Chris Peterson, the founder of Peterson Custom Surfboards, was born in California and learned to surf at Torrance Beach in the South Bay of Los Angeles. His love for the ocean developed early on, and by the time he was a teenager, surfing became a way of life. At 15, Chris and his family relocated to the North Shore of Oahu, when his mother, a nurse for Kaiser, took a job there. The North Shore, renowned for its legendary surf culture, became Chris’s new home, and it was here that his passion for both surfing and surfboard building flourished.

At 18, Chris crafted his first surfboard with the guidance of a neighbor who had connections with many of the iconic surfboard builders on the North Shore. This experience ignited his interest in board building, though his main focus at the time was on becoming a professional surfer. Much like an aspiring actor in Hollywood, breaking through the competitive surf scene proved challenging. Surfing in those days lacked the financial rewards it offers today, so most professional surfers, including Chris, took on side jobs—working construction or in restaurants—to fund their surf pursuits.

Despite the obstacles, Chris consistently delivered high-level performances, placing fourth in the HIC Pipeline Pro and competing in the Pipe Masters qualifying event during the 1990s. His success on the competitive scene solidified his standing in the surfing world, but in the early 2000s, life took a turn when his aging grandmother in Idaho needed help with repairs and maintenance around her home. Although it meant leaving the ocean behind, Chris did what needed to be done —prioritize family.

River surfing wasn’t a new concept for Chris. As a kid, he had river surfed at the Wiamea Rivermouth alongside North Shore surfers, riding a massive stationary wave created by the river’s flow. This experience left an impression on him, and he hoped to find similar opportunities in Idaho. After moving there, Chris began exploring the rivers on his own, surfing solo on waves like those of the Lochsa River, and uncovering stunning surf spots across the state.

Realizing that river surfing was an untapped frontier, Chris applied his years of board-building knowledge to create surfboards specifically designed for river surfing. Through years of research and design, he developed boards that offered the perfect blend of performance and durability for river waves. Today, Peterson Custom Surfboards are a product of Chris’s lifelong passion for surfing, craftsmanship, and innovation—guaranteed to perform on any river.