Rod Dahlberg remains one of Australia’s best shapers, and was the shaper behind Occy’s dominant years and world title.

Originally from New Zealand, as a young teenager, Rod saw a lot of older surfers heading over to Australia for the winter, usually to warmer Queensland. Rod first travelled to Australia in 1972 when he was 19 years old, on a road trip from Noosa to Angourie over the space of several months. 

Now, Rod calls Australia home.

Rod shaped Occy’s board for a competition in 1997, and Kelly Slater is noted to have said that this surfing was the best he had ever seen up until this point, which gave Rod and his boards immense credibility, validating his shapes and putting his logo on the global stage.