DEL Custom Surfboards was founded in New Plymouth in 1965. Nigel Dwyer, an ex Cronulla surfer and entrepreneur, originally came to New Zealand in search of good waves and cheap ice cream. Fifty years on, Dwyer (with righthand man Robert Walsh, who has shaped for DEL since the early-'70s,) continues to manufacture the finest handcrafted boards available.

Walshy, with his vast knowledge gained surfing and shaping all manner of boards from the early-'60s to the present day, is arguably New Zealand's finest all around shaper. This type of expert craftsmanship and finishing can only come from the knowledge gained as the longest-standing board manufacturer in the country.