I'm Austin Barrette. I shape every board that leaves the shop - from the first cut to the final polish. I've been doing this for just under 10 years, in different corners of the country, but Laguna Beach, CA was where I was brought up. Last year, my wife and I made a big move to Georgia — a slower pace, a new chapter — and that's where Barrette Surfboards found a new home on Lake Lanier.

What started as a personal obsession has become something I now share with others - building custom wakesurf boards that feel like an extension of who you are and how you ride. After over a year of dialing things in with local riders, I've released a few models that I believe in, with countless ways we can make each one your own. Not because customization is trendy, but because every surfer deserves a board that reflects their style, story, and goals on the water.

I'll always shape ocean boards — that was my first love and it still runs deep. But what keeps me coming back to the shaping bay isn't just foam and fiberglass - it's the people. It's the quiet excitement when someone unwraps a new board, the stories that come from their first ride, the trust that builds between maker and rider.

That connection is the heart of all this.

Outside the bay, I work a regular desk job, serve as an officer in the Army National Guard, and try to stay grounded with a few hobbies and as many surf trips as possible. My wife and I still return to our favorite breaks in California — those places that remind us why we started all this in the first place.

If you ever find yourself looking for a new board, I hope you'll consider letting me be part of that journey. This brand exists to serve people — not just by shaping boards, but by helping create experiences you'll carry with you. I don't want to just sell boards. I want to help build something that lasts — something that connects us.