Cordell Miller

For Cordell Miller, shaping surfboards is a labor of love.

The 30-year-old Newport Beach native, who runs Cordell Surfboards

with partner Dave Nielsen, started surfing when he was 9. He parlayed

his love of the sport into a Costa Mesa business venture that enables

him to stay true to his surfing roots.

This spring, Miller visited Newport Harbor High School to share

his work with students in a surfing class. He said he wanted them to

know it was possible to let your career evolve from your passion.

“It’s nice to be around kids and give them hope,” Miller said. “If

you do what you love, it’s easier to get through the day.”

Miller started shaping boards when he was about 17 and considers it an artistic, as well as physical, endeavor.

“There’s not just a fashion, but a function as well,” Miller said.

“[Surfboards] have to look good, as well as perform.”

And he still finds time to surf every day, sometimes two to three

times if the waves are good.

“Surfing’s one of those things that once you start, you don’t ever

want to stop,” Miller said.

Nielsen said it’s rare for a shaper of Miller’s caliber to remain

an active surfer.

“In the surfing world, most of the top shapers are not top

surfers,” Nielsen said. “Cordell’s as good at surfing as he is at

shaping. He’s in the upper echelon of both.”

Miller started the business, which sells the surfboards he shapes,

with Nielsen about six years ago. The two are planning to expand into

clothing that captures the surfing spirit and appeals to all

generations “from groms to grown-ups.”

In addition to spending time with the next generation of surfers

in high school, Miller also reaches out to kids on the beach, Nielsen

said.

“He has given a lot of stuff to kids who are less fortunate,”

Nielsen said. “I’ve seen him giving away boards to kids. And he’ll

show them about shaping.”

Miller said he would like to do more community outreach with

students.

“It’s fun,” he said. “It makes me think about going back to school

again, but only for the fun stuff.”

-- Story by Deirdre Newman;

photo by Sean Hiller