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Zoom In: Rocky McKinnon

Q&A with Rocky McKinnon // Professional Surfer/Owner & Instructor // McKinnon Shapes & Designs and McKinnon Surf & SUP Lessons

Rocky McKinnon started McKinnon Shapes & Designs in 1997. After only a few years of surfing and shaping boards in Huntington Beach, he began competing, in part to build a name for his brand.

“I knew if people saw me doing well on my boards they would want to buy my boards,” McKinnon said.

And it worked. In 1999 McKinnon won his first amateur title in the Huntington Beach Surf Series, became a professional surfer in 2002 and was soon rated Top 10 in the country. His passion for the water and surfing lead to his love of other water activities, such as stand-up paddleboarding (SUP), and McKinnon Surf & SUP Lessons was born.

McKinnon can take groups of 20 to 25 out for lessons and for larger groups, he suggests breaking the group up so everyone gets one-on-one attention, especially when it comes to instruction and safety.

“I’ve worked hard at providing the right equipment with the right team, a hands-on tutorial and a safety component so everyone has a good time,” McKinnon said. “If you’re successful, you’re having fun.”

How did McKinnon Surf & SUP Lessons start?  
When the economy tanked in 2007-’08 I knew there was not a lot of margin in board making, especially with many boards being made overseas. I had been doing lessons here and there for friends and family, so decided to diversify and started my own lesson business. Also at that time I was getting involved in SUP and no one else around here was qualified to conduct lessons.

What sets you apart from all the other companies with similar offerings?
With a background in shaping, I am able to make boards specifically for my lessons that are more stable, better to learn on and fitted for all sizes and abilities. My knowledge and experience along with my background in making equipment really sets me apart.

What is on the horizon for McKinnon Surf & SUP Lessons?
I have been volunteering for the past 10 to 12 years taking people with disabilities out on the water. The past few years I have been using a chair board, which is a 15-foot board with a carbon-fiber racing seat bolted on. This allows people with disabilities that prevents them from standing on the board, such as paraplegics, quadriplegics and those with multiple sclerosis, to get in the water and experience the thrill of surfing. I now offer my own adaptive surfing program and I try to make surfing and SUP all-inclusive and accessible to everyone.