Pete Symms is all about surf; he loves the ocean and he loves his boards. He caught his first wave at the age of eight and, after surfing competitively through his teenage years, shaped his first board eight years later. Over a decade has now passed since that first foray into his chosen profession, yet Pete’s unquenchable passion for his craft can still be felt in every board he creates.
Acutely aware of how important it is for an individual to surf the right board, Pete works closely with his clients, advocating a traditional shaper-surfer exchange and discussing every relevant issue before designing the optimum, bespoke shape. This open, friendly and focused approach coupled with highly skilled workmanship (Pete’s renowned resin tints have received high acclaim), has enabled Pete to build a solid reputation and prompted customers to consistently return to him for both custom orders and repairs.
Since its inception, Symms Surfboards has done its utmost to minimise its impact upon the environment.
In recent years the availability of environmentally friendly alternatives has increased and, whilst making no concessions to our high expectations of board performance, Pete has strived to limit his use of toxic and non-renewable materials. All board designs are now available in BioFoam and if requested, organic substitutes for resin and fibre glass can also be used.
From its humble beginnings, Symms Surfboards is a great example of organic growth. Although Pete’s boards are now surfed worldwide, Symms Surfboards remains true to the artisanal ethos that handmade is best. Every board is still lovingly created by Pete from start to finish in his shaping shack.
