Yater Surfboards

Reynolds "Renny" Yater is a true pioneer of California surfing. One of the first commercial surfboard builders of the 1950s, he opened Yater Surfboards on Anacapa Street in Santa Barbara in 1959, establishing the iconic Santa Barbara Surf Shop logo that became synonymous with his brand. In 1964 he designed the legendary Yater Spoon, a board that reigns as one of the lightest and most maneuverable of its era and stands as a centerpiece of progressive surfboard design.

When the surf market exploded in the 60s, Renny deliberately kept his business small and local, and his boards were still preferred by industry legends like Surfer Magazine founder John Severson and filmmaker Bruce Brown. His legacy continued through his son Lauran, who has been shaping under the Yater name since the early 1980s, carrying on the standard his father set for future generations. Quietly influential and deeply respected, Renny Yater remains one of the most important figures in the history of American surfboard shaping.