Randy
Aloha, my name is Randy Strunk. With my lifelong commitment to the San Diego surf community, I have created deep connections to its history, positioning me as a mentor to the San Diego surf culture. As surfer/waterman, I have a great reputation in California and in Hawaii for my aloha spirit, friendliness, and dedication to environmental causes.
PB Surf Shop was originally established in 1962, I took over as owner in 1993 after seeing the need to create a safe and satisfying opportunity for San Diegans and visitors to learn how to enjoy surfing. My background as an expert surfer became the basis for pioneering the how-to-surf curriculum and safety standards you experience at the shop.
Chad
I started surfing later than most, I was already an adult, and it was like starting a new life. The gratitude I have for surfing is so overwhelming that I can’t imagine my life without it. I surf every morning no matter how cold it is and the moment my feet hit the water the magic begins and anything undesirable slips away. There is no better place to watch the sunrise than from the ocean. I am complete because of it; it’s my higher power and surfing is how I pray.
Some fun facts about me are: I saw Jaws as a kid and it made me extremely afraid of being in the water, any body of water, until my parents enrolled me in SCUBA lessons. Diving and Jacques Cousteau documentaries solidified my love for the ocean. Now the only love that rivals it is my bulldog Swayze and my son Canyon.
Alicia
I grew up playing outside on the land and in the sea. We grew most of our food and handmade the majority of what we needed. Nature has always been my refuge and source of wonder. Through that, the ocean has become very maternal to me. She inspires, centers, consoles, and keeps me in my place!
I’ve surfed all over the world and find that smiling big in the line-up translates well in every language. The Stoke is one of the most blessed contagions out there and spreading it is such a joy! For me, surfing is soulful. It brings empowerment, perspective, wisdom, and lots of laughter! There is Nothing quite like it 🙂
I love teaching because I get to see that click, when people realize how much more they are capable of then they previously thought. It’s just so great!
Aura
I began getting in the ocean as a kid in the small waves of my home country Venezuela. In my early 20’s, I traveled to Panama and Puerto Rico, where I started falling in love with big wave surfing and barrel riding. I worked a non-profit doing environmental education in poor costal communities of Venezuela and teaching low resource kids about ecology through surfing. During that time, I worked hard, trained hard, and sold bathing suits to travel to higher quality waves every year.
That brought me around the world, surfing amazing waves, living and working with high level surf athletes in the Canary Islands, Mexico, Hawaii, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. It heightened my personal surfing, as well my abilities to teach surfing at different levels. I have been extremely blessed.
My love for surfing comes from the connection it brings to nature, water, and myself. It has brought me to amazing places, given me great friendships and keeps me healthy and stoked.
Robby
My father surfed the west coast from Imperial beach to Northern California and taught me to surf at a very young age I have loved it ever since my first wave! 41 years surf experience!
Ian
There’s a lot of reasons I love surfing, the zen you can find in an empty lineup, the adrenaline rush of a big wave or barrel, the community aspect of making friends in the lineup… Though I think my favorite thing about it is how it can provide an escape from anything negative that’s going on in life.
When you’re riding a wave, you literally can’t think about anything other than that wave. You’re living completely in the moment, you’re completely free.
I like teaching lessons because it’s fun watching how stoked people get after they ride their first wave. It’s also pretty rewarding watching people progress when they listen to your feedback and make adjustments to their technique.
A few fun facts about myself: I grew up in Boulder Colorado spending my winters snowboarding and summers skating. I’m an SDSU alumnus, go Aztecs! And I started surfing as a child in San Clemente, spending many weeks every summer at my grandparents’ house.
Tanner
I love surfing because of the health and joy I derive from it.
I love teaching surf lessons to people so I can pass along the stoke!
I’ve been surfing for 15 years and it’s the gift that keeps on giving. Everybody can have fun out there surfing because it feels like playing in the world’s biggest water park. Stay psyched and keep spreading the aloha! Yewww!
Angie
Surfing and ocean sports have always been a part of my life, and for that, I have an enormous appreciation for what the sea has given me. I’ve had opportunities to travel and explore out of my comfort zones, which has pushed my boundaries to become a better water-woman. There is so much more at play than just riding rad waves. -It’s a personal connection, a precious relationship I have with the water. Coming to understand what the ocean provides is another reason why I love surfing so much.
Teaching surf lessons have been such a cool experience for me because I get to share the surf students’ successes and triumphs! Sharing the stoke is heart-warming, so satisfying, and keeps me wanting to perform my best every day.
Don’t tell my boss, but I prefer to bodysurf 😉 I placed in The World Bodysurfing Championships four years in a row. I also starred in a fun documentary, called What The Sea Gives Me. It pays homage to a handful of people, all with different relationships to the ocean, and how we cherish our waters.
Our Photo Team
Colleen
Hi there! I am one of the photographers here at PB Surf Shop! If you don’t find me behind the camera, I am normally behind the counter inside the shop. I love being able to photograph action so I was so excited when I got to take my passion for photography and bring it to the beach. Getting to capture emotion as well as the action of surfing is so much fun! The best action shots are often “the fails” -they are always so much fun and almost always get the customers laughing.
A few fun facts about me are that I work for SDSU Athletics as one of their sports photographers!
I had surfed a couple times before starting at PB Surf Shop, but never was able to stand up on a board until getting my own lesson here.
I swam for San Jose State University for four years. Some of my best achievements come from my time there!
Max
Growing up in San Diego means surf culture has always been around me. My Father worked at a surf shop when he was younger and surfed up until his 50’s. My sister surfed and worked for PB surf shop at its old location when she was a teenager and all my uncles surfed back in the 1970’s and 80’s. Though I’ll admit, I didn’t really surf until this year, I have since fallen in love with it and go out as much as possible. Learning how to surf has been a great way to relieve stress in my life. It gives me an outlet. It also goes hand in hand with skateboarding, something I’ve been doing since I was a kid.
I hope to keep getting better and to travel the world to surf as many different breaks as possible.
Some fun facts about me are: I love to play music with my friends, shoot photos, attend concerts and shows, go skateboarding and cook new dishes with my awesome girlfriend.
