Bruce Jones (surfboards)
Encyclopedia
Bruce Jones is a founding pioneer in the surfboard shaping industry.
The company he founded, Bruce Jones Surfboards, has built premium surfboards since 1973.
Jones developed his skills by working with industry pioneers Hobart Alter
founder of Hobie, Gordon Duane founder of Gordie Surfboards, and Dick Brewer founder of Dick Brewer Surfboards. Jones still shapes all of his company's boards.
Jones started in the gluing room for Hobie Surfboards.
As the gluing room was right next to the shaping room, he had exposure to the finest shapers in the world at that time. Among them were Terry Martin, Ralph Parker, Dale Velzy and the legendary Phil Edwards
. With some careful screening from Edwards, it was not long before Jones moved into shaping full time.
Jones worked his way into rough shaping and then into the actual shaping room and lost no time in getting help from everyone involved.
, where he shaped for Vardeman Surfboards, doing all the Jackie Baxter Models, which to this day are considered rare collector's items, being the first board on the west coast
to combine the low tail rails of the Hawaiian gun (for speed), with a refined longboard outline and eventually a turned down, flat-bottom nose for superb nose riding (influenced by the famous Morey/Pope John Peck Penetrator model).
At night, he would shape for Gordie Surfboards. Gordie (Gordon Duane) had a reputation for being a superb craftsman but very hard to get along with. Jones put up with him and learned some of Gordie's shaping techniques and most of all his dedication to perfection through using these techniques. He did a short stint with Dick Brewer in 1969, ghost shaping for him on Maui
. He then went on to shape for Russell Surfboards, Newport Beach, California
, and then Ole Surfboards in Sunset Beach, California
, from where he launched his own business.
, where it remains today. In the mid-1980s, Jones demolished the old shop and built the new store, which officially opened January 1, 1986.
"He is a master. And as long as I have known him, he has always remained a mellow and genuinely nice dude."
The company he founded, Bruce Jones Surfboards, has built premium surfboards since 1973.
Jones developed his skills by working with industry pioneers Hobart Alter
Hobart Alter
Hobart "Hobie" Alter, born October 31, 1933, is a founding pioneer in the surfboard shaping industry, creator of the Hobie Cat, and founder of the Hobie company....
founder of Hobie, Gordon Duane founder of Gordie Surfboards, and Dick Brewer founder of Dick Brewer Surfboards. Jones still shapes all of his company's boards.
Early years
Bruce Jones had been surfing since the age of 15, and his love for the sport and interest in the art of building boards suggested to him that he pursue this as a career choice. It turned out to be a good decision.Jones started in the gluing room for Hobie Surfboards.
As the gluing room was right next to the shaping room, he had exposure to the finest shapers in the world at that time. Among them were Terry Martin, Ralph Parker, Dale Velzy and the legendary Phil Edwards
Phil Edwards (surfer)
Philip Edwards is a legendary surfer. He is credited with being the first to surf the Banzai pipeline in Hawaii, being the first professional surfer, and creating the first signature surf board. He was the subject of a cover story, and his photo appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated in 1966...
. With some careful screening from Edwards, it was not long before Jones moved into shaping full time.
Jones worked his way into rough shaping and then into the actual shaping room and lost no time in getting help from everyone involved.
More experience
In the mid to late 1960s, Jones moved to Huntington Beach, CaliforniaHuntington Beach, California
Huntington Beach is a seaside city in Orange County in Southern California. According to the 2010 census, the city population was 189,992; making it the largest beach city in Orange County in terms of population...
, where he shaped for Vardeman Surfboards, doing all the Jackie Baxter Models, which to this day are considered rare collector's items, being the first board on the west coast
West Coast of the United States
West Coast or Pacific Coast are terms for the westernmost coastal states of the United States. The term most often refers to the states of California, Oregon, and Washington. Although not part of the contiguous United States, Alaska and Hawaii do border the Pacific Ocean but can't be included in...
to combine the low tail rails of the Hawaiian gun (for speed), with a refined longboard outline and eventually a turned down, flat-bottom nose for superb nose riding (influenced by the famous Morey/Pope John Peck Penetrator model).
At night, he would shape for Gordie Surfboards. Gordie (Gordon Duane) had a reputation for being a superb craftsman but very hard to get along with. Jones put up with him and learned some of Gordie's shaping techniques and most of all his dedication to perfection through using these techniques. He did a short stint with Dick Brewer in 1969, ghost shaping for him on Maui
Maui
The island of Maui is the second-largest of the Hawaiian Islands at and is the 17th largest island in the United States. Maui is part of the state of Hawaii and is the largest of Maui County's four islands, bigger than Lānai, Kahoolawe, and Molokai. In 2010, Maui had a population of 144,444,...
. He then went on to shape for Russell Surfboards, Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach, incorporated in 1906, is a city in Orange County, California, south of downtown Santa Ana. The population was 85,186 at the 2010 census.The city's median family income and property values consistently place high in national rankings...
, and then Ole Surfboards in Sunset Beach, California
Sunset Beach, California
Sunset Beach is a beachfront community in Huntington Beach in Orange County, California. In 2011, it was annexed by Huntington Beach and is now part of that city. Prior to, it was a census-designated place, with a population of 971 at the 2010 census....
, from where he launched his own business.
Bruce Jones Surfboards
He opened Bruce Jones Surfboards on September 15, 1973. In 1974, he moved the shaping and manufacturing portion of his business to Costa Mesa, CaliforniaCosta Mesa, California
Costa Mesa is a city in Orange County, California. The population was 109,960 at the 2010 census. Since its incorporation in 1953, the city has grown from a semi-rural farming community of 16,840 to a primarily suburban and "edge" city with an economy based on retail, commerce, and light...
, where it remains today. In the mid-1980s, Jones demolished the old shop and built the new store, which officially opened January 1, 1986.
Present day
To this day, the Bruce Jones Surf Shop in Sunset Beach stands as a testament to the vision that a true surf shop can survive, even amongst the giant surf mega stores that have more or less taken over the surf retail business. Put out a quality product and give friendly one-on-one service and it will flourish.Recognition
One of the things that I admire about Bruce is that he is one of the few shapers who can still create his boards totally by hand, without the use of the "shaping" machines that are in common use. He shapes all kinds of boards, from longboards to shortboards to big wave guns to "fish.""He is a master. And as long as I have known him, he has always remained a mellow and genuinely nice dude."