10/15/2026
Matt Kechele has been part of surfing’s story for decades, long before aerials became such a big part of the sport.
Growing up in Cocoa Beach, Florida, Matt started shaping surfboards at just 13. He was always looking to do things differently in the water, taking inspiration from skateboarding and bringing that approach into his surfing.
In 1981, at just 18 years old, he won the Stubbies Pro at Sebastian Inlet with a performance that included two aerials on a single wave. Back then, that kind of surfing was still unusual in competition, but Matt was already showing what might be possible.
He also proved he could compete with the biggest names in the sport. In 1986, he defeated reigning world champion Tom Curren at the Record Bar Pro in North Carolina, a notable result in his competitive career. He later won the 1992 ASP East Championship and took on some of Hawaii’s most challenging waves, including Pipeline and Sunset Beach.
Matt is also closely connected to Kelly Slater’s early years. He shaped boards for the young Kelly and helped guide him as he developed as a surfer. Kelly went on to become an 11-time world champion, but his early days in Cocoa Beach were an important part of that journey.
Through the years, Matt has continued shaping boards and developing his own surfboard business. His contribution to surfing goes beyond his results in the water. He was part of a generation that started pushing surfing in new directions, and he helped a future world champion find his feet along the way.
Sources: East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame, Surf Station and the Encyclopedia of Surfing.
