Last week I was in Virginia on business so I made the most of the opportunity by visiting Austin and his dad Troy. I had a great time. Not only did I get to visit the factory and shop, but I also got to surf the Atlantic for the first time with a couple Swaylockers.
We surfed for a couple hours at a beach called Croatan. Not epic size but I caught so many waves I lost track. It was good times.
I can’t say enough about these guys. Really genuine good people and they making some really sweet looking quality boards. Pretty impressive when you think Austin is a mere 24 years young.
Thanks Austin and Troy for the hospitality.
Here are a few pics.
Showroom (Austin, Ryan, Troy)
Work in Progress. Too bad you can’t see the detail in the swirled resin tailblock. Beauty.
Yah, great guys. And no primadonna rockstars in their shop. Just down to earth surfers making boards.
With regard to the logo, I guess it’s similar in that it’s a stretched hexagon but how many ways can you modifiy a shape? I’ve seen a lot of shapers using triangles and diamonds and ovals. It just seems to be common to use geometric shapes. I can see some obvious differences at first glance. First of all, the white and color fields are reversed, the font’s different, Austin’s lines are not straight, and they have arcs and darts at the tips.
Similarities? Sure. But I don’t see it as a knock-off.
Howzit Ryan, Had the pleasure of meeting Austin and his family a few years back when they were on Kauai. Great people and they know their stuff when it comes to making a quality and beautiful board. They are a real asset to the business and I wish them much success.Aloha,Kokua
Hi Ryan- I’ve always been a fan of Austin’s ever since he showed up here. Right from the start he took off on a path of success. I love his original logo, those cool videos he did etc. I always thought his website was Cooper inspired, cool! As soon as you posted the pictures of his shop the first thing I noticed was his new logo, and if that wasn’t a take off of Tyler’s, I don’t know what is, right down to the surf jacket. I’m not bitching about it or pissed or nothing, just looking and passing on an observation as I’ve been around this type of thing before.
Tyler, being Haps friend and protégé’, obviously made the tie in with an off shoot of Jacobs. I’d think Austin did the same with Tyler. I’d bet Tyler would be stoked on Austin’s trip, I’m not sure of the logo though, but you never know.
I called the shop the other day because I am trying my first swirl and Austin answered the phone and spoke to me for about 10 minutes. He was very nice and answered all my questions. I have never met him and was stoked that he would actually talk me through the steps.
What a nice guy. And just look at the beautiful boards that he makes.
Howzit E-Pacman, Logo shapes have been copied for years since there’s only so many shapes to make and Haps is one that has been copied many times, remember B.H.'s Bear logo for instance. I like the fact that Austin reversed the colors. Aloha,Kokua
