In Texas, a good surfboard has to earn its keep. Gulf Coast waves can be fickle, the wind rarely takes a day off, and when a proper swell rolls through, you’d better be ready. Making the most of those fleeting opportunities takes more than a favorable forecast. It takes ingenuity, experience and the right board beneath your feet.

Those boards and the people that make them took center stage at the 11th annual Surftoberfest in downtown Corpus Christi, where The Board Walk brought together more than 20 Texas surfboard shapers for a celebration of the people and craftsmanship behind the boards. Organized by photographer Jon Steele alongside surfers and Executive Surf Club owners Brad and Richard Lomax, the installation showcased an impressive cross-section of the state’s shaping community.

Jon Steele

Held on October 17, 2026, the event blended Texas surf culture with the traditional trappings of Oktoberfest: bratwurst, schnitzel, pretzels and plenty of beer.…