Top 10 Surfboard Logos of All Time
There is no overstating the importance of a surfboard logo, which is ironic given that ancient Hawaiians (the architects of surfing) refused to adorn boards with any markings so as to not disrupt the integrity of the vessel. Since the very first logo (a pre-WWII swastika) was carved into a Pacific Systems Homes Waikiki model in 1930, surfboard logos have served to infer craftsmanship and quality. They also provide the beholder a sense of pride in ownership. The right logo is what we surf-pickers hope to unveil when wiping away the grime of a barnyard find. Some are practical, some convey the personality of its builder, and others indicate that the designer/shaper may have experimented with a few too many psychedelics in their time. Moreover, logos have sustained the life of a board brand even after production has ceased. They are leveraged to sell stickers, patches, and t-shirts in surf shops up and down the Pacific Coast Highway of California to this very day.
While the prospect of naming favorites and “best surf logos” is highly subjective, there are a select number that standout above the rest. They do so not just because of their design, but because of the legends behind them. Below is an accounting of the greatest of all time. Feel free to dispute and plead your case for substitutes in the comment section below.
10 Best Surfboard Shaper and Surf Logos in the History of Surfing
1. Surfboards Hawaii
There are three reasons that Surfboards Hawaii earns the number one spot on the list of best surfboard logos of all time. The first, is the simple appropriateness found in combining the two most important words in surf culture; “Surfboards” and “Hawaii”. It was a stroke of genius by Dick Brewer, who opened Surfboards Hawaii in Haleiwa in 1961. The fact that it was started by one of the most influential board builders in history is the second reason, while being the first surf shop on the North Shore of Oahu is the third.
2. Holden Surfboards
Bill Holden is not a household name in surf history. He doesn’t even have a profile in the otherwise comprehensive Encyclopedia of Surfing.. That being said, the Laguna Beach native was the first inductee into the Surfboard Builders Hall of Fame back in 2000.Ā While Holden’s boards may not be highly sought after among vintage collectors, no one can deny the sense of excitement found in his kinetic logo. It captures the spirit of surfing unlike any other.
3. Greg Noll Cameraman
Greg Noll was more than a big wave rider and board builder. He was also an autobiographer, editor, and big promotor of surf culture with an even bigger personality. The latter is what had him featured often in surf cinema. Noll was also involved behind the camera, producing a series of “Search for Surf” movies that ran from 1957 to 1961. It’s this role that was responsible for the creation of his Greg NollĀ Surf Boards and Film Productions cameramanĀ logo. One of our favorite vintage boards from Noll is a 1965 10′ 6″ Hawaiian Gun, which features two cameraman logos, embraced within an atomic black pin-line (view here).
4. Greg Noll Fatman
Greg Noll’s creative and inventive mind had produced a number of other surfboard logo variations. While many will argue that his Mickey Dora signature model surfboard “Da Cat” and its logo deserves inclusion on this list, we feel that the “Fatman” is more representative of his heavy bodied persona and heavy water elephant guns.
5. Hobie Surfboards
The Hobie Surfboards diamond-shaped emblem set the standard in surfboard and surf shop logos when it was produced in the 1950s. With its clean and crisp lines and product shot (longboard) across the middle, it’s an idyllic representation of Hobie Alter himself. Alter was the savviest businessman in the surf industry, and one of the few longboard builders to survive the shortboard revolution of 1968. For more than seven decades the Hobie coat of arms has beckoned surfers to its stores in San Clemente, Dana Point, and Laguna Beach, California.
6. Wardy Surfboards
Malibu mainstay Fred Wardy opened up a surfboard factory in Pasadena in the 60s which he maintained until he stopped shaping in 1979. Given his early departure from the scene, Wardy’s balsa and foam works of functional art are highly collectible. There’s something light and fun about the logo, which may have been inspired by the playful font invented by his friend John Severson, the founder of SURFER magazine. The logo is found on many of his most cherished creations, including a Wardy Hawaiian āBig Gunā 10ā longboard (view here) that was ridden by the pioneers of big wave surfing on Oahu’s North Shore.
7. Bing Brewer Pipeliner
This is Dick Brewer’s second entry after Surfboards Hawaii (above) but it has the Brewer name on it. While some expect to find his trademark plumeria on the list, his collaboration with Bing Copeland birthed a board and logo with a machismo that speaks to an era when the big waves of Hawaii ruled all things in surfing. The BING-Brewer Pipeliner was the genesis for the Brewer āmini-gunā which paved the way of the aforementioned short board revolution of 1968. Plus, with this design you get two of the most celebrated board builders in one!
8. Joe Quigg Surfboards
Joe Quigg, together with fellow Californians Matt Kivlin and Bob Simmons forever changed surfing with their innovations in fins (view details) and foam, but it was Quigg who set himself as an entrepreneur in the industry. He opened a surf shop in HonoluluĀ in 1953 and shaped trailblazing boards from within while stamping his work with a distinctive logo. It stands apart from the others designed during the time because Quigg didn’t use cartoon-esque characters, nor rely on heavy font. Instead, it features the silhouette of a surfer heading down the line while maintaining speed, letting prospective customers know what to expect when investing in a Quigg model.
9. Surf Boards by Dewey Weber
Dewey Weber’s surfboard logo is similar to that of Wardy’s. However, it’s longer in literal design and in terms of mainstream reach. Dewey Weber’s surf teamĀ of about three-dozen deep were affectionately known as the āRedcoatsā when they hit the surf contest scene in 1964. Everyone wanted one of the famed red jackets and t-shirts with the Dewey Weber logo.
10. Lightening Bolt Surfboards
The Lightning Bolt is the most recognizable surfboard logo in the world. Although, half of the population who recognizes it doesn’t realize that it’s from the surfboard company founded by Gerry Lopez and Jack Shipley in 1970. The credit (blame?) goes to Aviator Nation, a 70’s revival clothing brand that caters to Generation Alpha, Gen-Z, and Millennials going through an early midlife crisis. Aviator Nation along with smaller independent labels have borrowed the Lighting Bolt logo and slapped it on t-shirts and hoodies to sell to the masses. While overexposure has zapped some of its power, there’s no denying the Bolt’s legacy as a notable surfboard logo.
Author: Marcus Maraih
