Picked up my new board today. Worth the wait! Joe is the real deal, old school, genuine and transparent. He specializes in boards for bigger and/or older surfers but will customize specific for you. His clients range from locals to top celebrities and athletes. Take a number though, he serves you in the order of your request. If you call, you will no doubt talk directly to Joe. He is not a salesman but more of a "tell it like it is" kind of guy. Full of passion for surfing and a bit bristly. If looking for custom, think about any graphics or color you may want in advance. If not the assumption is it will be white. I wanted mine simple yet recognizable. read more

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Before buying a board off the rack it is worth considering a custom board from a shaper like Joe Blair. He will listen to where you surf, how well you surf and paddle, your goals, your size, etc... and not only recommend the right board for you, he may event let you demo one. That is an amazing service! Excellent hand made surfboards and SUPs, made by a local craftsman. And his prices are quite reasonable too! Cliff Keller read more

2007 - I bought a SUP paddle from Joe at his shop behind Mitch's in Solana Beach. A few days later, my marriage was over, and my ex-wife tossed all my surfboards and stuff in the street. Several of my boards were dinged up by the "tossing," and I went to Joe's shop to ask advice on ding repair. When Joe saw my car with clothing and board stacked on top, he offered me a room in his house without skipping a beat. Thank you, Joe, for showing Aloha to a stranger in need!!! Since that time, Joe has made me over ten boards - big guy surfboards - Stand Up Surfing SUP boards - I love his custom boards. Call Joe, spend a few minutes talking to an amazing resource about what your boards needs. When was the last time you actually bought something from the person that made it? If you want an authentic surf experience, Joe is one of a kind and great shaper. One of the joys of riding a custom board, is calling your shaper after a great surf - these are the moments that Joe lives for! read more

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A surfer through and through Joe took us to examine the ocean first to see what conditions we'd be dealing with. Apparently the day brought " the biggest waves ever" . Still we suited up and headed out to a shallow spot along the coast to try SUP for the first time. All three of us got up on the board first time out and my two friends looked like pros. Me not so much lol but I'll keep trying. Thanks Joe for a great experience! read more

Joe Blair Surf - Surfing Near Me - Solana Beach, California

This is the most bro place and the bro-est dude. Awesome stoke and he's a legit OG from the day.

There's a great deal of discussion in surf circles, about whether the industry is losing is soul. Well Joe Blair is old school and represents the passion and soul surfing is all about. But, Joe is also an innovator, on the cutting edge of stand up surfing, and still putting out new design. i wanted a shorter board for surfing and discovered Joe on some discussion web sites. After talking to Joe a few times, I drove down to Carlsbad to demo a board. After shooting the shit for 30 minutes, Joe gave me three boards, didn't ask for any contact info on me and sent me surfing. He said when I came back if he wasn't at his shop he'd be at a restaurant down the road. And, if not there, another place. Who in the modern world gives you three boards without knowing your last name? When I bought the board, Joe said he'd take it back if I didn't like. Well, this is board is 8'10" as stable as a boat, and surfs like a witch. And, I'm 59, 6'3" and don't have great balance so that's saying a lot. I'm up for a new board and will probably get a Blair 8'6" next. His prices for Chinese boards are $400 to 800 less than the big brands. And, you're supporting a great guy that's part of the soul of the industry. And, as much as surfers criticize Chinese pop-outs, custom boards killing shapers from inhaling foam dust and exposing VOX compounds into the environment. I'm hoping that the Chinese plants have the environmental and worker safety systems they claim to. read more

Best board I've ever ridden and exactly what I told Joe I was looking for. I'm now getting asked where I got this board every time get out of the water, referring to one of Joe's short board quads for heavier guys. At 225lbs the typical off the rack short board doesn't cut it for me and I'm just not a long board guy. Joe has the solution for this dilemma. This board has changed my surfing and I really enjoyed working with Joe throughout the process. He's a solid old school guy and has the best knowledge I've ever seen of how even minor board design changes will impact the ride. I highly recommend seeing Joe if you've spent a little too much time in the weight room but still like to shred or if you'd like to catch every wave in sight and still turn on a dime. read more

I ordered a custom board from Joe a few years ago....the specs were kind of unique as I was trying to get a very forgiving board made that would turn and be easy to ride... Joe built me a 3 1/4 inch thick board that 25" across and 8 foot plus...it had a perfect rocker....allowing me to ride steeper waves even though the board is on the longish side.... People come up and admire the board for it's lines and shape...I couldn't have been happier.... The price was amazing as well.... I will be ordering another board from Joe in the future read more

