Below is a non-comprehensive list of handcrafted boards by local North American shapers. As river surfing is still a relatively new sport, most of the larger surfboard manufacturers are just now dipping their toes into high-performance boards designed for the river. Many of the below shapers have been designing boards for their local communities for decades, and are experts in their craft.

Listed alphabetically with priority on “small batch” shapers with exclusively North American production.

Colorado Surf Supply

Dan Setzke founded Colorado Surf Supply in 2014. A veteran surfer catching waves in Denver long before any “official” surf parks existed, he’s spent years honing his craft and creating some of the most innovative designs and shapes found in the river. While his latest Tweaked Potato models specialize in low-volume, high-performance river surfing, it’s his finless designs that have truly carved out their own niche—sparking a distinct style and cultivating a loyal fanbase who continue to slide and spin them to new heights.

Corridor

Custom surfboards from the Corridor Surf Shop in Boise, Idaho. Corridor boards tend to be well-tuned to their home wave in the Boise River Park, but have been spotted on other high-performance waves around the country in recent years.

Cubicle

Travis Yamada has operated Bend, OR-based Cubicle since 2015. He specializes in high performance shortboards designed for steep waves found in Boise, Bend, and Colorado whitewater parks, as well as wave pools. In addition to boards, he also makes fins specifically designed for river waves.

Peterson Surfcraft

Another Boise shaper, with lots of designs that pop in photos and videos. More traditional shapes well-tuned for the Boise River Park.

TL Surf

Tyler Lausten is an ocean surfer and waveskier who has turned some of his attention (and shaping skill) to shaping river boards. His boards enjoy a cult following among Colorado river surfers, renowned for their durability and attention to detail.

Badfish SUP*

With the redesign of Scout Wave, Badfish has substantially increased their high-performance riverboard offerings. Their Wave Farmer has become a favorite for Salida surfers, as well as the Bomb Drop softboard.

*Many Badfish boards are “designed in Colorado”, not locally manufactured.

Lib Tech

Lib Tech has long been a popular choice in river surfing due to their exceptional durability (Dang Difficult to Ding) and environmentally friendly production practices. While their ocean shortboard, Puddle Jumper, has been a huge hit, in the past few years, they’ve also released new models specifically designed for high-performance wave pools, such as the Whirlpool and Pool Jet.

Specialized River Surf Accessories

Colorado River Surf Company

Designed by river surfers for river surfers, Colorado River Surf Company is a local outfit developing gear specifically for river surfing. They focus on fins, offering both low-cost prototypes and finished fiberglass versions. The company utilizes 3D printing and rapid prototyping. Their fins are designed and tested on Colorado rivers, with input from the regional surf community shaping the final designs.

Have another shaper to add to this list? Email me at endlesswavesco@gmail.com