Rusty Surfboards has appointed Jen Cassidy, general manager, as part of an overall restructuring of the business. The goal is to bring the majority of production back to the U.S. and re-establish the brand in the custom marketplace.

The company stated in a media release that it is “realigning the business to focus on retail partners, improving the user experience on the website and reducing “top-heavy salaries.”

Master shapers Rick Hamon, Hoy Runnels, and Pedro Battaglin will continue to manage custom shaping duties in support of Rusty Surfboards.

The company continued, “While Rusty has been, and will continue to be, building boards in Baja California, these boards will be branded without names saying “San Diego” and without handwritten signatures from the shapers. The main focus moving forward is a return to custom-designed, shaped and glassed surfboards built in San Diego, California, supporting factories that employ craftsmen who have been building boards for decades.”

Rusty Surfboards noted that 2025 will mark the surfboard maker’s 40th anniversary, with limited-edition releases planned.

Image courtesy Rusty Surfboards