Meet Abba Gray | Artist & Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with Abba Gray and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Abba, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
Being an artist has always been part of who I am. Throughout my childhood, my parents encouraged creativity from the start, there were always paints, scraps, tools, and random projects lying around. I loved working with my hands, bringing old things back to life, experimenting with new materials, and getting lost in the process. It always brings me joy seeing how something I made makes someone else light up. That feeling of pure stoke is what is at the core of my custom company. Creating is my way of spreading it and helping other people feel that same joy and energy in their own way.
In the fall of 2021, when COVID brought me back to Colorado from my life as a collegiate athlete in California, I suddenly had more free time and a lot of blank canvases. One of them was my plain white surfboard. I taught myself to repair it, and decided it would be the next project to paint. It was then I ordered my first batch of Posca paint pens and got to work. When I shared photos of the process and then the final product with friends or on social media, I was hit with a wave (no pun intended) of positive feedback. That encouragement sparked an idea: what if I could turn this passion into a business that helps others personalize their board through art? From there, I began experimenting with skateboard decks and other projects, always inspired by the surf culture I missed from California.
The name Biggest Stoke Customs came from a moment in a surf documentary that left a lasting impression on me. After catching the best wave of his life, a surfer came out of the water beaming and said, “Now that was the biggest stoke”. That pure sense of joy and fulfillment perfectly captured what I wanted my art to represent. Through Biggest Stoke Customs, my goal is to create that same feeling for others, helping them experience their own “biggest stoke” through custom, meaningful designs that celebrate their passion and individuality.
Later on, I was required to complete a summer internship for school but had no clear direction of where to start. During a conversation with my professor, I mentioned a far out curiosity I’d always had about the surfboard shaping industry. To my surprise she ended up knowing a friend of a friend she’d met at a wedding who happened to be a surfboard shaper. She immediately called her friend up, and by the end of that same day I was offered an internship with Adam Davenport, founder of Davenport Surfboards. He enthusiastically offered me one of the best opportunities of my life and the experience impacted me far beyond sanding, creating pigments for resin and cutting fiberglass cloth. For the first time, I felt aligned with something that not only fueled my passions but also had the potential to grow into a real career.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
At its core, Biggest Stoke Customs is about more than just art but about invoking stoke through creativity, connection, and imagination. I use art as a way to bring people together and breathe new life into things, turning them into something unique and meaningful. Much like a tattoo artist, I strive to ensure that each piece I create reflects the individuality and story of the person it’s made for, along with adding my personal twist. I’m known for my vivid colorways and surrealism. My goal is for every customer to feel seen and represented in their custom design, transforming their board into a true expression of who they are and what they love.

One of the things I’m most proud of is having the opportunity each year to participate in the Ritz-Carlton Christmas Surfboard Auction in Laguna Niguel, CA. The event benefits Surfers Healing, and this year marks my third time donating a board. I get so excited to create my end of the year “big bang” board, a one-of-a-kind design for someone I’ll likely never meet, knowing it will go on to bring joy to someone new. Having worked with Surfers Healing, I’m deeply passionate about supporting their mission and helping them continue to make an impact through surfing.

I never could’ve imagined being where I am today. Growing up in landlocked Colorado, I spent years daydreaming about the ocean and what it would be like to surf. Developing a passion for surfing and stepping into a world I didn’t grow up around was a huge leap. Moving away from everything familiar was scary, but staying curious and pushing myself beyond my comfort zone has always led me exactly where I’m meant to be. Looking back, teenage me would be so jealous that I now live just ten minutes from the beach and so proud that I turned that dream into reality.

What started as a curious project during COVID has grown into something I could’ve never planned. From an internship with Davenport Surfboards to now working with Hobie Surfboards and Shop while continuing to grow Biggest Stoke Customs, each step has led to the next and connected me with an incredible community within the surf industry.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that success often comes from connection, not just thinking about ideas, but talking about them and sharing them. You never know who someone might introduce you to or how a single conversation can change your path.

I want the world to know that imagination and creativity are endless. If you can think it, you can create it. Whether it’s a personal dream or a design to paint, Biggest Stoke Customs exists to keep the stoke alive, and to remind people that creativity has no limits.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
First off, I’d take them to Dana Point’s Saturday morning Farmers Market! We’d cruise through the local vendors, but of course I’d have to make my weekly stop at the best fruit stand ever. They always have the season’s freshest fruit I’ve ever tasted, and the crew running it are the nicest locals around. There’s always good music, fruit samples to try, and just the best vibes.

Next stop, Strands Beach. Whether we’re taking a walk around the the stair loop or planning to just soaking up the sun, a full beach day is a must whenever someone comes to visit. I’d definitely plan a few surf sessions at San O too, where I could introduce them to my favorite left breaking wave at 4-doors and all the van-lifers who surf like they’re walking on water. Afterward, we’d grab massive bagel sandwiches from Bagel Shack or a breakfast burrito from Dipity Donuts, guests choice.

No trip is complete without Sea Surf Poke nachos to-go. The perfect sunset snack while watching the sky paint itself over the lights of the Dana Point Harbor. I’d also take them down Del Mar Street in San Clemente to window shop, walk the pier, and stop into Hobie Surf Shop for some goodies and good vibes from the crew there.

Every day would be packed with fun, beach time, and a whole lot of saltwater. Pretty much a sneak peak in how I like to spend my life here on the coast.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My parents deserve a huge shoutout for always encouraging me and believing in whatever ventures I choose to take on. But I especially have to thank my older sister. Without her, I wouldn’t have taken many of the risks that got me to where I am today. She’s my biggest hype woman the one who can get me back on track with just a single phone call. I owe a lot to her and the way she holds me accountable; she’s a huge part of my story.