Rusty

Hawaiian Diaries Episode 8. Kerrzy shreds pipe and tells the tale of his Slayer.

Josh Kerrs pipe quiver, all Rusty "Slayer Models" ranging from 5'10 - 6'8.

The Slayer, by Rusty Surfboards, was designed to accommodate today's modern surfing, where massive barrels linked with full rail carves followed by progressive aerial assaults are no longer reserved for video games, but surfing of this caliber is actually quite common place. At Rusty Surfboards we realized that versatility is the name of the game, that is why we introduced the Slayer.

This board model is a true hybrid, blending the progression of a high performance thumb tail shortboard with the wave catching ability of a big wave gun. By dropping a few inches from your next one up, moving the the wide point forward of center by a few inches, and adding a wider, slightly fuller, nose it creates the ability to catch bigger waves with ease and without having to have so much board under your feet.

When asked to describe his favorite board, Josh Kerr beamed, “The Slayer goes really fast, turns on a dime, has a lot of flow… a really easy board to ride. It’s kind of what I need. Works great in the barrel too. Wide nose. Narrow Tail. It’s perfect!”

Just recently Kerr proved, once again, how well the Slayer works and why it is the first surfboard into his board bag every time he packs for a contest, a free surf, or a surf trip, with his heroic performance at the WCT Teahupoo event where he secured a career best 3rd place result. The waves for this event were, for the lack of a better term, insane, but Kerr kept his cool and showed everyone how it was done on his 6'0" and 6'2" Slayers- getting absolutely pitted and spit out time and time again.

However, the Slayer is not solely reserved to spending time in the tube, but it also helps you make the most out of a session with mediocre waves. The wider nose helps the Slayer act as a great groveling board when the waves are less than average without losing the capability for aggressive, vertical surfing. The back end of the board is designed like a high performance shortboard, so you can still get the speed and drive you are looking for and have the ability to turn on a dime.

Inch for inch, the Slayer is one of the best boards you can have in your quiver- hands down.

Click HERE to check out the all new Slayer Hot Site.

If you have been wondering what surfboard model Jake Halstead has been riding lately, what board Kerr dominated Chopes with, or the inspiration for the Bali Single, tune in to listen to Rusty talk tech about various Rusty Surfboard models of the past and present. Thanks for our friends over at Solspot for the interview...

"I may never retire, but at least I've been semi-retired my whole life." Paul Elder is one of the elite few who has made a life out of doing what he loves. And what Paul loves is art. Paul is an exceptional painter and free hand artist that is inspired by the life that surrounds him: surfing, traveling, and fishing - his passion for these activities is undeniable in his work. You have probably seen Paul's work several times and have never even realized it. If you are a fan of Rusty Surfboards you have definitely seen his work as Paul designed several of our board icons over the years including the Piranha, the Desert Island, the Predator, the Toad, the Cat Fish, and the Slayer.

The Ballast Point Brewery artwork is also the brain child of Elder, everything from beer bottle labels to tap handles, he free handed them all. Some other notable clients of Elder's includes: Bloody Decks, Bulky Boy, H&M Landing, and a handful of other small local businesses...

Paul has a secluded art studio where he does a lot of his work and the quaint retreat is riddled with colorful masterpieces. Upon entering Paul's studio it quickly becomes apparent that he loves what he does. In addition to the stunning finished products gracing the walls, there are other works in progress and tid bits of inspiration scattered about. Photos from an old Baja camping trip are tacked to the wall. Concept sketches are lying here and there. Dried paint in a plethora of colors line the edge of his easel. Everywhere you look there is art.

Do not be fooled though. Paul is not just an artist playing the role of the fly on the wall and portraying what he sees, he is a very active participant in the arenas that inspire his artwork the most. As an avid surfer, fisherman, and a long time traveler, Paul has built his life around his lifestyle. Paul has spent time in Indonesia, El Salvador, and Mexico and Thailand, where he spent his formative years in elementary and middle school. The nature of being an artist allows him to create his own schedule, leaving plenty of room for fishing and surfing trips. Also, being the hands on kind of guy that he his, he will often dabble in the construction process of his gear. For example, he made his very impressive spear fishing gun from scratch - not an easy feat to accomplish. Once again, to prove that he is not just an artist and a craftsman, Paul graciously opened his freezer to share a plentiful helping of fresh white sea bass that he caught himself the day prior.

What a life? Travel, surf, fish... and then paint it. Perhaps he should be a teacher too, because we should all be taking notes.

Text and Photos: Brody

Kerrzy blows up on the Slayer...

Photos: Brody

Every so often, between adventures with his family, Shayne McIntyre will stop by the Rusty Surfboards factory to score some new boards. Recently, Shayne dropped by and left a very happy man. Here we see Shayne with three new boards: The Predator, The Slayer, and the all new Screamer. Keep your eyes on Fuel TV and On Surfari to see Shayne puting his new quiver to the test...

Photo: Brody

Here's a preview of the images in the Maher on the Slayer Gallery featuring team rider John Maher and the new Rusty surfboard model, the Slayer...

Photos by: Brody

15 year old, Jake Halstead, throws down a huge power gouge to re-entry on his new Rusty Slayer. Also, check out some more photos of Jake in the January Swell photo gallery.

Photos: Brody