#33: Mastery, Craft & Surfing Giants - Shaping Boards That Defined Big Wave Surfing

Before becoming one of the most respected surfboard shapers in the world, Bob Pearson built his craft through obsession, experimentation, and more than six decades of hands-on learning. Since shaping his first board in 1964, Bob has remained committed to one belief: mastery is never finished.

Over his career, Bob has shaped more than 100,000 surfboards, becoming a defining force in modern surfboard design and big wave surfing. From his factory in Santa Cruz, California, he has worked closely with legendary surfers including Laird Hamilton, Jay Moriarty, Jamie Mitchell, and others who pushed the limits at waves like Mavericks, Jaws, Waimea, Sunset, and Nazaré. His boards were featured throughout the film Chasing Mavericks, shaping the equipment ridden in the movie.

The episode also explores Bob’s friendship with Jay Moriarty, the mindset required for big wave surfing, and the deeper meaning of surfing beyond performance, connection, community, mental health, and joy. At 77 years old, Bob still works nearly every day, driven by curiosity, gratitude, and a lifelong passion for the ocean.

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Timestamps:
1:27 — Working 7 Days a Week
2:08 — Shaping 100,000+ Boards
4:54 — Surfboard Design Is Logic
5:38 — Every Board Has Tradeoffs
6:07 — 100+ Ways to Shape a Board
7:07 — From 5ft Boards to Big Wave Guns
7:19 — Why Top Surfers Work With Bob
9:47 — Collaboration Beats Guesswork
11:54 — When Mastery Actually Begins
16:04 — Finding Mavericks Before the Hype
18:14 — Chasing Mavericks & Meeting Jay
25:18 — The Iconic Wipeout Explained
29:56 — Injury, Fear & Healing in the Ocean
38:07 — Bells Beach & Teaching in Australia
40:26 — Surviving Sharks in Big Surf
43:58 — Bali Before Surf Tourism
48:20 — How to Handle Conflict in the Water
55:05 — One Idea for the World
1:01:40 — The Mark Bob Wants to Leave

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Hashtags:
#BobPearson #SurfboardShaping #BigWaveSurfing #Mavericks #ChasingMavericks #SurfingLegends #LairdHamilton #JayMoriarty #SurfDesign #SurfCulture #OceanLife #MentalHealth #Craftsmanship #Mastery #DivotPodcast