Craftsmen
We've been proudly manufacturing surfboards here in Australia for over 40 years. Hand crafted quality and attention to detail underpins our whole process. Our shapers carefully listen to your needs, recommend features and deliver accordingly. This gives you the flexibility to tune the boards to match your requirements, no matter what your surfing ability or needs. Try getting the same from a board popped out of the one mould in Taiwan.
Our shaping department is a family affair lead by Steve and Pete under the watchful eye, and extensive experience, of Howard. The Hughes' own exceptional, sometimes understated, surfing abilities and results provide an excellent platform for proving and refining designs. They also gather extensive feedback from customers of varying surfing abilities to ensure they offer a broadly targeted range. The boards and shapes are continually tested in local and overseas conditions, as well as in junior, WQS, WCT and longboard competitions.
It takes more than quality shapers to deliver results, and our team includes respected local craftsmen carefully glassing, laminating and finishing your surfcraft to the highest level of quality.
Come in, meet the team, and discuss your needs. Steve is available in store all day on Saturday, while Howard and Pete are available on Sundays.
Steve Hughes
Lead Shaper: Shortboards
The 2008 range has been refined again this year, and the feedback has been very positive. This year I concentrated entirely on shaping after over a decade of both shaping and competing as a professional surfer. The range is inspired by all of my experience locally, internationally and from numerous seasons in Hawaii - the best place to prove designs and learn from other world class shapers.
I've enjoyed the good reports so far and am inspired to keep on improving and putting you on the most suitable equipment.
Steve has a highly decorated competitive career winning Victorian, Australian and WQS events. The highlight of his competitive career was advancing through the trials and surfing at the elite level in the Rip Curl Bells Beach 2004 WCT event. His surfboards are widely sort after, and he is a highly respected waterman and person.
Pete Hughes
Lead Shaper: Mini Mals
Mini mals, snub nose vectors, stubbies, what ever the term or shape, we see the appeal! I've found they suite a wide range of surfers. From die hard mini mal riders, to folk who want some looseness, to the surfer looking for a bit more volume and paddle speed, and to intermediate surfers who like the stability.
This season's refinements have been about maintaining excellent speed and maneuverability while retaining length and volume. I really feel my shapes evolving and value your feedback.
Pete's junior surfing results were exceptional. He won numerous Victorian titles and came 2nd in the World Pro Junior series. Typically this would propel a surfer with these credentials into the pop culture stratosphere however, his feet have always been humbly grounded. He prefers to find his own space quietly surfing quality local and international waves, concentrating on the family business, and evolving his shaping craft.
Howard Hughes
Lead Shaper: Longboards
Having my sons control the shorter board range so brilliantly for some time now, I've been able to go back to my roots shaping longboards exclusively. I started shaping mals for myself over 40 years ago and quickly attained good results both in surf paddling and surfing. When Allan Atkins started winning multiple Australian surfing championships in both the 8 foot and 9 foot divisions on my boards, people really started taking notice.
Since then I have continually evolved my designs and am not surprised by the re-emergence and popularity of longboards; they are superb craft to ride. I still shape for professionals and enthusiasts alike, all over the country. I'm always keen for a chat, and would love to discuss your surfing needs.
In an era prior to an independent surfing tour, Howard excelled in surf lifesaving. The highlight being an Australian Championship 2nd place in surf paddling. He has been in the surf business as long as anyone, and has attained the highest level of respect for his craft, experience and wisdom. He is also a cherished patriarch of the Hughes Surfcraft business and of the local community.
