Dave Parmenter has worn a lot of hats in the surfing industry. He was a top 16 ASP pro surfer, head judge for the NSSA in the 1980s, writer for major surf magazines, big wave surfer, co-founder of the standup paddleboard industry, and commentator on the surfing world with an eye cocked toward historical context.

He has roots as a backyard shaper since 1975, leading him to be a technical writer for decades. He covered all aspects of surfboard design and construction—including heading up the board design wing at the first online surf magazine, Swell, in 1999.