BIO: RICH PRICE

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In 1976, after spending three years in the surfboard business stoked to be able to surf and make a living in the industry, I got the opportunity to learn to shape surf boards. For quite some time I had been interested in what made a surfboard work but I really never knew what I was looking at in a surfboard shape or it’s design until I started shaping. So when this chance arose, I went out and bought all the tools I needed, made my first templates and then started going for it. After a couple of years of shaping a few boards that worked and a whole bunch that didn’t really work, things began to come together. I was able to start  shaping some boards for guys who ripped and they actually liked the way my shapes were riding. They were honest with me in their feedback and would tell me what was working but more importantly they would tell me what wasn’t working and that is where the real progression in surfboard design comes from. My goal from the beginning was to make cutting edge, state of the art, high performance surfboards that worked for all levels of surfing ability and to this day that remains my primary goal. Over the years I have had the opportunity to work with or shape boards for many world class surfers. These guys really helped define who I am as a shaper. By having them travel around the world and put my boards to the test, they were able to give me very honest and valuable feedback.

Whenever I was able to develop a working surfer/shaper relationship with one of these guys, I had one basic philosophy and that was consistency in the shapes that I was providing for them. I knew every board I shaped was not going to be magical but if I got 7 or 8 out of 10 to be one that they really liked then I was successful. Progression in my designs has always come from working with guys like this as they traveled around, going to some of the most demanding breaks the world has to offer, and riding the boards I had shaped for them. Trust me, that will expose every weakness that any shape or design might have.

The performance of my shapes and designs have been tested and proven in Hawaii, Australia, Indo, Tahiti, South Africa, Europe, the Caribbean, Japan, and all over the USA. It has always been a goal of mine to transcend just being a guy who shapes in Florida. I want my shapes to work and be recognized on an international level. I feel that because I’ve been blessed with being able to shape boards for guys that surf on a world class level and also having been blessed with an intuitive understanding of surfboard design (knowing what works and doesn’t work in the conditions the board is being shaped for), I have been able to achieve this goal. This doesn’t mean I’m still not learning. That is an ongoing process when you shape and no matter how many boards you have done, surfboard designs will always be changing and progressing and a good shaper needs to keep up on top of that.

With my line of RPD Surfboards I want to keep refining and pushing the limits of high performance boards because when I do, it will filter down into all of my designs and models. This makes a better board regardless of what model you may choose to ride. I love doing this and I hope you can feel that in my boards, both when you pick one up and when you ride it.