SHAPE. GLASS. SAND.

Zealot Surfboards – Built by Chris Johnson, blending art and function for exceptional performance and stunning aesthetics. Each board represents the passion and skill of a craftsman.

My story

Every step of the board building process is integral, which is why every board that leaves my shop is built from start to finish by me. From design, shape, glassing and sanding, there is only one pair of hands.

   Growing up alongside my father in his custom cabinet shop, I was always working with my hands. With the love of surfing, and the appreciation for fine craftsmanship, I began building boards in the early 2000s. I was living just outside Philadelphia Pennsylvania, which is not a place where surfing comes to mind, so it was a big surprise to me when I found out my friend Ted, from high school, was also shaping boards and slinging resin. We spent the next 10 years hanging out in my garage learning the craft together. There was no YouTube/Instagram/swaylocks/ back then, it was just 2 saltwater brothers trying to figure out this mysterious craft.

On September 30th 2011, my friend Ted passed away in a car accident and  it turned my world upside down. After his passing, I decided to change the course of my life and pursue my dreams full time by spending the next few years in Maui learning the craft by some of surfing’s finest at the kazuma factory. Upon returning home to the east coast, I set up shop in Cape May, NJ to pursue this craft full time using the lifelong influences I’ve acquired along the way.

I like to work one on one with the surfer. When building a custom surfboard, I take the time to talk to you and get to know what works best for each individual. Surfboard design has a wide range of variabilities, and the surfer is no exception.

SURFBOARD catalog

All of theses shapes have been in the making for several years, nothing makes it into the lineup without every detail and curve meticulously gone over with a fine tooth comb.

DARWIN

sizes 5’4”- 6’4”

The Darwin shows the evolution from retro fish to what I like to call a modern retro fish. A more round outline is the most noticeable trait to set it apart from a traditional retro fish, this helps aid in tighter maneuvers in those more critical sections. The hull design begins with a light concave at the nose gradually building to deeper concave blending just before mid point of the board it blends into a compressed double concave throughout the rest of the board. The fins stray from traditional fish roots, this modification complements the round outline in those tight corners. This board is enjoyable for a surfer at almost every level of experience, and can take your surfing to the next level.

Suggested Wave Heights:

Waist-Head

stoop

Sizes 5’4”- 5’10”

The Stoop is the small wave killer built to create its own speed when the waves are not giving you any. With a beaked nose, extra wide outline, wide tail giving the board lots planning surface that all work together to get you going down the line effortlessly without holding you back. This board has a very low rocker with a light single to compressed double concave in the fin area, all designed to keep the water flowing under your feet through the flat sections of the wave. This board is only available in a quad for maximum speed generation. This board will get you out on those days when its small and grabbing the log is just not your thing

Suggested Wave Heights :

Knee-Chest

Zappa

Sizes 5’6”-6’6”

The Zappa is designed to be versatile in most conditions the Zappa is a great all around shortboard, the one you grab when you are not sure what the day may bring. The outline is sleek but has enough width to keep you stable while paddling. The wide point is pulled back to keep a wider tail so you can get into waves a little earlier, the bumps give the board some extra release and allow for tighter turns, and tight pocket surfing. The hull design is a single concave starting at the nose and continuing to the compressed double concave. The fins are placed so that it can be ridden as twin, twin +1 or your standard thruster set up. This is the board you want to keep in your vehicle everyday due to its ability to work well in a variety of conditions.

Suggested Wave Heights Waist-Head+

Wahoo fish

sizes 5’6”-6’6”

The Wahoo has lots of speed with plenty of top to bottom maneuverability, it will be your trusty Swiss army knife and will be a great addition to any quiver. The outline is fully round leaving lots of room for water to flow around it effortlessly, ending with nice pronounced bumps to keep you high and tight. The hull has the single concave to double like most of my fish and shorter board shapes, except at the tail that’s where this board differs and features a subtle V for effortless rail work. When it comes to the fin set up all options are possible, stock options will all have 5 boxes, although suggested options are twin +1 or quad.

Suggested Wave Heights Waist-Head+

Eclipse

sizes 6’2”- 7’2”

The Eclipse is not your run of the mill midlegnth, its designed to be surfed well in most conditions. The sleek outline allows this board to take off late with ease, and have maneuverability in the pocket. It has a unique but familiar hull design starting with a light concave in the nose graduating to a deeper single just before mid point, from there things get interesting it goes from a deep double concave to quad concave that appears to the eye as a sort of channel, finally a very subtle V our the back. A twinzer fin set up is used in this board to increases drive down the line. The Eclipse will have you doing cutbacks you only dreamed of, and smiling ear to ear.

Suggested Wave Heights stomach-Head+

assassin

Sizes 6’4”- 7’6”

The Assassin is what I like to call a semipro step up, its designed for the average to intermediate surfer who wants to surf larger waves. The outline is pulled in for hollower waves with a touch of extra width as well as thickness for extra paddle power, the bumps help reduce some width in the tail area that allows the board to fit tight in the pocket. Standard issue hull design single concave to double in the fin area nothing to crazy just enough to keep you locked in. Fin set up comes with options so you can choose what’s best for you and your wave conditions. This is the board you get charged up to ride grab it when your local spot is going off.

Suggested Wave Heights Shoulder-Overhead

MK

Sizes 6’4”-7’0”

The MK is a shorter more pulled in version of my MK Ultra shape. This board is designed to be the shortborders midlength for the days when you don’t want to put all that effort in, and you are not the type of surfer that is interested in any kind of log or oversized mid length. The outline is balanced with some extra width but not overdone, ending in a diamond tail to allow water flow but still have points for some extra bite. The hull has a light nose concave that gets a good bit deeper in the chest area, flowing out to a compressed double concave just past the mid point of the board. As for the fins I recommend it as a quad although the a 5 fin option is available on this board as well.

MK ULTRA

sizes 7’- 8’4”

The MK ultra is highly refined all around Mid length, designed to be a go to board for most days. This board will catch everything without sacrificing performance. The online is a pulled in longboard essentially, fuller nose width maintained throughout. This board is equipped with a hydro hull design with the beveled rails from nose to just behind the side bites, this allows the board to travel rail to rail effortlessly. The 2+1 set up gives you some versatility but I highly recommend using the side bites, preferably the GnS speed bite.

suggested wave hights

ankle - head high

Vitality

Sizes 6’6”- 7’0”

The Vitally is here to bring maximum joy to your surfing, more waves, more turns, less effort. This board is the most performance you can get out of a single fin mid-length. The outline is clean and balanced that helps provide extra drive down the line, fuller nose for extra confidence when paddling, and a pulled in rounded pin for pocket surfing. The Hull has a concave from nose to just about past the mid point that blends into a very light spiral V out the tail. the fin set up is a 2+1 I highly recommend pairing this board with a smaller side bite. This board can be your one board giver due to its vast range of versatility.

Suggested Wave Heights Knee-Head+

Method

sizes 8’6” - 9’4”

The Method is a longboard built to trim designed to get to the soul of surfing. The outline is very balanced for maximum glide and maneuverability. This board features a displacement hull from nose to the fin area where it turns to more of a panel V to help pivot the board, this hull is pairs nicely with the 70/30 rails that turn down to a hard edge in the fin area to aid in some release out the back. Single fin ONLY

suggested wave hights

ankle- head+

custom order inquiry

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Stop by your local shop and ask them about Zealot Surfboards

3101 Asbury Ave

Ocean City, NJ 08226

609-399-8399