Ocean Currents
information
Robin Prodanovich
Surfboards USA
San Diego, California
92117
Phone: (858)-349-2755
Thursday March 1st 2012
This photo was taken by world class photographer John Durant showing me in my natural habitat, and appears in the current issue of The Surfer’s Journal, volume 21, number 1. I am fortunate and flattered to be included in the San Diego shapers feature alongside Skip, Hoy and the other great shapers from my area, that have been plying their craft quietly and with tremendous pride for many years and thousands of boards.
Keep surfing and shaping!
RP
Monday February 20th 2012
I have been surfing for about fifty years and designing and shaping surfboards for over forty of those years and even though I’ve built some really fun boards during that time, none of them have as great a fun factor as my Pudge design. I have built the Pudge ranging in length from 5’4” to 6’3” and they all work extremely well in a wide variety of conditions as either a tri fin or quad. The board is ridden short, thick, and wide with a very full plan line. They paddle well, catch waves easily, have great down the line speed and are very maneuverable. Due to their relatively short length and uniformly distributed volume, the board is very easy to duck dive which is a divine characteristic when riding bigger surf, adding to the board’s versatility.
As a follow up to my February, 2011 blog, I thought I would post some design photos of the Pudge to help you get an idea of what the board is about, along with some shots of the board in action, and a few quotes from happy surfers that call the Pudge their friend.
A curvy plan line with functional balance between nose, center and tail widths
  Overall shape and contours |
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 Beak nose |
 Rail contour about 1/3 back from nose |
 Mid board |
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 About 1/3 up from tail |
 Tail |
“I love the Pudge. I like it so much I find myself grabbing it over my step-up boards maybe a little too often, and I've definitely ended up out with it in some burly conditions...it always seems to hold up though.”
 -David 5’8” x 19.75” |
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“The Pudge is rad because it’s so versatile. It has a bit of volume to it, so you can paddle and catch waves with ease when the surf is gutless and barely worth riding, but it also goes amazingly well when you ride real waves. I rode it in head-high Salina Cruz when it was throwing top-to-bottom and I couldn't have asked for a better functioning board. I also rode it yesterday in ankle slappers around Solana Beach and it went better than any other small-wave board I've ridden. Fast, loose, maneuverable—the only problem is that now it's the only board I ride and sometimes I start to feel a bit claustrophobic, like my world is quickly shrinking. But when I start feeling adventurous and ride something else, I always remember why I'm chained to my Pudge in the first place: because it always works.”
 -Todd 5’6” x 19.75” |
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“The Pudge carries a lot of speed on the take off and through slower sections and the shorter board allows for really tight pocket turns. It’s a great board for extending floaters; it holds its speed on top of the lip and projects the floater considerably longer than a standard short board”.
 -Jon 5’5” x 19.5” |
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“I want to thank you again for making me my Pudge, I just had the best day out at the Cliffs. Being 6'3" 225lbs and being able to ride a 6'2" is awesome. The down the line speed of this board combined with the quad fin set up is unreal. The volume and the drive from the quad allowed me to go way out on the shoulder and do huge wrap arounds and still maintain lots of speed and control. I had several guys paddle up to me and ask what I was riding. Thank you once again. I Love This Board!!!”
 -Guy 6'2” x 21” |
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“My Pudge has added new life to my 30+ years of surfing. It's incredibly versatile and is my board of choice in most conditions. The board paddles fast for early entry and glide over flat sections without sacrificing performance in steeper waves. I really like how the Pudge's short design fits into the contour of most waves I ride.”
-Kim 6’0” x 20.0” |
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“Still lovin it! My Pudge has been my go-to board for about a year since I got it. Set up as quad-fin, it’s the most responsive board I’ve ever ridden. As a tri-fin setup, it can really hold well even on the bigger days. It’s just a great super versatile board and I feel like my surfing has really benefited from it.”
-Brian 5’9” x 19.75” |
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“The Pudge is magic! It’s really easy to get into smaller (2-5 foot), mushy waves but the board really opens up in speed and maneuverability down line. As a tri-fin, its stable but still has a super fluid ride when making rail to rail turns, either driving down the line or setting up for bigger maneuvers off the bottom. I can't wait to try it as a quad fin set-up in bigger, more lined up waves. It’s definitely a great board for San Diego surf!!”
