Rusty
An Australian surf brand associated with surfboards, surfwear, professional surfers, and surf culture.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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Overview
Rusty is an Australian surf brand whose roots lie in the surfboard manufacturing business established by shaper Rusty Preisendorfer in San Diego in 1985. Before founding the company, Preisendorfer worked at Canyon Surfboards, and he subsequently collaborated with local board maker Mick Button on an early series of boards. The business initially operated as Rusty Surfboards and became known primarily for performance-oriented surfboard design rather than for a broad consumer-goods portfolio. The brand developed an Australian identity under the name Rusty Australia, while its United States operations continued to use the Rusty Surfboards name. In 2006, Rusty Australia was renamed simply Rusty. Its product range has included fish, shortboards, longboards, and hybrid boards, with named models such as the Rusty Keg, Rusty Blade, and Dwart. The company has also extended the brand into apparel and accessories, including shirts, boardshorts, sandals, and swimwear. In 2017, Rusty introduced shark-deterrent visual patterns on selected surfboards, linking product design with concerns about surfer safety. Rusty's reputation has been closely connected to professional surfing. Sponsored or associated surfers have included C. J. Hobgood, Josh Kerr, Jamie O'Brien, Wade Carmichael, Liam Mortensen, Jacob Szekely, and Rob Bain. Hobgood won the world championship in 2001, becoming the first Rusty-sponsored athlete to achieve that title. These relationships helped position Rusty as a technical surf brand with credibility among competitive and high-performance surfers. The brand has also pursued collaborations and media projects. In 2014, Rusty partnered with Billabong on a line of surfboards replicating the board used by Mark "Occy" Occhilupo in 1984. In 2015, Rusty released the surf film TUFF, featuring Noa Deane, Josh Kerr, and Dylan Goodale. Surfing media later highlighted models including the Chupacabra, SD, and Blackbird, with designer Clint Presidendorfer associated with the coverage. Beyond products and athlete sponsorship, Rusty has maintained links with physical surf retail. Its Rusty Boardhouse shop in La Jolla, California, closed in 2020. During Australia's 2020 bushfire season, the brand produced a relief T-shirt, directing proceeds to the Australian Red Cross and WIRES Wildlife Rescue relief efforts. Overall, Rusty occupies a specialist position in the surf industry: a shaper-led brand combining performance boards, surfwear, athlete relationships, design collaborations, and surf-culture content across Australian and United States markets.
History
Rusty's history begins in San Diego, where surfboard maker Rusty Preisendorfer founded Rusty Surfboards in 1985. Preisendorfer had previously worked for Canyon Surfboards, gaining experience in a local shaping environment before establishing his own operation. At the start of the business, he also worked with fellow San Diego board maker Mick Button on a series of surfboards. This shaper-centered origin shaped the brand's identity: Rusty was initially recognized as a specialist surfboard company rather than as a general sportswear label. The brand later developed an Australian presence under the Rusty Australia name. Although the American business continued to operate as Rusty Surfboards, the Australian identity became an important part of the brand's international surf-market profile. In 2006, Rusty Australia was renamed Rusty, simplifying the consumer-facing name while retaining the company's surfboard heritage. Competitive surfing became a major source of brand visibility. Rusty worked with professional surfers including Josh Kerr, Jamie O'Brien, C. J. Hobgood, Wade Carmichael, Liam Mortensen, Jacob Szekely, and Rob Bain. Hobgood's 2001 world championship was particularly significant because he became the first Rusty-sponsored surfer to win the world title. Athlete associations reinforced the brand's positioning around performance design and credibility within the surfing community. Rusty expanded its board portfolio across several major surfboard categories, including fish, shortboards, longboards, and hybrids. Its models have included the Keg, Blade, Dwart, Chupacabra, SD, and Blackbird. The company also developed surfwear and accessories, selling shirts, boardshorts, sandals, and swimwear. In 2017, it introduced shark-deterrent patterns on surfboards, adding a safety-oriented design theme to its technical product work. The brand's history also includes partnerships and cultural projects. In 2014, Rusty and Billabong collaborated on surfboards reproducing the board used by Mark "Occy" Occhilupo in 1984. The collaboration connected contemporary board production with an important moment in professional surfing history. In 2015, Rusty released TUFF, a surf film starring Noa Deane, Josh Kerr, and Dylan Goodale, using film and athlete storytelling to extend the brand beyond retail products. In 2018, Surfer magazine featured Rusty models including the Chupacabra, SD, and Blackbird, with designer Clint Presidendorfer discussed in connection with the boards. Retail activity has been part of the brand's physical presence. Rusty operated the Boardhouse surf shop in La Jolla, California, which closed in 2020. That same year, during Australia's bushfire crisis, Rusty produced a relief T-shirt and allocated proceeds to the Australian Red Cross and WIRES Wildlife Rescue efforts. The initiative reflected the brand's connection with Australian surf communities and environmental concerns. Rusty's documented development therefore combines San Diego board-shaping origins, Australian brand operations, international surfwear, professional-athlete sponsorship, collaborative products, surf films, and community-oriented activity.
