GRIFFIN NEUMANN-KYLE // griffin joined the almond crew back in october of 2008 with one purpose in mind: to shape surfboards. There is a constant struggle between dave and griffin in terms of form versus function, but that has lent itself well to the boards that they have created together. you'd be hard-pressed to find someone more dedicated to hand-shaping than griffin. you'll typically find griffin in his shaping bay 7 days a week, with regular afternoon breaks for surfing, orange chicken and electric guitar. he's a guy who knows what he loves, and he sticks to it.
DAVE ALLEE // dave is the founder of almond and the lead visionary behind the brand. dave has handed the planer off to griffin, but hasn’t strayed too far from his roots as a backyard shaper and dreamer. you can find dave running the shop, working on wooden surfboards in his garage, doodling in a notebook, talking on his cellphone or paddling out at blackies if he gets lucky...
CAM ODEN // cameron started his photography career at a young age. he even finished high school early to pursue his passion. his eye for photography, film, design, & board design is impeccable. cam originally came in to help with photography, but his skills have poured over into a variety of other areas. you can find cam hiding out with a tripod and a camera on the beach, (often hidden behind a bush or rock) or you can find oden testing out his unique quiver of small, wide-tailed surfboards.
GULLY // gully started making wooden fins for his cousin, dave, when he was just 12. now gully is 16, and he’s got quite a bit of experience foiling fins and making handplanes. gully is a perfectionist when it comes to his craft, and it shows in the work he does. you can find gully in his garage in costa mesa foiling fish keels and d-fins; but not until he finishes his homework.
JEFFREY ALLEE // jeffrey is dave's younger brother, and the shop manager at almond. jeffrey is commonly regarded as one of the more approachable surf shop managers that you'll run across. he's a big Mexican food fan, so a burrito might help you get a deal when it comes time to order a board, but no promises.
SAYAMA // Mr. Sayama has been making wetsuits in Japan for 40 years. The quality of the materials and the construction of the suit is unlike any we've ever worn. In collaboration with Sayama, we have designed a 3mm full suit (think 4/3 warmth), a women's suit, a zipperless 3mm, a lohn john, and a front-zip jacket. They are all available for custom-order, and we stock a small selection in our retail store. Almond Wetsuits are available to order in Japan through Tomohiro Soeda.
