Work Ethic

I told Hobie, “If you give me the opportunity, I’ll do my best to be your best employee — because I really love this sport. I know my boards aren’t what yours are like, because I don’t know all the secrets, but I’ll try to make them work.” I worked hard—10 hours a day. I commuted an hour each way from San Diego to Dana Point. Then we moved to Dana Point. I worked there from 1963 until now. I shaped boards on my own here and there, but mainly with Hobie. All the Hobie boards were similar at that time. By then we were into foam and fiber glass. There were seven shapers at Hobie. I wanted to make a board as if he made it. I wanted to be consistent. I was one of his main stays, so I could shape a whole slew of surf boards every day. I could do five, or I could do 10, because I wouldn’t get tired of it.
Read the Terry Martin interview on Liquid Salt.