Aloha nui loa!

Welcome to legendary Hawaiian surfer, 2X Pipeline surfing champion & Lightning Bolt team rider Rory Russell's official website for custom Pipeliner surfboards, surf school lessons, and sharing his stoke & aloha.

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History of Pure Stoke

More than 40 years later, Rory Russell is again with Lightning Bolt, a brand "that never really leaves your heart." This Pipeline surf icon arrived in Hawaii with his family in 1964 and lived 38 years on the mythical North Shore on the island of Oahu. He won some of the most prestigious world surf championships, including two Pipeline Masters in 1976 and 1977, the Waimea Pro in Brazil (1975), all the 1976 championships in Chiba, Japan, and also the no less important Lightning Bolt Surf Championship in 1977. In addition to all these achievements in professional surfing, Rory is also known for his expansive personality and artistic streak. He starred in several surf films, of which stand out: Summer Stories, Sundance, Red Hot Blue, Hot Lips and Inner Tubes, Surf Superstars. He also had several appearances on TV shows and was the face to numerous advertisements in the most prestigious magazines of the time: Surfer, Surfing, and Surfing World—among others.

Lightning Bolt History

Unsung: Rory's Story

Surfboards & Goods

Rory is the only Pipeline Master that shapes & glasses his own "Pipeliner" model surfboards—the same shape Rory surfed & won Pipeline competitions on. Both limited edition (shaped & glassed by Rory) and special edition (shaped by Rory) are available. Contact Rory for available shapes, customization, and scheduling.

Contact Rory Watch Rory Shape! See Boards on Instagram
limited edition pipeliner

Lightning Bolt

Multiple Styles

Authentic Service

Unique Colors

Custom Dimensions

Rory's Touch

Talkin' Story with Rory

Rory is arguably the most stoked & well-traveled icon of surfing! He has adventured around the world his entire life, from a grom in Germany & Hawaii to Lightning Bolt ambassador to global legend status, making wanderlust his full-time occupation. Below are curated links to interviews Rory's given over the years. For media inquiries & booking information, contact Rory directly.

Bolt Golden Moment

Ambassador of Stoke!

Rory Russell, The Legend

Rory Russell Speaks

Gallery

With so much lore surrounding Rory's global escapades and accomplishments, we've collected a selection of memories into categories for you to enjoy. Scroll through the photo gallery categories below and click an image to be taken to the rest of the images in that category (under construction).