A Passion for Performance
Tim Bessell loves his job. He combines lifelong surfing experience with expert craftsmanship to create some of the best custom surfboards in the world. From world class professionals to weekend warriors, ask anyone who knows him and they'll tell you the same thing: Tim is more than a shaper, he's an artist.

The History of Bessell Surfboards
Tim shaped his first surfboard in his parents garage when he was only thirteen years old. Only two years later, Tim began his professional surfboard shaping career when he began working at Sunset Surfboards. He was one of the youngest surfboard shapers at Sunset, but he was already making a name for himself in and around his home break of Windansea Beach in La Jolla, California.

Three years later Tim moved to Hawaii to prove he has what it takes to be a shaper on the North Shore. He began shaping custom surfboards for Lightning Bolt, one of Hawaii's premier surfboard manufacturers. In fact, Tim Bessell would later become one of the few shapers allowed to manufacture surfboards under the Lightning Bolt name.

In 1982, Tim returned to San Diego to re-open Bessell Surfboards. By 1987, Bessell Surfboards had grown into one of the largest surfboard manufacturers in Southern California. Tim also made a name for himself as an artist, with exhibitions as far away as Japan.

Tim branched off into the world of apparel when he started his own clothing line in 1992. He designed every item himself, and his unique touch of style was an instant hit. Tim even helped design styles for other clothing companies such as T&C Hawaii and Billabong.

Tim decided to focus once again on surfboards in 1997, when he returned to the shaping room to resurrect Bessell Surfboards. He built primarily custom shaped boards for surfers who demand more that the typical cookie cutter shapes. Tim's willingness to work individually with each customer has helped build a reputation few shapers can match.

To date, Tim has produced over 43,000 surfboards. His boards have graced the covers of Surfer Magazine, Surfing Magazine, Beach Culture, and countless other surfing magazine. Many world class surfers have ridden Bessell Surfboards including: Peter King, Luke Egan, Jon Roseman, Glen Winton, Brad Gerlach, Vetea David, Ricky Irons, David MacAulay, Saxon Boucher, Debbie Melville Beacham, Ryder Mackey, Chris O'Rourke, Billy Choe, Simon Law, Juston Postin, David Eggers, Davie Miller, Richard Kenvin and more.

Bessell Surfboards are currently sold throughout the world with distributors in Japan, South America and Europe. If you're lucky enough to visit Tavarua Island, you'll notice Tim's trademark guns are standard equipment on the island. Wherever you end up, chances are there is someone riding a Bessell.

Currently Tim and his team at Bessell surfboards are starting many new exciting projects. These projects include Watershed Productions,a new film production company that is focusing on cutting edge surf films. He is also shaping new boards like the G2, which are limited edition models.Contact Bessell Surfboards or stop by the shop to learn more about the new things Tim and his crew are doing at Bessell Surfboards.