Having surfed in ESA (Eastern Surfing Association) for 2 competitive seasons, I was in the same division as Ricky Carroll. Ricky is great to compete against because he always catches waves and surfs on surfboards that he has shaped. I have surfed with him in hurricane swells and in 2-foot wind chop; he always catches waves. He knows what board to use for what type of wave.
Ricky has been shaping surfboards for over 25 years. He has shaped for some major international surfboard distributors. So the point I am trying to get a cross is he is not your ordinary surfer. He travels frequently and surfs many different breaks and conditions that most of us have never had the chance to experience.
I had the pleasure of talking to Ricky about surfboard shapes many times. He taught me to figure out what shape and surfing style would best suit me. Ricky shaped a board for me that was great for medium to large surf. The board caught waves easily held the line and basically ripped. I used the board to surf against him in the regional at New Smyrna beach. He came out on top, but I did alright. I was just happy that being from the mid-west that I made it to the regional contest.
Ricky really impressed me because he didn’t mind sharing opinions about what type of board I should be riding and even though I was surfing against him in every contest he was willing to help me improve my surfing. The quality of the surfboards that are created by Ricky and his partners are very good. But the real advantage that you will have when buying a custom surfboard from Ricky is his years of experience shaping and surfing. In ESA Ricky is one of the most constant surfers. I like it when the guy who shapes my boards surfs and surfs well To me it shows that he knows surfing and surfboards.
But none of us ever thought that Ricky couldn’t surf. On top of him knowing surfing and surfboards, Ricky is very humble and approachable. He will always take the time to talk surfing with you even if he knows you are not going to have him shape a surfboard for you. I recommend Ricky Carrolls surfboards and Ricky as a person He is one of the coolest surfers that I have had the pleasure of meeting.
