HISTORY
Dick Brewer's designs have been interpreted, modified, and often copied through the gifted hands of shapers on every coast and in every decade since the 1960’s. He has mentored, taught and inspired the top shapers in the world. Today, his rails, his rockers, and bottom are intrinsic in the surfboard you ride. He is the counter cultural shaper to the brave surf riders.
SURFER & SHAPER LONGBOARDS (1950’s-1967)
Leaving California for Hawaii in 1960 and never returning home, Dick Brewer stayed on the North Shore to conquer Waimea Bay, Sunset Beach and Pipeline rail to rail, with big wave pioneers Greg Noll, Peter Cole, Eddie Aikua. His skill as a surfer overshadowed his gift as a shaper/designer.
Surfboard Hawaii- founded by Dick reflecting his coming of age as a big wave surfer and emerging as the “go-to” shaper of a longboard Gun’s for Pipeline, Sunset and Waimea.
Dick Brewer designed and mowed foam for the best shapers of the era; Hobie Alter, Bing Copeland, Rich Harbour, and other shaping greats. While at Bing, his iconic Pipeliner became the fulcrum for “Mini-gun” and paved the way of the short board revolution.
Photo by David Darling
Photo by David Darling
SHORTBOARD REVOLUTION (1968-1978)
By the 1970’s he inspired a cult-like devotion from team riders and was dubbed the “SHAPING GURU" - a holy man to surfers who braved the biggest, meanest waves ridden. Dick Brewer and his planer moved from island to island inspired by the drug infused culture of the times. His guns were riding at every major break on the Islands; Waimea, Pipeline, and Sunset Beach, Honolua Bay, Hanalei Bay, by the most talented and progressive surfers.
Photo by David Darling
Photo by David Darling
"Dick Brewer shaped me a surfboard that not only gave my own surfing a huge step-up but also turned the entire surfing world on its head. That surfboard was the opening shot of the shortboard revolution."
G E R R Y L O P E Z, Surf is Where You Find It, Patagonia Books
Photo by Tim McCullough
THRUSTER EVOLUTION (1980 - TODAY)
Brewer has mastered the mystery where surfer, surfboard, and wave meet to deliver a magical moment that every surfer wants to last forever. Brewer’s counter cultural attitude brought him together with the best surfers of every era since then. Throughout the 80’s and even into the 90’s Dick’s team rider won the Triple Crown. A great moment Bruce Irons victory at the 2004 Quicksilver Eddie Aikua on a Brewer Gun is a moment where surfer and shaper deliver an extraordinary performance.
Today, Dick Brewer lives, surfs, shapes in his surf studio in Hawaii, creating custom surfboards for all surfing abilities up to the most talented and progressive surfers all over the world.