The History of Zippi Surfboards
Hermosa Beach roots
Michael Zippi built his reputation shaping surfboards in Hermosa Beach, California. Throughout his career, he worked alongside dozens of respected shapers and became one of the industry's most sought-after airbrush artists. Zippi sprayed boards for legendary labels and shapers including Hap Jacobs, Lance Carson, Bing, and many others. If you own a vintage Jacobs, Bing, or Lance Carson surfboard, there's a good chance Michael Zippi was the one who gave it its signature spray.
Before becoming known under his own label, Zippi built boards as a ghost shaper. He shaped fish designs for brands including Jacobs, Plastic Fantastic, Time Bomb, and several others. While working behind the scenes, he developed an obsession with refining the classic twin-fin fish.
The keel-fin obsession
In the early 2000s, Michael began focusing almost exclusively on his own keel-fin fish designs. He believed the traditional fish had never reached its full potential. As the surf industry embraced the three-fin thruster, the fish was largely left behind. Zippi saw an opportunity to continue developing the design, spending decades refining every aspect of its performance. Few shapers have devoted as much time to evolving the modern fish.
When the retro fish revival arrived in the mid-2000s, Zippi's boards quickly found their way into some of the most respected surf shops in the United States. But Michael was never interested in simply recreating a retro board. His mission was always performance. The result was one of the most respected and recognizable fish brands of the era.
If you love riding fish surfboards, a Zippi belongs in your quiver.
Performance that traveled
Even as major brands began producing fish models, Zippi's designs stood apart. His boards became favorites among surfers of every ability, from intermediate riders to seasoned professionals. They earned a reputation for being incredibly fast, responsive, and versatile in a wide range of conditions.Whether it was two-foot Southern California surf or world-class waves, the Zippi fish consistently delivered. Surfers soon realized these boards could handle conditions that most people never expected from a traditional fish. Positive reports came from across the globe, including Hawaii, Fiji, Indonesia, and countless other destinations. It became the board surfers always wanted to pack for a trip — a true quiver killer.
Explore the current lineup →The Zippi legacy
By 2018, Michael's health had begun to decline, making it increasingly difficult for him to produce boards. Finding a new Zippi became nearly impossible, and even used boards rarely appeared for sale because owners simply didn't want to part with them. As shaping became more physically demanding, Michael became increasingly selective about who he built boards for.
Michael Zippi passed away peacefully in his sleep in April 2023.
His passion for surfboard design lives on. We believe Michael would be proud to know that surfers around the world are still riding and appreciating his designs, and we know his friends and family would be proud to see his legacy continue.
Carrying the vision forward
Our goal has always been to honor Michael's work with the respect it deserves. We've carefully preserved his most successful designs by digitally scanning and replicating his best-performing boards. We've also introduced precision 3D-cut travel fins while continuing to offer traditional glass-on fins for those who prefer the original approach. Every Zippi keel twin-fin comes with custom-designed fins to ensure each board performs exactly as intended.
Learn how we preserve Michael's shapes with Shape3D →
One of the greatest compliments we receive is when surfers buy the latest high-performance boards, only to come back a few boards later and order another Zippi. That says everything about the timeless performance of Michael's designs.We'd like to thank everyone who has supported this brand over the years and helped keep the Zippi Fish legacy alive. We're honored to carry Michael Zippi's vision forward and ensure that future generations of surfers can experience the boards he dedicated his life to perfecting.
Experience the shapes Michael spent a lifetime perfecting.
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