Chris Christenson has been quietly pushing the standards in surfboard and snowboard design & craftsmanship for over 3 decades now to a level of excellence unmatched by his peers. Known in the surf world for his diverse approach to hand crafted designs and encouraging a “ride everything” or “board for every condition” mentality, Chris has also carved a successful niche in the snowboard industry as well with his surf-inspired designs made in collaboration with Jeremy Jones. Chris lives and breathes his work, averaging over 100 days a year in the water and 100 days on the slopes — an impressive feat for any surf or ski bum, let alone a business owner / top tier board builder. Needless to say, Chris makes time for what matters most to him and is not one to compromise on quality. Splitting his time between his two homes in North County, San Diego and Swall Meadows (a short drive to Mammoth Mountain), the Surf Turkey has rooted himself in the California outdoor lifestyle and made a good living creating various stoke machines for others to enjoy and to support his own passions.

Who are you? Tell us a little about yourself.

I’m a 2nd generation Southern California native. I grew up in the hay day of  the So Cal lifestyle spending time at the beaches surfing and skating, in the mountains snowboarding , in the deserts riding dirt bikes and driving sand rails, and at the race tracks watching drag racing and motocross. And in my adolescent days being immersed in the epicenter of the punk rock music scene and skate/surf culture. Now I build devices that connect humans to nature and hopefully put a smile on their faces.

What are your favorite parts of your two homes?

Both homes have a connection to nature and their natural landscapes. I have 3 acres at my cabin in the Sierras at 7,000 feet surrounded by several high alpine peaks above 11,000 feet. I have access to world class backcountry split boarding and snowmobile access right out of my driveway. The cabin is simple and quirky like me. It’s built on a slope. Underneath the house I built a shaping room so I can still build boards while I’m up there. The opening scene in Indiana Jones, Raiders of the Lost Arc (they portrayed being in the Himalayas) was actually filmed adjacent to my property.

My home in north County San Diego is on 4  country coastal acres. It’s a classic ranch style home built in the early 70s. The landscaping is a blend  of tropical and native vibes. I have 61 fruit and nut trees. Amongst my favorite are the macadamia nut trees, apple trees, grapefruit, guava, avocado, oranges, tangerines, pomegranates, pecan, and fig trees. I have a large garden that I tend to from April thru October. In it I grow corn, tomatoes, onions, broccoli, carrots, potatoes, green beans, strawberries, greens, and a salsa garden loaded with a variety of peppers. There’s lots of wildlife here too; deer, coyotes, fox , bobcats, mountain lions, peacocks, large owls and hawks, which is shocking by still being close to the coast.

What are your favorite parts about North County, San Diego and the area in which you live? And Mammoth?

My favorite parts about San Diego is first the surf. San Diego has such a broad variety of terrain for surf from reef and point breaks, deep water beach breaks, and river mouths that all break year round. You can surf 300+ days a year here. The food scene is great too. I feel we have the best Mexican food and sushi in the world. San Diego has great proximity to the desert and mountains as well.

My favorite part about Mammoth is the same. The variety of terrain for snowboarding both on the resort and in the back country is unmatched. And in the spring and summer the fishing and trail riding on my dirt bike is amazing. The only bummer is the food scene up there is dog shit. I cook a lot more for myself when I’m up there.

When did you first start surfing and fall in love with it?

My first surf was near where I grew up at Bolsa Chica Beach in 1985. I was instantly hooked.

When did you start shaping surfboards?

I started shaping in 1992. My neighbor introduced me to it. I always built things myself, like skate ramps etc… I was pretty handy early on.

When did shaping become a full time profession for you?

By my senior year in college I was working between a few factories shaping and glassing. I still don’t know how I squeezed it all in and still finished college.

What have been the biggest challenges of running your own business?

There’s so many, hahaha. I’ll just ramble off  a mouthful… Time management, deadlines, physical labor, people management, travel shaping with jet lag, EPA regulations, and  collecting money from surfers.

On the other hand, what have been the greatest rewards?

The greatest rewards have been the relationships. Meeting people all over the world, doing business in different countries and cultures and being able to surf along the way. Being able to be creative, and do things on my terms.

Tell us about your relationship with hillside / mountain living. As a lifelong surfer, what draws you to the mountains?

I was born into the coastal and mountain lifestyle with my family since I was two. I call it Palm trees to Pine Trees. It’s really all I know. It’s good to tune out of one place and tune into another environment by just a drive in the car. I think it’s healthy to emerge in different environments.

How did you get into snowboard design?

First and foremost, I was always a passionate snowboarder. I’ve been snowboarding as long as I’ve been surfing. When I met Jeremy Jones in 2011, he told me he always wanted to meet a surfboard shaper that was passionate about snowboarding. We really hit it off and the rest was history.

Who are some of your favorite test pilots riding your boards?

For my surfboards my favorite test pilots over the years have been Greg Long, Ian Walsh, Mitch Abshere, and Brad Gerlach. Each of them had their own unique style and genre that made my abilities diverse. And Ian was hard to please! It was a good challenge to keep me on top of my game. For snowboarding my favorite test pilots are Jeremy Jones, Forrest Shearer, and Jimmy Goodman. These guys can ride any terrain and really understand their equipment and know how to articulate their performance needs to me.

What are your favorite parts of surf culture in general these days and why – what is currently exciting and inspiring to you?

My favorite parts about surf culture are the creative expressions of having your own unique style, being outdoors and along the coast. Also the adventures of traveling around the world in search of good surf, exploring new cultures, and meeting new strangers along the way.

Any parting thoughts, words of wisdom, or sage advice?

The biggest risk in life is not taking any.

Discover more creative surfers’ homes in our books; Surf Shacks® Vol. 1, and Vol. 2 available now!

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