Pyzel
John John Florence's brand of choice — Jon Pyzel's Hawaiian-tested shapes, home of the world-title-winning Ghost and the industry's reference step-ups.
About Pyzel
Pyzel Surfboards was founded by Jon Pyzel in 1998 on Oahu's North Shore, where the brand still shapes and tests every model in some of the heaviest waves on earth. Jon's long-time collaboration with John John Florence — who has been on Pyzel since he was ten years old — is the foundation of the label's identity, and every Pyzel model is designed to hold in serious surf.
The Ghost is the brand's defining shape and the board John John rode to his 2016 and 2017 world titles. It sits between a groveler and a step-up — wide enough to paddle, but with the drive and hold to charge waves of consequence. The Shadow, Phantom, Precious and Pyzalien 2 round out a lineup that is unusually cohesive for a brand that has scaled globally.
Pyzel manufactures out of both Oahu and California, with global distribution through Boardcave, Cleanline Surf and independent surf shops worldwide. Stock boards ship in traditional PU/PE glassing; a lightweight EPS/epoxy option is available on most models through Firewire's Slater Designs / Tomo network.
Popular Pyzel 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 Pyzel. 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 Pyzel
| Retailer | Notes | Visit |
|---|---|---|
| Pyzel Surfboards (direct) | Full stock and Hawaiian-shaped customs | Visit |
| Boardcave (US / global) | Ships worldwide, price-matched | Visit |
| Cleanline Surf (Oregon) | Independent surf shop, deep Pyzel inventory | Visit |
| Surfride (Southern California) | Local stock and demos | Visit |
| Real Watersports (North Carolina) | East coast Pyzel distributor | Visit |
FAQ
What board does John John Florence ride?
John John's competition quiver is built almost exclusively around the Pyzel Ghost (all-round conditions) and Padillac / Bastard (bigger waves). All three models are available as stock boards through Pyzel and their retailers.
Is the Pyzel Ghost good for intermediate surfers?
The Ghost is often recommended for intermediate-to-advanced surfers with punchy waves in their forecast. It's wider and thicker than a pro shortboard but the rocker is on the higher end, so complete beginners should start on a more forgiving groveler like the Pyzel Precious.
Are Pyzel boards made in Hawaii?
Jon Pyzel shapes flagship customs on the North Shore of Oahu. Stock Pyzel boards are produced at scale through partner factories in California and Thailand, all under Pyzel's design and quality control.
How does Pyzel compare to Channel Islands or Firewire?
Pyzel is the Hawaiian answer to Channel Islands: heavier-wave-oriented, John-John-influenced designs. Compared to Firewire, Pyzel is a more traditional PU-first shaper — the shapes are the star, not the construction.
How much do Pyzel surfboards cost?
New Pyzel stock boards range from about $850 to $1,150 in the US. Customs shaped by Jon Pyzel are $150–$400 more depending on dimensions and glassing.