- 2020
La Jolla Boardhouse closes
[1]The Rusty Boardhouse surf shop in La Jolla, California, shuts down.
- 2020
Bushfire-relief T-shirt campaign
[1]Rusty sells a relief T-shirt supporting Australian bushfire recovery organizations.
- 2017
Shark-deterrent board patterns introduced
[1]Rusty adds shark-deterrent visual patterns to selected surfboards.
- 2015
TUFF surf film released
[1]Rusty releases the surf film TUFF with appearances by Noa Deane, Josh Kerr, and Dylan Goodale.
- 2014
Billabong board-replica collaboration
[1]Rusty and Billabong create boards based on Mark Occhilupo's 1984 surfboard.
- 2006
Rusty Australia is renamed Rusty
[1]The Australian operation adopts the shorter Rusty name.
- 2001
C. J. Hobgood wins the world championship
[1]Hobgood becomes the first Rusty-sponsored surfer to win a world championship.
- 1985
Rusty Surfboards is founded
[1]Rusty Preisendorfer establishes the surfboard company in San Diego after working at Canyon Surfboards and collaborating with Mick Button.
Products and positioning
A performance-focused surfboard and surfwear brand built around surfboard shaping, professional-surfing credibility, and surf-culture participation.
Surfboard
Rusty Keg
A named Rusty surfboard model within the brand's performance-board range. The available reference identifies the Keg as one of Rusty's established models but does not provide detailed dimensions, construction specifications, or intended wave conditions.
Surfboard
Rusty Blade
A Rusty surfboard model associated with the company's technical board lineup. Publicly available reference material confirms the model name but does not establish its launch date or complete design specifications.
Surfboard
Dwart
A Rusty hybrid-oriented surfboard model named in the brand's documented product range. The available source does not provide a reliable launch year or detailed performance description.
Surfboard
Chupacabra
A Rusty surfboard model covered by Surfer magazine in 2018. It is part of the board-design portfolio associated with Rusty and designer Clint Presidendorfer.
Surfboard
SD
A Rusty surfboard model highlighted in 2018 coverage by Surfer magazine. The cited reference confirms the model's inclusion in Rusty's range but does not specify its complete technical profile.
Surfboard
Blackbird
A Rusty surfboard model featured in surf-industry media in 2018. It is part of the design portfolio associated with Clint Presidendorfer.
Surfwear and accessories
Rusty surfwear
Rusty's apparel and accessory range includes shirts, boardshorts, sandals, and swimwear. These products extend the brand from specialist surfboards into everyday surf and beach clothing.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020Australian bushfire-relief T-shirt
Australia
Rusty created a special T-shirt during the 2020 Australian bushfire season and directed proceeds toward the Australian Red Cross and WIRES Wildlife Rescue relief efforts.
Outcome. The campaign provided fundraising support for bushfire relief; the amount raised is not reported in the available source.
- 2015TUFF
International surf audience
Rusty released TUFF, a surf film featuring Noa Deane, Josh Kerr, and Dylan Goodale. The project used surf filmmaking and athlete participation to communicate the brand's connection with contemporary surf culture.
Outcome. The film became part of Rusty's documented brand and media activity; broader performance metrics are not available in the reference material.
Brand decisions
2020
Closure of Rusty Boardhouse in La JollaOtherBackground
Rusty operated a physical surf shop in La Jolla, California.
Action taken
The Boardhouse location closed.
Aftermath
The closure reduced the brand's documented physical retail presence in La Jolla. The reason and financial consequences are not stated in the available material.
2017
Introduction of shark-deterrent board patternsProduct launchBackground
Shark encounters are a safety concern in several surfing markets.
Action taken
Rusty introduced shark-deterrent patterns on its surfboards.
Aftermath
The initiative added a safety-related design feature to the product range; independent effectiveness data is not provided in the reference.
2014
Historical surfboard replica collaboration with BillabongProduct launchBackground
Rusty and Billabong collaborated around the historical significance of Mark Occhilupo's 1984 board.
Action taken
The companies produced a line of boards replicating the earlier design.
Aftermath
The collaboration connected Rusty's board-making heritage with a recognizable moment in professional surfing history.
2006
Simplification of the Australian brand nameStrategyBackground
The Australian operation had been known as Rusty Australia while the United States business used the Rusty Surfboards name.
Action taken
Rusty Australia was renamed Rusty.
Aftermath
The change created a shorter consumer-facing name while preserving the brand's established surfboard identity.
Sources1 sources
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