Nicknamed the “Stradivarious” of shapers due to his reputation for quality and innovation, Rusty was born in Los Angeles to a research mathematician (his father worked at Scripps) and an occupational therapist.  He became a Windansea local at a fresh six weeks of age and eventually entered  shaping during a groundbreaking era with influences that included Dick Brewer, Mike Hynson and Skip Frye.  While attending the University of California at San Diego, he spent his initial stint shaping for Gordon and Smith. Exploring Australia in 1974, he garnered his first serious exposure when Rabbit Bartholomew purchased one of his 8-foot guns.

Starting to gain a solid reputation in the business, he launched his own company the same year — Music Surfboards. T he late ’70s proved a pivotal time, as Rusty shaped for a growing San Diego-based manufacturer called Canyon Surfboards and worked with a reputable stable of world-class riders including David Barr, Randy and Wes Laine, Peter Townend, Shaun Tomson and Ian Cairns.

In 1985 Rusty left Canyon and launched Rusty Surfboards.  The iconic R-dot logo boards were ridden by more than half the world’s Top 16 surfers at the time and Rusty was the most in-demand shaper anywhere.  He launched a full line of clothing in 1988, growing the business into  one of the industry’s largest-grossing companies and helped launch the careers of Serena Brooke, Pat O’Connell and CJ and Damien Hobgood.  After selling the clothing side of Rusty in 2007, he renewed his focus on making surfboards, experimenting with every type of post-Clark construction from sandwiches to epoxies to parabolics.

As a shaper, Preisendorfer deserves credit for perfecting the modern thruster as we know it. Subtle variations are all that separate the current standard from his early ’80s models.  The boxy rails that are so commonplace today were the benchmark of Occy’s boards during his phenomenal run as a teenager.

Surfer ranked Preisendorfer fifth on a 2002 list of the “25 Most Powerful People in Surfing” while Surfing magazine named him one of the “10 Best Shapers of All Time,” in 2004 and their “Shaper of the Year” in 2008 for his command of the myriad technologies.  SIMA will honor Rusty for his extensive impact on the surfing world with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the Waterman’s Ball.

“Rusty Preisendorfer is a great surfer, a great waterman and a Legendary Shaper,” said Surfers’ Hall of Fame Founder Aaron Pai.  “Rusty perfected the modern thruster as we know it, has always been a major leader in Surfboard technology and innovation…. Most of all though…Rusty Preisendorfer is just a fun person to be around and a super nice guy!  We are very honored and excited to induct Rusty Preisendorfer into the Surfers’ Hall of Fame!”

Carissa was born in 1992 in Honolulu and began riding waves with her father at age five.  In 2004 the 12 year-old began a remarkable competitive run, winning the first of four National Scholastic Surfing Association “open division” women’s titles.  She became the most decorated surfer in NSSA history with 11 national titles.

Already a two-time ASP World Champion (2011 & 2013) and two-time U.S. Open Champion (2010 & 2013), the 21 year-old was the youngest-ever winner in the prestigious Triple Crown of Surfing at age 16 and won the Surfer Poll Award for top female surfer in 2011.  In 2007, at age 14, Carissa finished second at the Roxy Pro Gold Coast ASP event, twice defeating seven-time world champ Layne Beachley.