Nevs' Story
Nev Hyman: From Garage Shaper to Global Surfboard Icon
"Nev was always a smart cat. He was the guy who threw it on the line to champion machines that could shape boards from a computer program." — Derek Rielly, Surf Writer
The Early Years: Surfing Roots in Perth
Neville Charles Hyman was born in 1958 in Johannesburg, South Africa. At a young age, his family moved to Perth, Australia, where his lifelong journey with the ocean began. By age 9, Hyman was surfing, and just four years later, he started shaping his own boards in his father’s garage workshop.
In 1975, the week after graduating high school, Hyman co-founded Odyssey Surfboards in Perth with Phil Usher. At just 18, Nev relocated to Burleigh Heads, Queensland, and in 1980, launched his own label—Nev Surfboards. His unique talent and magnetic personality quickly catapulted him among the top surfboard makers worldwide.
Shaping Champions: From Kelly Slater to Sofia Mulanovich
"Nev made equipment for dozens of the world’s best surfers, including legends like Kelly Slater and Mark Occhilupo."
Nev’s boards were ridden by many of the greatest surfers of all time. From world champions like Kelly Slater, Wendy Botha, Mark Occhilupo, and Sunny Garcia to renowned Aussie pros like Danny Wills and Dave Rastovich, Hyman’s craftsmanship shaped surfing history.
Pushing Boundaries in the 90s: Machine-Made Innovation
"His dream was to shape a board on his laptop and have a machine make it."
In the late 80s and early 90s, Nev took a radical step. He became one of the first shapers to embrace computer-driven technologies, setting a new industry standard. Despite initial resistance from the surfing community, his vision to use machines for precision shaping ultimately redefined how surfboards were crafted.
By the 90s, Nev Surfboards produced between 100 and 150 boards a week, making it one of the largest surfboard operations globally. In 2001, Australia's Surfing Life magazine included Hyman in its article "Loaded: 10 Surfing Millionaires," attributing his success largely to exporting boards to Japan.
Firewire Surfboards: Revolutionising the Core
In 2005, always seeking to innovate, Hyman joined forces with Western Australia shaper Bert Burger to develop a new "sandwich" construction using EPS foam, balsa, and epoxy resin. This collaboration birthed Firewire Surfboards, a game-changer in the surfboard industry. In 2015, 11-time world champion Kelly Slater bought a 70% stake in Firewire, further solidifying its impact on the sport.
Going Big: Guinness Records and Surfing Spectacles
Nev wasn't just shaping boards for world champions. In 2005, he built the world’s biggest surfboard, setting a Guinness World Record for the largest number of surfers—47—riding one board during the Quiksilver Pro at Snapper Rocks. A decade later, in 2015, he designed another record-setting board for the 100th anniversary of surfing in California, where 66 surfers rode a 42-foot-long board in Huntington Beach.
From Surfboards to Sustainability: The NevHouse Project
"NevHouse won the top prize for sustainability in the 2016 Australian Good Design Awards."
In 2012, Hyman shifted his focus toward addressing global housing needs. Teaming up with Sydney architect Ken McBryde, he launched NevHouse, creating affordable, stormproof housing made from recycled materials. The project was internationally recognised for its innovative design and sustainability efforts, winning top honours at the 2016 Australian Good Design Awards.
Recognition and Legacy: A Hall of Fame Inductee
Throughout his career, Hyman earned numerous accolades, including being ranked 7th in the 1992 Shaper’s Poll and inducted into the International Surfboard Builders Hall of Fame in 2019. His contributions to the surfing world, from board shaping to sustainability, cement his place as one of the most influential figures in the sport’s history.
Back to His Roots: Still Shaping and Innovating
"I have far too much fun to ever retire."
In the present day, Nev is still crafting watercraft for boardriders from all walks of life. He is still working on his line of tailored surfboards under the Nev Customs umbrella, focusing on fostering the surfer/shaper relationship. Nev is still also shaping collectable replicas of the boards he once shaped for surfing royalty, including Dane Kealoha, Christian Fletcher, and Martin Potter.
Nev’s latest innovation is his line of customisable watercraft called NEVABOARD. With his mastery in the craft of machine shaping, Nev and his team are creating the first range of fully customisable, stand-up paddle boards, foil, and kiteboards in the southern hemisphere.