vissla films ·

'25 Creators Gathering: Above The Noise

Vissla Creators Gathering group standing in a grassy field at sunrise, each holding handmade surfboards with coastal mountains in the background. All of the creators and innovators from Vissla are wearing the new Creators Collection from Vissla.


Every winter, the Vissla family packs up the shaping bay, rounds up our crew of shapers, artists, and surfers, and hits the road for a week of creativity and connection. The annual Creators Gathering has become a cornerstone of what Vissla stands for: craft, collaboration, and a shared love for surfing and innovation.

Scenic coastal hills with a winding dirt road alongside a Vissla trailer set up on a ridge surrounded by surfboards during the Creators Gathering in Carpinteria, California
Collage of moments from the Vissla Creators Gathering, including surfboard shaping, hand-built boards, camping, and surfers exploring the hillside landscape.
Vissla Creators & Innovators team walking through a grassy meadow wearing the new Creators Collection from Vissla, while all holding unique surfboard shapes by Donald Brink


This year’s trip took the crew high into the coastal mountains above Carpinteria, California, just inland from the legendary Rincon Point. Perched on a sprawling outfitter ranch surrounded by oak groves and open skies, the week unfolded in a mix of shaping, glassing, surfing, and late-night storytelling around the fire.


a series of black and white film photos captured by Thomas Campbell of Vissla Owner, Paul Naude, shaping an agave surfboard on a mountaintop in Carpinteria, CA.
Derrick Disney, Jason Woodside, Nick Melanson, and Cliff Kapono captured inside the Vissla Shaping Trailer in the new Creators Collection, while Derrick shapes a board.
a collage of images showing the different phases and processes a surfboard goes through from start to finish at the Creators Gathering in Carpinteria, CA.
SF-based surfboard shaper Danny Hess, a Vissla Creator & Innovator, shown shaping one of his wooden surfboards on a hillside at the '25 Creators Gathering in the new Vissla Creators Collection.


The old wooden bunkhouse on the property became a makeshift glassing station, while the team rolled in the Vissla Shaping Bay, our converted vintage trailer, that has become the heart of the Creators Gathering. Inside, new boards were brought to life by some of the most creative minds in surfboard design, including Vissla’s roster of shapers and collaborators, alongside a few special guests.

a collage showing the many creations made at Vissla's Creators Gathering
Surfboard shaper Travis Reynolds pulling out one of his favorite longboards while wearing the new Creators Collection from Vissla
a collage of photos from Vissla's Creators Gathering that show the surrounding views from their hilltop in Carpinteria, CA.
a psychedelic film photo by Thomas Campbell of shaper and visionary Donald Brink with a collection of his alternative surfboards and craft


The trip was captured in Creators Gathering: Above The Noise, a new short film that documents the week on the ranch and the people who make Vissla what it is. It’s a look into the art of surfboard making, the friendships that fuel creativity, and the quiet moments found in between.

a film photo by thomas campbell of surfer and shaper Nick Melanson paddling a canoe in a pond in the hills above Rincon with his favorite surfboards floating around him at this years Creators Gathering by Vissla

Alongside the film, we're releasing the Creators Collection, a workwear-inspired range built for makers, doers, and anyone chasing creative pursuits. Durable, functional, and designed for life on and off the coast, it’s the gear that carried the crew through the week, and kept us warm well past sundown.

Surfer and shaper Alex Lopez admiring his favorite surfboards near a firepit on a grassy hilltop above Rincon wearing the new Creators Collection by Vissla
a collage of photos showing the scenery and fun moments at the Vissla Creators Gathering in Carpinteria, CA

As the winter season unfolds, new episodes and stories from the trip will drop every Friday, offering a deeper look into the shaping process, the surf sessions, and the people who keep pushing surf culture forward.

It’s all about tuning out the noise and getting back to what matters most.

Watch the film, explore the collection, and go create something.

a color tweaked photo of the Vissla Creators & Innovators team walking across a land bridge behind a pond carrying surfboards and walking in a line


Back to Blog