Joe is an amazing shaper of surfboards & stand ups. I mainly go to Joe for stand up boards and his customer service is amazing! Not sure if that's the right board? Just ask Joe if you can demo one like it - no charge - if he's got one he just makes a copy of your license and off you go! Prices are really good for stand ups (several hundred dollars cheaper than lesser boards out there!). Yeah - his production boards are made in China but what isn't nowadays? That's how he stays competitive on the volume sales while still being a highly competent shaper if you want to go custom. Plus he's just a great guy to talk to - always offering advice on how to improve your technique and elevate yourself to that next level. Don't have any expectations on his shop though - this ain't your average retail store. It's 2 tiny rooms one of which is his shaping room. This isn't a place you go to in order to buy a wetsuit, leash, or fins... He sells boards and that's pretty much it. You can go around the corner to Mitch's to get the peripherals... read more

Last year I bought a Joe Blair "Big Guy Quad" fin and loved it - see review below. This time out I went back to Joe for a 9' nose rider w/ lots of width and volume - and love it again. Soft rails give it good movement/turns for it's volume. So stable I'm thinking I'll take my hibachi out with me next time, yet surprisingly nimble. A fun board. A very well-crafted board by someone who clearly has the gift of shaping. I just wish Joe would turn out some tees for sale with his signature dragon design so I could be his walking billboard. read more

When my friend started to stand up paddle board I gave it a try. Well, I was instantly hooked and I knew I had to have a board. My husband is a surfer and referred me to Joe Blair. And I'm so glad that he did. Joe is a wealth of information and experience. I had no clue about which board to purchase- cruising in the harbor or was I going to try catching waves on my SUP. Joe generously loaned me his demo boards- many different types of SUP boards until I found the best fit. I happily ended up with 2 boards- one for cruising and the other for (eventually) catching waves. I go out every chance I get. I love them! The style, color design and performance. Also, they are so much lighter than my friends SUP boards. I am so Happy!! read more

I was looking to get a stand up paddle board that surfed well, and came across Joe researching boards on the web. Joe is absolutely one of the coolest guys I have ever done business with. I told him what I wanted, my ability, and that I was new to paddle surfing, but not to riding longboards. He gave me a mini-lesson in the shop, lent me a 10'6" board, and sent me out to the break, telling me to come back when I caught a few waves. After a session, I came and swapped out for a 9'7" session or 2, then the 8'10" after a couple more. The 8'10" was giving me a tough time, but Joe wouldn't let me buy the 9'7" - saying for my weight and ability I needed to just tough it out a couple weeks and I'd be happier with the shorter board. I must have paddle surfed 10 sessions, all with him just taking my fist name and phone number in case somebody else needed to ride the board. I agree with Doug S. earlier review - who in the modern world lets you take his boards for a few days with just your phone number? I ended up buying the 8'10", and am having a blast. Bottom line is that Joe took the time to get me into what he thought was the right board for me. And he was right, and saved me from buying the wrong board. I am already thinking about trying out some of his fun board surfboard designs in hopes of replacing my log of a longboard. read more

I have several custom made surfboards that Joe has shaped for me over the past 5 years and I cant tell you how much each board rocks! I used to ride another local San Diego shapers boards and I stumbled across Joe Blair about 5 years ago after my board was stolen and haven't even looked back! Joe is the most amazing shaper and if I could give more than 5 stars I would! Check out his website here: jblairsurf.com read more

Joe has shaped three boards for me and I love them all. He makes durable long lasting boards and will dialogue about what you are looking for and where you want to surf. He is familiar with all of the breaks in San Diego and will shape your board accordingly. He makes quality boards for a competitive price. Is shop is small and I took off the star because he can have a slow turn around time depending on the number of orders he has at the time. read more

We called for same day surf lessons for my best friend and her daughter, and Joe came to the rescue like Surfer Superman! He outfitted me, my best friend, and her daughters (ages 12 & 5) with wetsuits and boards, drove all of the equipment to the beach, and taught us all for hours. He made sure we all got up many times (well, not the 5 year old - she can't swim well yet) - with boards he made himself (great, steady rides, and far nicer to ride than the soft tops you get as beginners at most surf shops) and gave us all good personal critiques. He even taught the 5 year old how to ride a boogie board and the rest of us stand up paddle boarding at the end. We hung out with him all day and had so much fun! He was also great with the kids. They were initially shy and nervous, and he quickly got them out in the water and loving it! It really raised their spirits and confidence, and seeing their smiles was worth it all. He was so great that we booked more lessons with him the next day! Joe's super knowledgeable, easy going, friendly, and a great teacher. Highly recommend! read more

I've been waiting for tax return to get the custom and I'm a bigger guy 5'11 260. Joe is really patient and will listen while matching your surf style. He even lent me the big guy board 8'10" Length, 26 Wide, and 4" Thick. Took it out to a local beach and it was easy to paddle, stable, and the price is right. Definitely going to Joe for my board. read more