Bret Marumoto resides on the world famous North Shore of Oahu. He runs Bret Boards, just minutes from world-class breaks like Sunset and Pipeline, and only steps from his own backyard.

In 1993, Derek Ho won the World Champion ASP Pipe Masters contest on Marumoto’s board, and ever since elite surfers have come to him to create quality boards. Bret has shaped boards for world champs and pros alike, including Coco Ho, Dustin Barca, and Tom Dosland, with legends like Andy Irons, Kala Alexander, and Sunny Garcia offering valuable feedback to improve the quality of his boards.

Staying true to his roots, Bret refuses to mass-produce overseas, choosing instead to “keep it grassroots, real, and core.” About 85% of his work is custom shapes, blending craftsmanship and creativity to make what he calls “rideable art.”

Starting at 14 by fixing dings, Bret honed his skills through persistence and mentorship, eventually apprenticing under Eric Arakawa before branching out on his own. His world travels and his position as a local shaper on the North Shore of Oahu has opened opportunities for Bret to shape surfboards for some of the best surfers in the world.

Bret has been shaping boards for 40+ years and still has his core stoke: “I still feel super stoked when someone has a smile on their face because they enjoyed riding a wave on one of my boards.”