-Jamie 6’0” x 20” |
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“The Pudge is practically the only board I ever ride anymore. I take it out in waist high mush and head high bombs. It just fits into the pocket of so many different sized and shaped waves. I also love having the P5 option so I can adjust the board for maneuverability or down the line "get me the heck outta here" speed. Thanks for introducing me to this board!!!”
-Tim 5’10” x 19.75” |
Keep surfing!
RP
Saturday September 24th 2011
Most surfers know that their favorite board was built by hand, but to what extent? All of the airbrushing, glassing, hot coating, sanding and polishing are definitely hand done but what about the actual shaping of the board, the very heart and soul of that piece of fantastic plastic that rides under your feet? Is it hand shaped or machine shaped? I wonder which would be more interesting to watch, a board designed and shaped on a computer monitor or one completely hand shaped in the noise and dust of a shaping room? Have a look at Anders’ new board taking shape in less than three minutes of dance and chaos.
Keep surfing!
RP
Monday June 13th 2011
I was checking my email recently and I noticed a message from Adam Perez with an attachment. Since I make boards for Adam and he is a long time friend and surf buddy with my son Todd, I was curious about what he had been up to lately. The message contained no words at all and instead, some unreal photos of Adam in the barrel, seeking solace, at the Lobster Lounge.
Click for Full Sequence
I’ve known Adam since he was a grom, made some boards for him over the years, watched his surfing ability improve and mature, and I’m stoked to see this sequence of Adam riding his Mach 3 at one of San Diego’s most challenging waves, and making it look easy.
Keep surfing!
RP
Tuesday February 1st 2011
Recently I was organizing and reviewing some order cards and noticed a trend in surfboard design occurring; boards were getting fatter. I can't say that I was totally surprised by my observation since I've been designing shorter and fatter boards for customers and myself for over three years. This wide body trend became even more evident to me in a recent surf magazine board buyer's guide, where the various surfboard manufacturers showcased their current models, and their emphasis was on what some like to call "alternative designs". The sleek, high performance, low volume shortboard is here to stay, but it's dominance in advertising and in the lineup is being challenged as surfers discover the benefits of great performance in a smaller package.
Below are some photos that contrast the differences between the standard, high performance shortboard and an alternative to that same design. Both boards will work quite well, with each giving the surfer a different feel and approach to riding a wave.
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Todd's Mach 3; 6'1" x 11.5" nose x 18.5" wide x 14.38" tail x 2.25" thick |
Todd's Pudge; 5'6" x 14" nose x 19.75" wide x 15.5" tail x 2.45" thick |
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RP's Quad Driver; 6'3" x 11.75" nose x 19.38" wide x 14.75" tail x 2.25" thick |
RP's Pudge; 5'10" x 13.75" nose x 19.75" wide x 15.5" tail x 2.5" thick |
Surfing is best when it's fun and sometimes fun means going fat!
Keep surfing!
RP
Friday December 10th 2010
Every now and then I receive an email from a stoked customer letting me know how much he or she likes their new board and I find the feedback to be very helpful. Feedback helps me to solidify my original thoughts on the design of their particular board including the length, width, nose and tail dimensions, rocker, volume, etc. I also have to take into consideration where they will surf the board and the power of the waves in that area. I want the board to match the conditions as closely as possible.
You can imagine my surprise when I received an email with a photo from David Zalatan, a PhD chemist, living in San Diego, and surfing his 5’8”x19.75” Pudge in solid Ocean Beach surf in Northern California. This is a board design that is not meant for those conditions but David had confidence in his board and pushed the design to its limits. Had David ordered a board specifically for that area, it would have been a totally different design than the Pudge and include about a ten inch increase in length.
I love to see surfers push the limits of their equipment and their minds.
Keep surfing!
RP
David Zalatan showing he has the right formula for mixing plastic and water.
Pudge 5’8”x19.75”
Monday November 8th 2010
Congratulations go out to Kelly Slater for winning his tenth WCT world title; a competitive surfing accomplishment that may never be duplicated or surpassed.
