For nearly 40 years, Surf Expo has played a vital role in the global surf hardgoods market, and the show will once again pay homage to the craftsmen at the roots of surfing heritage from Sept. 4-6.
Surfboard, fin and related accessory companies from around the globe will display their latest innovations at Surf Expo in Orlando at the Orange County Convention Center.
“Since our inception, Surf Expo has always strived to highlight surfboards and shapers as they are the true core of our business. Surf Expo offers shapers the perfect venue to display new designs and technology to the marketplace. Our September show in particular brings not only an international market, but a collection of surf, wake, kite and SUP shapers under one roof, showcasing the best of the boardsports industry,” said Roy Turner, show director, Surf Expo.
New to Surf Expo will be The Shaper’s Gallery, highlighting surfboard manufacturers, including Scott Guinto, Orion, Savage, Ricky Carroll and Muskoka in addition to board companies Rusty, Hobie, Doyle, Torq, Axis, East Coast Surfboards, California Board, Triple X, Jeff Clark, SOD, PUSH, George Robinson Surf Designs and others found throughout the show floor.
“At this show, we are excited to highlight a cast of Australia’s best shapers, including Simon Anderson, Luke Short, Al Emery, Vampirate Surfboards and Aloha Surfboards who are kicking off their U.S. tour at Surf Expo,” added Turner.
The center of the Shaper’s Gallery will be the first-ever Surfboard/Wakesurf Shaping Challenge at Surf Expo curated by Ricky Carroll and Alliance Wake. Master board builders will compete to shape two boards in three hours—one wakesurf, one surfboard from blanks provided by US Blanks. The grand prize winner will receive $1,000 and a booth at the January 2015 Surf Expo show. Featured shapers include Brett Telinger of GUM Surfboards, Jim Hannan of Hawaiian Pro Design, Jason Standley of Ronix, Tony Logosz of Slingshot, and Sam Barker of 3DM.
