A Seasoned Surf Traveler’s Go-To Quiver For World Exploration

When it comes to no-frills, full-on hustle, few surfers have a resume like Kepa Acero. His passport gets used like Post-it notes. Over the past two decades, the 46-year-old Basque goofyfooter has traveled to far-flung corners of the globe, often by himself, to find new and enjoyable waves. 

He’s scoured the coastline of West Africa, tucked under slabs in Alaska and frozen his butt off in glacier melt in Antarctica. He won’t blow you away with technical ability or sheer bravado, but his enthusiasm, humility, and affinity for the ocean make for an engaging figure. Imagine the fireside stories this guy has.

Here, France-based surf apparel brand Oxbow caught up with Kepa to see what boards are occupying his quiver today. All six of Kepa’s boards are made in the Spanish Basque Country at the Pukas headquarters. His roster reflects his open-mindedness: a retro twin fin, a high-performance thruster, a solid barrel board and a beefier midlength. 

The boards are cool, but Kepa's genial nature keeps it light and casual. Bonus features include Kepa explaining the importance of footwork, pontificating on getting older, why he likes a longer board, and, if he were forced to choose, which of these boards would he ride for the rest of his life.