Album
Matt Parker's design-forward San Clemente label — asymmetric and twin-fin shapes that made progressive small-wave surfing look like art.
About Album
Album Surfboards was founded by Matt Parker in San Clemente, California in 2001 and has become the most respected boutique surfboard label of the last two decades. Where most labels build shortboards for pros, Album has spent 20+ years quietly redefining what a small-wave board can look like — asymmetrical outlines, exaggerated tail templates and hyper-modern twin-fin and quad designs.
The lineup is anchored by the Disasym (asymmetric performance twin), Insanity (single-fin+twin egg), Kookalak (mid-length) and Lookout (high-performance asymmetric shortboard). Album's design language is deliberately weird — different rail lines on the toe-side vs. heel-side of the board, unusually low rockers, and tail templates that look like nothing else on the market.
Album shapes out of San Clemente and manufactures a limited stock line each season, along with the popular 'Album Presents' collaboration and demo program. Because the run sizes are small, boards often sell out — the primary retail channels are Album's own site, Cleanline Surf and a handful of independent shops.
Popular Album models
Sources we reference
Surfex is an aggregator — we do not test boards ourselves. These are the retailer, editorial and manufacturer pages we cross-check when writing about Album. Numeric aggregate ratings are only shown once we've scraped a real customer-review widget on one of our product review pages.
Where to buy Album
FAQ
What is an asymmetric surfboard?
An asymmetric surfboard has different tail templates and rail lines on the toe-side and heel-side of the board. The idea is that your heel-side turn and toe-side turn are fundamentally different movements, and each side of the board can be optimised for its role. Album's Disasym is the most-reviewed asymmetric shortboard on the market.
Are Album surfboards good for beginners?
Album's Sunstone and Plasmic are approachable for intermediate surfers, but the brand's asymmetric shortboards (Disasym) are best for intermediate-to-advanced riders. Complete beginners should start on a Kookalog softtop or a proper mini-mal before graduating to an Album shape.
Where are Album surfboards made?
Album shapes out of Matt Parker's San Clemente factory. Stock runs are small — most models drop in limited batches and sell out quickly.
How does Album compare to …Lost?
Both are San Clemente labels but with different philosophies. Lost / Mayhem is aimed at everyday grovelers and performance shortboards at scale. Album is a boutique, design-forward label focused on twin-fin, quad and asymmetric shapes — smaller runs, higher-priced, more distinctive.
How much do Album surfboards cost?
New Album stock boards typically range from $950 to $1,200 in the US. Custom orders and limited-collab drops can go higher.