lomax, the installation showcased an impressive cross-section of the state’s shaping community.

Held on October 17, 2026, the event blended Texas surf culture with the traditional trappings of Oktoberfest: bratwurst, schnitzel, pretzels and plenty of beer. But beyond the festivities, The Board Walk had a bigger purpose: to give overdue recognition to the craftsmen who have helped build and sustain the Lone Star State’s surf scene.

Texas surfboard shaping dates back at least to the late 1960s, when Danny Jauer was making boards in high school and Galveston’s BJ Williamson was developing his own shapes. Since then, generations of shapers have experimented with designs suited to the Gulf’s particular conditions, while others have carried their knowledge and craftsmanship to some of the world’s most celebrated waves.

Consider Corpus Christi native Robert “Cowboy Bob” Rudine, who collaborated with Williamson on handcrafted balsa boards, including a custom semi-gun built for big-wave surfer Bobby Gonzales. Their work is one example of how Texas shaping extends well beyond the state’s own coastlines, connecting local craftsmanship to surfing’s broader history.

For Steele, documenting these stories is just the beginning. Much of Texas shaping history has been passed down through conversations, personal recollections and the boards themselves, rather than through any comprehensive written record. The Board Walk aims to change that, creating an annual showcase that can grow alongside a more complete historical timeline. Steele also plans to incorporate video interviews in future installments.

The portraits that follow offer a glimpse into this community, pairing images of the shapers with photographs of their workshops, their work and the waves their boards were built to ride. Some are established veterans; others represent the next generation carrying the craft forward.

Different backgrounds, different approaches, different boards. All share a common thread: a dedication to making something that brings surfing to life. Every board has a story. These are the people who shape it.