"Striving to uplift the craft of surfboard building"
Since ’85, Ferral founder, Anton Butler has poured his love for surfing and passion for old-school craftmanship into every board he makes. Each board is shaped by hand and built for those who live by the ocean’s rhythm.
Anton’s shaping journey kicked off back in 1985, learning the craft from South African surf legend Jonathan Paarman. Under Jonathan’s watchful eye, Anton soaked up the art of board-making and drew inspiration from local icons like John Whitmore. “I remember shaping my first longboard when the Oom (Whitmore himself) dropped in, giving me tips in the shaping bay – such a legendary moment.”
From there, Anton launched Lazy B Surfboards, a label that quickly made waves in the local scene, becoming one of Cape Town’s top surf brands. But ever the adventurer, Anton took a break to ride a different wave – three years as a semi-pro mountain biker – before returning to shaping with fresh energy. Now, blending tradition with tech, he’s mastered 3D design with Shape 3D, working with local shapers like DVG and Ross Lindsey.
Today, Anton pours his passion into Ferral, bringing back old-school craftsmanship and paying homage to the legends who came before. Join us, and rediscover the soul of board shaping, Cape Town style.