DEL MAR — Superior surfboard craftsmanship and shaping will be on display at the Del Mar Fairgrounds next month from Oct. 12-13 at The Boardroom Show.
Returning for its 18th year, The Boardroom draws board makers, shapers, manufacturers and surf enthusiasts from all over the world. Various competitions and events take place alongside the world’s largest surf gear sale.
The event, originally called the Sacred Craft, is led by longtime surfer and surf journalist Scott Bass of Encinitas.
This year’s Boardroom will feature the popular Best in Show Board Build-Off presented by Go Fast Campers. Entries will be displayed during the weekend and judged on functionality, creativity and construction. Up to $3,500 in cash and prizes will be available.
Bass said the build-off is open to all builders, from hobbyists to professionals, and entry is free.
“It’s not just open to exhibitors, it’s open to the entire board building community,” Bass said. “I like that part of it, because it’s really inclusive.”
Legendary board shaper Bob McTavish of Australia is The Boardroom’s 2024 Icons of Foam honoree. McTavish, now 80, is credited with kicking off the shortboard revolution with his creation of the Bluebird, the world’s first production shortboard, in 1972.
He established the McTavish brand in 1969 and, starting in 2007, manufactured more boards in partnership with Global Surf Industries.
Over the weekend, eight shapers from around the world will compete in a round-robin to replicate some of McTavish’s best designs for a $2,000 prize.
Bass said this year’s shapers, chosen by the Icon of Foam himself, represent a younger crowd of competitors in the shape-off, different than in previous years.
“This year, Bob chose some really interesting guys and they’re younger, and that’s what’s really exciting to me,” Bass said.
The weekend will also feature at least two Boardroom Talks, with exact times still to be announced. On Saturday, professional surfers Blair Conklin and Jacob “Zeke” Szekely will join WavePoolMag editor-in-chief Bryan Dickerson for a discussion about the future of wave pool surfing.
On Sunday, The Surfer’s Journal creative director Scott Hulet will hold a talk and book signing for his new book “Flow Violento.”
The weekend will also feature live music, surfboard giveaways, an exhibition of camp life and surfer vans, and more.
The Boardroom Show is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 12 and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 13. Tickets are available online at boardroomshow.com, with single-day tickets for $20 and weekend tickets for $30. Children and teens under 16 enter free.
The Fairgrounds is located at 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. in Del Mar.
