Fresh Pineapples Shapers: Bill Shrosbree, Gary Strahle

Year started shaping: 1965

What’s your shaping philosophy? Build high quality, progressively performing surfboards that satisfy the tastes of surfing many styles while maintaining tradition.

What led you to become a shaper?
Bill: Being a surfer and hanging out with guys from Windansea like Wayne Land and George Lanning helped launch my shaping career. Starting at Rick Surfboards in Hermosa Beach, building surfboards was challenging and fun.
Gary: Bill Shrosbee’s invitation in the shaping room at the age of 18 gave me an inside perspective of the culture and shaping techniques.

Who is your biggest shaping influence?
Bill: Bing Copeland happened to come by the shop and see one of the first boards I shaped. He picked it up and said, “That’s a good looking board. Who shaped it?” I told him I had, and after receiving his feedback, I was really stoked.
Gary: My shaping influences begin with Bill Shrosbree and end with Kelly Slater, and everywhere in between.

What do you consider your expertise?
Bill: Consistency. Forty-five years of shaping while maintaining a traditional and contemporary style.
Gary: Innovation of surfboard designs and technologies.

How is your shaping influenced by your location? With the factory several blocks from some of San Diego’s premier waves, everything from barrel rides to hanging 10 influence the shape of these boards, which have been ridden locally and internationally in a variety of waves.

Are there any new technologies you’re integrating into your shapes? SurfAir360 removable, paddle-friendly Strap Systems have been working with us side by side on the development of their latest Aerial Surfing Technologies, which enable riders to perform more radical inverted maneuvers without having to grab the rail. Fresh Pineapples is the only surfboard company integrating this new plug system. Surfboard Standard is the only way to manage, track, and share your surfboard’s information. Fresh Pineapples now provides Surfboard Standard’s Seal of Certification to its valued customers, which insures the authenticity and protects ownership through each board’s unique identification code.