Thursday November 4th 2010
Today Show Video Clip
Sunday August 15th 2010
The Boards of SummerSummer is upon us here in Southern California…well, sort of. It’s August, the air is cool, the marine layer is thick and the water temperature at most San Diego beaches has yet to break the 65 degree mark; this reminds me more of late fall and not summer. Oh well, at least the surf is small.
And speaking of small surf, when it’s knee high or smaller which board are you going to ride? Forget about your narrow, thin, rockered shortboard, that’s going to bog down and force you to perfect your slop hop. How about your longboard? You can drag the old log across the sand, into the water, onto a wave and perch. It all sounds kind of boring to me.
Well fear not, I’ve come to your rescue. With some help from Bird and his incredible collection of over 400 surfboards of various kinds warehoused under one roof, I’ve compiled some ideas and photos of wave riding equipment for you to consider. Not only will these boards increase your fun factor when it comes to gutless waves, they will provide you with a whole new feel for riding those slow rollers. Give one of these designs a try and you’ll be ripping and showing those ankle snappers who’s boss!
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Welcome to Bird’s world and over 400 surfboards of every size, shape and condition. If you can’t find a fun to ride board here, you’d better take up bug collecting! |
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How’s this for a log? An Eckstrom Asymetric; not very pretty but its appearance will frighten everybody out of your way while you catch every wave that moves.
This is a very unusual board, an old Surfboards La Jolla Twin Pin. The hot chicks will definitely check you out as you carry this machine down to the water.
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How about a Fish for float, paddle and that shortboard feel… or a Skip Egg? |
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An MR Twin would be fun; flat deck, full rails, lots of volume. When it’s junkie, MR would go!
I’m not sure what this is but it’s fun…or so I’m told.
These sponges are like a bad smell, they’re everywhere; but lots of fun in funky surf.
Grab the women and children, the Lucha Libre are on the beach!
Lucha Libre affectionados; when they're not in the ring, they are on their sponges.
Sometimes, you show up at the beach, look in the back of your wagon, and run what you brung!
So there you have it, I’ve proven beyond any doubt that there is a board out there for every surfer and every kind of wave. Now get out there and have some fun this summer and enjoy some waves on your “alternative” board while you chant your mantra,“fall’s almost here, winter’s almost here…”
Keep surfing!
RP
Tuesday March 9th 2010
As a student at UCSB, I always knew that I wanted to study abroad. As a surfer I always knew that I had to go somewhere with warm water and perfect waves. I remember the day that I walked into my academic advisor’s office with two years of Spanish classes under my belt, and an appetite for travel. I told her that I wanted to study in a Spanish speaking country, but that all of the countries offered were in landlocked cities, and that just wouldn’t do. “Why not Brazil?” she asked. Well, maybe she was confused about what I meant by “Spanish speaking country,” but for some reason I was sold.
Its good to know the bus routes when the waves are crackin!
I didn’t know a word of Portuguese, and I knew nothing about Brazil besides the fact that the water is warm and the butts are what put Reef sandals on the map. I had no idea what was in store for me. I landed in Salvador, Bahia in late August and began my journey through one of the most amazing places that I have ever been to. I met my host family on my second day in the tropical city, and I immediately took to enjoying the view from my family’s apartment balcony. I could see the warm Atlantic from my new home, and the waves were calling.
Jungle trekking to the beach in Itacare.
Pondering religion... but not really.
The apartment was right across the street from the best beach break within the city, and I spent countless hours surfing the thick, barreling, semi-closed out walls. I had sessions before class, after class, and in my dreams while I slept. I lived and breathed surfing for the three and a half months that I spent in Brazil. My trusty 5’6’’x 19.75’’ Pudge with a single concave became my best friend in Brazil, and given the fact that I didn’t want to cart around a whole quiver while traveling, it proved to be the perfect shape for most of the conditions that I found in Brazil. I surfed it in everything from ankle high mush burgers, to double overhead thumpers that could grind you into a pulp. I never wanted to ride anything else, so I didn’t, and I’ve been riding roughly the same board ever since. The conditions varied a lot at my beach break from day to day, but I always felt that my board was doing exactly what I wanted to do. One particular day, I woke up and walked across the street to see grinding barrels spitting on the sand at low tide. The waves were mostly closed out, but with a little patience and a lot of luck I found myself at the perfect spot, at the perfect time. A head high set wave lined up just right over the sand bar, and I air dropped a few feet into one of the most square right handers I’ve ever ridden. A long bottom turn got rid of most of my speed, leaving me right under the lip as the tunnel got a little too long to look makeable. I gritted my teeth and held on, and before I knew it, I was getting spat out of one of the best barrels of my life. The whole episode lasted a few seconds, but time felt so slow that every drop of water seemed to be falling at the speed of a feather drifting gently down. I knew that morning that I made the right choice. I may not have gotten the Spanish practice that I wanted, but that’s hardly what you think about when you’re in the heart of a perfect barrel.
