Preisendorfer, Rusty (1953 – )

Friendly, full-sized surfboard shaper and surfwear magnate from La Jolla, California; founder of Rusty, one of the sport's largest surfboard and surfwear labels. Preisendorfer was born (1953) in Los Angeles and raised in La Jolla, the son of a Scripps Institute research mathematician father and occupational therapist mother. He began surfing at 13 and shaping boards three years later, setting up a "factory" in a neighbor's backyard chicken coop.

Preisendorfer continued to shape while going t...