Bob Hurley is a surfboard shaper. I know this because I have a surfboard he shaped for me. I also read it somewhere a long time ago, that he was a shaper way before running one of our favorite brands (Billabong), and then starting another (Hurley). But he got his start shaping. And I’ve always loved that about him.

Chances are you know him from his work at Hurley. He’s the man behind it all. Founder and CEO etc. And has been since the beginning. But last week Bob announced that he’d be stepping down from the CEO role at Hurley. And while it sounds like he’ll still be working on some other Hurley projects and isn’t fleeing the scene entirely, we thought it’d be appropriate to give some positive praise for a dude who’s goal was always to make surfing better (and you’d be hard pressed to say he hasn’t done that and then some). He’s made just about every article of gear and board better for all of us. He’s ran his business with surfing always at the forefront of his thoughts and he still surfs and always has. He skates around the Hurley offices to this day. And he’s been incredibly successful at his job. And we appreciate that.

We hope his new role features a much heavier surf emphasis. Because he’s earned it. And we’ll sleep well knowing that more of his focus will be on placing himself on a lot more of these Newport Point bombs [Photo: Larry “Flame” Moore, RIP]. Lord knows he’s been at it this week. And hopefully we all have.

So from all of us here at What Youth, congrats and thank you, Bob. Look forward to seeing you out there. —Travis