Robert Alan August was born in Hermosa Beach in 1945 and grew up just down the California coast in Seal Beach. His father, Orral "Blackie" August, was both a surfer and a lifeguard at nearby Redondo Beach and was one of the first surfers to ride its waves. Blackie had Robert surfing at the age of six on the nice breakers at Seal Beach.
A natural goofy-footer, Robert quickly developed the smooth, relaxed style that allowed him to become a successful contest surfer at a very young age. He finished fourth in the men's division of the 1963 West Coast Championships and third in the '64 U.S. Invitational. In 1965, Robert placed third in the U.S. Surfing Championships and was invited to surf in the Duke Kahanamoku Invitational. Just a few of months after graduating from Huntington Beach High School--where he was senior class president--Robert was presented with an opportunity that would change his life forever. Along with 21 year-old Mike Hynson, filmmaker Bruce Brown chose 19 year-old Robert August to travel the world in search of the perfect wave while making the famed movie The Endless Summer. August was selected over better-known surfers because to Bruce Brown, Robert represented surfing in the positive way he perceived the sport. Not a stranger to Brown's camera, Robert had appeared in three of his movies prior to Endless Summer, including Slippery When Wet (1957), Barefoot Adventure (1960) and Surfing Hollow Days (1961).
Filmed in 1963 and debuting in '64, The Endless Summer played throughout America, with Brown originally providing masterful live narrations. In 1966, Newsweek Magazine named the film one of the 10 best movies of the year, and it gave August the recognition that would serve him extremely well in his future business ventures. This once-in-a-lifetime experience, coupled with a lifelong friendship with Brown, made a lasting impression on Robert's life, the effects of which are still evident today.
Beginning in 1965, August worked for Jacobs Surfboards in Hermosa Beach, first as a salesman and then as a shaper before becoming a freelance shaper in late 1966 shaping for Overlin, Petrillo, Plastic Fantastic, South Shore, Harbour, Chuck Dent and anyone else who needed him through the late 60’s and into the 70’s. In 1971, he opened the Endless Summer restaurant, a business he later described to Longboard magazine as one that "set a world record for losing money." In 1974, he launched the first Robert August Surf Shop in Fullerton, California and relocated it to Main Street Huntington Beach in 1976. Stocked with shortboards because of their popularity at the time, Robert was still a longboarder at heart. "In the '70s, you couldn't even find a longboard blank. I knew I wanted one, but I didn't know if they would sell. Finally, I made five of 'em and everyone came in the shop going, wow--a longboard!"
Robert welcomed the longboard renaissance that began in the '80s, and by the year 2000 his Huntington Beach factory was putting out a record number of boards a year.
Robert August has had a steady influence in the growth of surfing and surf culture since starring in the iconic ‘Endless Summer’ movie in 1963. Since that time, Robert has carefully crafted a brand that is recognized worldwide as a symbol of surfing's true lifestyle culture and authentic heritage. Robert August Surf Company has entered into licensing by signing numerous deals that expand and further reinforce the brands core roots in the surfing community. Those licensed products categories include: Futures Fins, Indo Board Balance Trainer, Cobian Footwear, Nirve Bicycles, SkateOne and a deal with industry leader SurfTech Board Manufacturing Co.. In addition Robert August Surf Company continues to produce custom hand shaped boards in the USA and can be found around the world, still remaining one of the most popular surfboard brands in the market today.
Still an excellent shaper with a great sense of humor, Robert currently lives in Costa Rica, where he shapes, enjoys family and sponsors an annual Surf 'n' Turf golf tournament to benefit local charities. The Robert August brand continues to be one of the best-known names in the world of surfing.
