The Exit pedigree in hardcore surfing is blue ribbon all the way, with its beginnings in 1979 at the world famous surf break Raglan, manufacturing surfboards under the Exit Stix and Country Lines labels. A move to Christchurch in 1988 gave rise to one of the most advanced surfboard factories in New Zealand. Some of the best shapers in the country including Ian Thompson, Michael (Mickey T) Thompson, Roger Hall, Glen Carkeek, Jim Carney, Rod Rust, Stu Darcy and others mowed acres of foam to fulfill the ever growing demand for quality surfboards. Under the guidance of Keiry Bennett and son Tristan, ExitSurf was always striving to do things better, and with the help of our ever growing circle of international friends in the industry, we began manufacturing under license for other brands.

Tristan spent time in the USA at the tender age of 17 honing his skills living with and learning the necessary techniques with guru Gary Linden who in turn was taught by master shaper Dick Brewer. By 1992 we were manufacturing Linden surfboards for New Zealand and Australia. The cost locally of raw materials and the quest for a better way lead us to source polyurethane blanks directly from Australia. This move sowed the seed for the biggest leap in New Zealand's Surfboard manufacturing history.

1993 saw ExitSurf importing our own blanks, resin, cloth and other exotic materials never before seen in the industry. Frank King of Southshore Foam passed on our details to Stu Darcy who at the time was shaping Pottz surfboards for Martin Potter and looking for someone to manufacture boards of the highest quality for the NZ market. Soon after the Exit factory was churning out Pottz surfboards most of which were from the first imported machine shaped pre-shapes. With longboarding becoming more popular Bear was also added to the stable under license to Bill Hamilton. Stu Darcy formed Vudu surfboards and Exit had another brand.

The wholesale side of the business was starting to grow through the ever increasing industry friends and contacts. Before long a new company was formed, Exit Surf Products distributing Gotcha, Mcd and various accessories. Through the Vudu label we started importing soft top and wood veneer surfboards from a then little known factory in Thailand. Through this association with the Cobra International manufacturing giant, Exit now imports and sells boards for Surftech & Global Surf Industries New Zealand wide. Included are such great brands as McTavish, Takayama, NSP, Robert August, Al Merrick, Phil Byrne, Mark Richards, Wayne Lynch, Greg Webber, Aloha, Randy French, Laird Hamilton to name a few.

Now Exit Surf Products is the biggest surf hardware distributor in New Zealand with Surftech, Global Surf Industries, Xcel Wetsuits and accessories by Sticky Bumps, Xtrak, Brain Bucket, Surf Co Hawaii.

Retail is still run out of the original Christchurch store and stocks all the latest surf hardware. Our knowledgeable staff, dedicated to customer service, will help you find the products that you are looking for. Exitsurf also boasts one of the largest selections of surfboards in New Zealand.

Our online surf store is one of the few online shops managed by a small team of professionals in the surfing industry who not only work in a real surf shop, but also actually surf! We pride ourselves on providing you with the best advice and services whether you are in our store or behind your computer screen.