What Stretch Boards (Stretch Surfboards) is known for

Stretch Boards makes custom boards in Santa Cruz and traces William “Stretch” Riedel’s board-building work to 1979. The company describes producing each board under one roof, with EPS and epoxy construction a particular focus. Its models and custom options should be discussed in relation to the surfer and intended conditions rather than selected by appearance alone.

Stretch Boards is the Santa Cruz board-making business associated with William Riedel, known as Stretch, whose work began in 1979. His background includes boards for surfing and other forms of wave riding, with custom construction central to the company's story. The maker identifies a factory in midtown Santa Cruz rather than an outsourced retail-only operation.

The company describes building each board under one roof and gives particular attention to EPS and epoxy construction. Its approach combines materials and shape with feedback from riders, rather than treating every board as the same product with different graphics. The current catalogue presents different models, including variations on the Fish design developed with rider input.

Start a board enquiry with the surfing you actually do and the conditions for which you need it. A model name alone does not settle the dimensions or construction that will suit an individual surfer. Discuss those decisions directly with the maker, and keep ordering or factory-visit arrangements separate from assumptions based on old workshop photographs.