Rusty

Date of Birth: 12-08-1956

Home Town: Copiaque, New York

Started Surfing: 1972

Started Shaping: 1977

Shaping with Rusty since: 1991

Approx. # of Boards Shaped: 24,000

Best Surf Trip: Spain, 1990

Stance: Goofy Foot

Hobbies: Hunting, fishing, karate, getting annoyed at politicians

Favorite Type of Board to Shape: Guns, 6-channels, boards for Pipeline

Least Favorite Board to Shape: Epoxy guns, epoxy 6-channels, epoxy Pipe boards

Favorite Boards from the Past: A 6’3” deep 6-channel that the fin guy screwed up
and tilted the fins way too much… it was magic!

Favorite Local Wave: Pipes in Encinitas. It’s crappy, but I love that place.

Favorite Wave in the World: Rincon, California

Travels: Up and down the East and West Coasts of the US, Baja, Hawaii, Spain

Team Riders Shaped For: Kalani Chapman, Holly Beck, Mark Healey, the Larsons

If I Wasn’t a Shaper: It’s been shaping ever since I realized I would not pitch for the NY Mets!

Recently shaped: A little 6-channel quad. I used to ride these a lot the last time quads were popular…

Text and Photo: Brody

Print it and give it a go…. The first to email back the correct answers to brody@rustysurfboards will recieve a Rusty Prize Package!
(*Hint* Check the site)

That’s right folks… Rusty’s very own, Johnny “Monster” Maher and Jamie O’Brien, have entries in the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards! (Check out the VIDEO!)

Maher has been pushing the envelope at insane waves like Cloudbreak, Fiji when it is bombing and maxing out Puerto Escondido, Mexico! The particular wave that Maher entered, under the category of “Ride of the Year,” was an enormous set wave at Puerto that he PADDLED INTO and pulled an unbelievable disappearing act, only to be spat out way down the line, causing the entire crowd on the beach to go nuts! Plus J.O.B. has entered a crazy drainer at Teahupoo for “Monster Tube of the Year”!

“Monster” Maher spent some time shooting some self portraits with a nose cam

The Billabong XXL Challenge is reserved only for true hellmen and Maher has definitely forced his way into that category. The contest is high stakes, but also has high rewards:

Billabong XXL Ride of the Year Award:

The Billabong XXL Ride of the Year Award will be won by the individual surfer who — based on review of available video images by a panel of experts — demonstrates the most advanced and committed level of big wave surfing performance during a single successful ride during the annual event period. Judging criteria is purely SUBJECTIVE and will calculated from the votes of a large panel of surfers, photographers and surf magazine editors and writers. The first prize will be awarded in the amount of $50,000. Second prize will be awarded in the amount of $5000. The XXL Ride of the Year finalists finishing third through fifth will receive $1500 each. The videographer who captures the definitive video clip of the winning ride will be awarded $5,000. (billabong.xxl.com)

Charging Backside!

Maher’s wave has a solid chance at taking home the prestigious title of “Ride of the Year”. So, let’s all root him on as he continues to boggle minds!

Text: Brody

For the second year in a row, the Sacred Craft event has given the surfboard consumers a chance to directly interact with their shapers. A plethora of surfboard history, technology and craftsmanship could be seen at the event; archived boards from the past were dusted off and crazy contraptions of the future were brought to life…

The Rusty booth was stacked with a full line up of boards and Rusty, himself, was in attendance on both Saturday and Sunday along with several other R Dot Artisans, such as Rick Hamon and Michael Russo. Check out the full story and photo feature on Surfline.com…

Text and Photos: Brody

The big question… all of us at Rusty have been asked this question (way) more than once and it is time to set the record straight:

Of course Rusty still surfs! Rusty is an advocate of blending work with play and he’s not going to sit back and watch everyone else have all the fun!

Rusty doing a bit of R&D in the Mentawai Islands 2008.