Stairway to Brazilian heaven?
City trekkin' to the beach in Copacabana.
Dropping in at Leblon Beach in Rio.
I surfed all over Salvador, made my way down to the epicenter of the Bahian surf scene in Itacare, and finally hopped on a plane to Rio de Janeiro to experience the city, and get a few more waves before returning to the states. The city of Rio was one of the most beautiful places that I could imagine to hang out and surf. I fell in love with the tropical scenery, and the gorgeous white sand beaches where less clothing is worn openly than any other place on earth. I found epic waves, and cheap beers at every turn, leading me to believe that maybe I fell asleep at the airport, and the perfection of my experience in Rio was just a long and beautiful dream. Maybe it was, and maybe I finally woke up when I landed in LAX, and returned to the cold winter water of San Diego. I love my hometown, but the combination of traveling and surfing is like the most addictive drug on the planet, and the withdrawals are just as bad as you’d think. One day I’ll feel that warm Atlantic water, and that hot tropical sun on my face again, but until then I’ll be back at UCSB. I’ll be going to class, and surfing Rincon whenever I can, but I still have the occasional dream in Portuguese, and I still think about that barrel, almost everyday.
Boa Viagem!
Todd Prodanovich
Monday February 1st 2010
Ok, I’ll admit that I’m a dinosaur and, with the New Year upon me, that ancient classification is not likely to change…and I feel good about it, proud even. What do dinosaurs and surfboard shapers have in common you ask? Well, over that last twenty years or so, computer controlled shaping machines have taken over the task of shaping your next board, rendering the start-to-finish hand shaper nearly obsolete, verging on extinction. But don’t get me wrong, the computerized shaping machine is here to stay, and has many advantages over the hand shaper with its ability to duplicate a shape over and over with little or no variations. This is very crucial to professional surfers such as Kelly, Mick, Taj and the rest of the Pro Pack when it comes to replacing their favorite buckled 6’2”, especially during a hotly contested heat on the glorious Gold Coast. They know the new one they grab from their caddy will have near identical riding characteristics. The machine also gives you, the passionate everyday surfer, the confidence in the rack board you just purchased, knowing it is identical to the one your favorite pro is riding.
It’s hard for the hand shaper to compete with the machine's credentials but we can get very close. By shaping tens of thousands of boards, paying close attention to measurements and fine details, and keeping accurate records, the hand shaper can not only duplicate good boards, but improve upon them as well. It’s extremely satisfying to hand shape several boards for a surfer over time, with each new board being better than the last.
Now you know what I mean when I refer to myself as a dinosaur; I shape surfboards the old way, completely by hand, using only my trusty hand tools. Have a look at the tools of my trade.
(Click on photos for larger size)
The Skil 100, the hand shaper’s main tool. Easy to modify, easy to control the depth of cut up and down the board, reliable, a real workhorse.
 My trusty Surform, basically a modified cheese grater, fits my hand like a glove. |
 Disk sander, this is my secret weapon; I don’t think I could shape a board without it. |
An assortment of tools I use for finish work including full round and curved Surforms.
These are my assorted block planes; the curved, wooden plane is one of my favorites.
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Sanding blocks and sand screen, for the flats and curves. |
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This is the side of my shaping room I work from; tail templates, tools and body templates galore. |
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No. 2 pencil, this tool closes the deal on every board I shape.
Surfing a new board is exciting whether that board is shaped by hand or machine. And either way, a lot of time, thought and craftsmanship went into that new board to provide fun, stoke and wave riding adventures, that will stay with you your whole life.
Keep surfing!
RP