My name is Jeff Beck and I make Nine Lights Surfboards. I've been building wood surfboards and fins for over 15 years and in that time I've explored many different design ideas and construction techniques. I now offer five different build styles, both wood and foam, all geared toward a more durable, beautiful, and better riding surfboard. I live and work in Huntington Beach with my wonderful wife and 3 kids and I build every board by hand from start to finish.
...
"In 2008, I drove down to Cardiff for a demo day called Anything But Three.
I had just broken 3 normal polyurethane boards and was also growing weary of pro-style boards. The PU boards just didn't work for the waves I normally surfed, and I felt bad throwing those toxic heaps away. I wanted something different.
I tried a ton of boards that day, but I landed on one of Jeff's - a 5'5" flextail quad - and it was magic. I was connecting sections with such speed and I was still able to bottom turn and hit the lip. I'm no pro, but on some of those waves, I sure felt like one.
Since then, I've only bought Nine Lights boards. Because they last so long, I've been able to slowly build up a quiver over the decade - even getting a longboard for my wife!
But it's more than just the boards that keeps me coming back. Jeff is one of the most fun people to talk shaping with - he has great stories - and when it comes to making a board he intently listens to what I am looking for, considers the waves I ride, and builds me something magic everytime."
-Breene
"What can I say about the wood wizard? It might be hard to truly define how much I appreciate both Jeff and his crafts. The first board I ever rode has a #15 next to his signature. That board, a balsa wood twin fin, was given to me as a present from my dad over 15 years ago. Pandora's box has been open ever since. Since then, Jeff's made me about a dozen crafts - all kinds: twin fins, quads, midlengths, longboards, finless crafts, handplanes and bellyboards. Jeff has helped my quiver reach levels of diversity (and delight) I thought only my surf heros could have. Not only is he as open minded a shaper as they come, I'm convinced his talents for moving foam and wood are endless. Simply put, his boards work as good as they look. If something's burning a hole in my brain, Jeff is the first person I go to. Jeff makes surfing fun, flat out. Remember: foam is your friend - and the wood wizard is too! Thank you!
Quiver:
-Paulownia hand plane
-6'8" alaia (that got mod-chopped to 6' ish)
-3' mini paipo bellyboard
-5'6" round fin twin
-5'2" FossOdd (a quad, Fosshull hybrid)
-5'10" semi finless / twin-ish diamond tail
-9' semi-performance log
-8' semi finless mid length
-The Brunch Tray
And yes, I still own ALL of those. With pride.
-Adam