“I Just Want To Focus On What’s Timeless”

Surely you’re familiar with the San Diego board builder and surf biz dark horse, Chris Christenson. 

Mentored by Dick Brewer, Skip Frye, and Matt Biolos and built from good, dark, and broody California stock, Christenson is a broadly respected figure, a guy who people seek out for everything from Jaws, Mavs, or Nazare rhino chasers, refined single fin logs, 11-foot-plus California gliders, nearly every variety of Alt-left design, as well as a healthy output of just straight up high performance shortboards. 

For their first in the “Idle Hands” series, our friends at O’Neill took a look at Christenson’s ethos, and his take on an “Environmentally friendly product”: “It’s gotta work. It’s gotta last. And it’s gotta look bitchin’.”

Click in to the edit above, and head south for a few images of Chris in action. 

Christenson and his Satellite.

Photography

Patrick Vaughan

In his San Diego shaping bay.

Photography

Patrick Vaughan

Ain’t she a beauty! Late-’60s Satellite.

Photography

Patrick Vaughan

Christenson “Dead Sled.”

Photography

Patrick Vaughan

CC on a three-fin longfish, inspired by Skip Frye and the soft San Diego reefs near his home.

Photography

Patrick Vaughan

CC and his Glider, North County San Diego.

Photography

Patrick Vaughan