James Robertson has certainly earned his stripes in the California surf industry the last eighteen years. A gifted surfer and representative for the Lokbox fin company, he is also well known as a great ding repair person and all around craftsman. If you frequent any of he major surf related forums, chances are you have either asked Jim a question about the many aspects surfboard craftsmanship or read a few of his post about Lokbox. We decided to ask Jim a few questions about his life in the industry, surfing and where he sees the sport heading.

1. How long have you been involved in the surf business? 18 years

2. Where did you get your start? In 1991 at Channin / Precision fiberglassing as polisher for 1 year. Then on to Moonlight glassing as sander / polisher / fin box installer until 2004

3. What prompted your move to California from the east coast. Consistent surf

4. what is it your doing now other than your involvement with Lokbox. Still doing alot of repairs and some glassing.

5. How did you become involved with Lokbox. Started at Fins Unlimited spraying the clearcoat on long board fins in 1996 then was hired on as the sales rep for Lokbox later in the year.

6. How was it being an east coaster and getting started in California and what do you see as the biggest difference between the two surfing cultures.
Ahhh that was pretty interesting actually. Being a fairly outspoken guy most people called BS on me or at least until they figured out I could surf. Kelly hadn’t done his thing yet and no one had heard of the Lopez or Hobgood brothers so it was kind of tough. When people heard “east coast” they thought of either Matt Kechele..Jeff Crawford..or Scott Mcranels and Wes Laine.
All great surfers but were talking a handful of guys representing the entire eastern seaboard (well Peter Pan up north I guess)..and out here they have that handful of guys at nearly every break. Nothing against Peter but try convincing a west coast surfer that an east coast surfer going by the name “Peter Pan” is gnarly. Lol..didn’t go over so well. The Biggest difference I see between the two cultures is probably the attitude and the surfing styles. Guys get good alot faster here mostly due to the pointbreaks where they can polish their style in a much shorter time due to the consistency of the waves. This opens many more doors for them than their east coast counterparts. Plus all the magazines are here. Like it or not it’s how the game works. You paddle out at Salt Creek and blow up you have a way better chance of being recognized than if you do that at New Smyrna.

7. How do you see the state of the surf industry at the moment? Struggling but maybe beginning to recover a bit. A major downsizing is happening with most of the bigger companies. They are trimming the fat. Lay-offs are abundant. Even key people are being let go due to lack of finances. I figure it’ll hum and haw around like this for a while..then if the economy begins to recover..all the companies will realize they are under-stocked with product and under-staffed..and they’ll start ramping up again and scrambling to fill orders. It’ll be a big ebb and flow. A cycle. Reset button so to speak.

8. How do you see the state of surfing at the moment? Incredible! Guys are going shorter and shorter..following what the CT guys are proving they can do with little boards. As much as some people don’t like to admit it..alot of stuff seems un-doable..until someone goes out and does it. It’s what drives our industry. 25 years ago I was racing bicycles and dirt motorcycles.
If you told me guys would be doing double back flips on both of them I would have told you that you were out of your mind. Now you aren’t even on the map unless you can do a backflip. Alot of guys are doing them. Same is happening with surfing.

9. How do you see the state of the art of board building at the moment. Also incredible. With all the new materials like blanks..resins etc..and the technology that’s getting more and more available to even the smaller guys.
I’m seeing some pretty amazing stuff getting built.

10. How important do you feel it is to support domestic manufactured surfing products? I’ve always taken the same stance on this subject since I have been in this industry. In america we are losing craftsmen at an alarming rate. The surfboard is one of the last affordable custom sporting goods stillavailable here. If we don’t support them..they will be gone as well. People love to compare surfboards with things like computers and betamax’s. But when was the last time you woke up at 3 am and drove 4 hours frothing the whole way to buy a computer? Surfing is a special thing in my opinion. Comparing it to other mass produced products just takes the special right out of it IMO.

11. What type of board are you surfing at the moment. Any favorite shapes or shapers? I rode Pavels speedialers for several years. Now I’m riding mostly boards shaped by Dennis Kane (originally from Ocala Florida). He has a model called the Swordfish which is a high performance..moderned out 4 fin fish. Board is bonkers. He also has made me a great 6′4″ thruster shortboard and a 6′6″ step-up thruster which both go really really good! www.dksurfboards.com

12. Do you see any surfer with the possibility of beginning another movement the way M.R. with his twin, or Slater with his narrow little boards. Or do you still see more refinement of the same. More refinement for sure is happening now. As far as someone out in left field? I think DK will be a force to be reckoned with in the up-coming years. And maybe what guys like Akila Aipa is doing with his twins etc.

13. How do you feel about some of the move back to older shapes by some. Things like the mini Simmons. I have a mini Simmons shaped by Zamora and it’s a hoot! Literally makes you crack up while riding it because it’s that fun. But some guys are just going too retro. Some of it I see as novelty..and some of it may move us forward. In the end it’s all surfing..and surfing is alot of different things to different people so it’s all good!

14. If there was one thing you would like to see change about the state of surfboards, surfing equipment and surfing what might it be? I’d like to see the glassers be able to turn a better profit. Nothing against the shapers.. but you can learn to shape alot easier these days with all the videos and online info out there. Get a few blanks and a business license..maybe a website..and your in business. To start up a glasshop your talking a couple hundred grand to do it right..and years of struggling to get any recognition..if you even ever get that.

15.Tell us a bit about Lokbox, how it came to be, what it’s basic purpose is as an alternative fin system and where you see it’s future going. Lokbox is an adjustable ejectable fin system. 1/4″ adjustment for the fins..forward and back allows for quite a bit of fine tuning capabilities. Ejectable meaning the fins are designed to eject upon serious impacts to solid objects..meaning if your on a trip and you nail the reef..in alot of cases you just lose a fin instead of a fin AND a fin box or plug. If your traveling this could be the difference between a board that you can ride for the entire trip or some dead weight your lugging around. The system is designed to mimick (closely as possible)..the performance of glassed-on fins. I have re-desinged the box a few times since taking over the company from Fins Unlimited..and they have been changes for the better. We are stoked with how it’sworking out. You can read more about it at www.lokboxfins.com

16. Jim..anything else you would like to add. Yes. Surfing is the best life! Instead of trying to get a 20 dollar discount on your next board show up with a pizza or something for the guys. They rarely get thanked for their labor of love. Then watch how you get received next time you come to pick up a board!