An ocean surfer at heart who found himself landlocked in Colorado, Dan Setzke saw the potential for river surfing to become a valid recreational pursuit. After his first successful river surf session in 2014, and upon meeting and collaborating with local river wave builders to partner up and also learn the craft of surfboard building he projected that there would be a burgeoning community that demands locally made handbuilt river surfboards.

In 2014 Dan launched Colorado Surf Supply and knowing how river surfing can and would be perceived by the established surf culture he was guided by the mission to maintain principals of Authenticity to the craft and culture while focusing on the riders desire for Uniqueness in what they are riding so that they can express their Individuality. 

Mission:

• Authenticity – Be true to yourself and others. A surfboard represents an opportunity to connect with someone who has a similar interest, and background. It is an opportunity to open up a conversation and talk about experiences good or bad that you have had throughout your life. If you put your blood, sweat and tears into crafting something that brings joy and puts a smile on someone’s face I feel the connection is much stronger that if you by a board from a nameless, faceless overseas manufacturer using who knows what materials. Building from hand gives me control over the process, and materials I use. The community that has emerged has allowed me to learn, grow and experiment. For that I am grateful. “Surf” and “Surfing” are not just marketing terms to put on a shirt or hat, and local surfboards are at the core of it all. Be Authentic.
• Uniqueness and Individuality – The period of surfing history where I came from every board was different. You went into a shop and looked through the racks and racks of boards and found something that spoke to you. There weren’t even models, or “colorways”, online ordering, or mass manufacturing processes. They all were built by hand and were unique. My goal from the beginning was to offer boards that fit the needs and personality of the rider. I have been able to go down some interesting and unexpected paths in board shapes and design. With the support of the community and riders I have been able to experiment with different epoxy pigment, and spray paint art methods and designs. Be unique and express your individuality.

In 2024 Veronica Setzke joined Colorado Surf Supply to market and sell upcycled surfboard epoxy earrings. During the manufacturing process there are many steps that include batches of epoxy. Even if you are conscious about how much epoxy you are mixing in your batch you always end up with some excess at the bottom of the cup. Epoxy has a limited cure time, and you are racing the clock to get the step done before the epoxy “kicks”. Dan realized that if you work efficiently, and finish the step you have a couple minutes to quickly pour the excess into earring molds. It isn’t a ton of material, but keeping every little bit of epoxy out of the landfill helps. The earrings are all unique and different. The are lightweight, stylish, and Veronica had coworkers, friends, and random people commenting and asking about them, and where they could get a pair every time she wore them out. Check them out in the Shop.

We are stoked on surfing and the future!