Christenson Surfboards began with a simple idea: respect the lineage, then push it forward. Chris Christenson, a Southern California native, learned the craft the old way, apprenticing under legends Dick Brewer and Skip Frye and carrying their design philosophies into a style entirely his own.
Heritage craft, modern performance
From traditional fish and refined longboards to high-performance shortboards, step-ups, and heavy-water guns, Chris builds by one belief: have many arrows in the quiver. That range is the whole point. The same hands that shape a glide-y log also shape a gun built for the heaviest waves on the planet.
Those boards have been trusted where it counts. Riders like Greg Long, Tom Lowe, and Ian Walsh have earned XXL Big Wave Award nominations on Christenson designs. Meet the team.
Passing it on
Along the way, Chris has mentored the next generation of shapers, including Josh Hall, Michael Miller, and Jeff McCallum, passing down design discipline and a respect for lineage that shows up in every blank.
The 100 x 100 life
Outside the shaping bay, Chris lives at the same pace he shapes. He is part of the rare “100 x 100 Club,” logging 100 days a year surfing and 100 days snowboarding. He is close with Jeremy Jones of Jones Snowboards and rides his own signature Jones “Surf Series.” His appetite for speed carries into off-roading the desert, racing vintage motocross, and competing as a pro-class drag racer. When the pace slows, you will find him fishing or dialing in a 5.4 golf handicap.
Built in San Diego
Every Christenson is shaped in San Diego, California. Whether it is a fish built for timeless glide or a gun built for Mavericks, the work embodies precision, adventure, and a dedication to craft. Read more about Chris, shop in-stock boards, or order a custom.