Surfboard Shapers

first of all, it depends on how you quantify "surfs well"...

If he can't catch a wave to avoid a shark, then move on. If he doesn't boost airs, but has a good rapport with several riders who do, then that might make up for his lack of ability. Talk to some of his long time customers.

 

Hands-on experience building/testing/getting feedback/making refinements would seem like part of the learning curve.

So the lousy surfing shaper is probably at a disadvantage compared to a shaper who is capable of shaping a (lets say) 6'8" pintail and actually paddling out in 8 foot surf and seeing how a new template or fin cluster works and then making adjustments on the next few.

But, If the shaper is a mediocre surfer, but has put hundreds of boards under the feet of talented "team riders" or local surfers, then that would probably go a long way to replacing them actually being able to ride high performance boards themselves to make assessments. They're getting feedback one way or another.

Also, dont rush to judgement. There is a local shaper near me who has made thousands of boards, but has been debilated by hip issues for a few years now. If you saw him under certain circumstances (or on certains boards) you would say he doesnt surf well, and yet he is an amazing shaper of all types of boards, many of which he currently cannot ride well.

 

I think there are three things that make a great board builder... Knowledge of the relevant scientific theories as they relate to the hydrodynamics of boards and waves, using feedback to modify design, and being talented at translating both theory and feedback into a well built board of proper design and construction. I'm intentionally leaving the business of selling boards out of this equation.

So... If you're not surfing at an advanced level, you need to rely on others' feedback to inform your modifications. Whether he/she has that will probably determine whether or not he's a good shaper, or a great shaper.

The other thing to keep in mind is... how good are you? Are you surfing at a level that will even be able to discern the difference in 1/16" or 1/32" in the depth of a concave or the tuck of a rail edge?

 

Roy surfs like a kook, but makes THE BEST Boards!

 

If you cannot pick up chicks, you cannot be a whoremaster.

 

What LBCrew said.

To expand on the selling aspect a bit, a great salesmen can sell ice to an eskimo, or dogsh*t surfboards to surfers who don't know better. It makes me think of a dinged/cracked board someone posted on here a couple weeks back. I'm sure from 5 feet away the board looked great with all it's fancy carbon fibre cloth, but it looked like the board split rather easily right on the lapline. It almost looked like the cloth was sanded through and hot coated. I bet the dude paid like $600 for it at least. Yikes!

Anywho, when in doubt, go with someone with a solid reputation. Do they need to surf well to build a decent surf board? I have no idea. TBH I've never seen my favorite local shapers surf....

 

Come down to South Jersey and visit Brian Wynn. Everybody and their brother claims to make boards these days. Brian is the real deal. There really aren't many operations like his to be found anywhere in this state.

I say that as someone who knows a fair bit about making boards.

 

Oh yeah?? Come up to NH and meet Alexander Matulawitz. He will show you a thing or two....

 

Was Bob Simmons a good surfer?
Was D!ck Brewer a good surfer?
Were Geoff McCoy, Rusty Preisendorfer and Al Merrick good surfers?

Conversely, are Gerry Lopez and Joel Tudor good shapers?

Just not one of those black & white situations that can be easily labeled or pigeonholed. Due diligence, do your homework.

 

Pretty sure I own one of those thousands of boards!
I saw him out in the lineup a fall or two ago, on a big day at TPTSNBN, he was doing fine, maybe not up to bennysgohome's standards...

 

Are the machines in China that make pop out boards good surfers?

 

You think it's funny now? Just wait until the Olympics when all those Chinese popout machines start winning the gold while shredding it up on Kelly's machine wave.

 

Pretty soon China will claim proprietary rights to the name "Surf City" for Shanghai, and Jerry Brown will let it go for 100 copies of Mao Tse Tungs Little Red Book for all of his state reps.....

 

I was talking to Scott Busbey about Chinese boards once and he said they are actually hand shaped, that they are more interested in employing more people (albeit at next-to-nothing wages).

 

Bwahaahaaa, "Moonbeam" is such a moron !!!

Then again, he was boning Linda Ronstadt when she was in her prime, so maybe there's a little bit of envy there.

I talked to this guy once, mad respect. That's interesting that he's got the 411 on that.

Is there already a thread on Chinese Pop-out's? I'd like to hear the opinions of some of our most trusted Swellies on this issue.

 

They're probably different types of shapers:

-shi11y ones
-solid ones that rip
-casual surfers that understand water displacement & hydrodynamics
-shi11y surfers that have the above stated

And more...I think the betters ones though are the ones that can show you some of their previous work, listen to you about what you have and how you currently surf it, and then listen to what you want to progress to.....and then they make that for you

 

Agreed. A shaper that is knowledgable in all fields of surf riding and is a very good surfer himself, that knows the local waves and listens to your need in design and how you need a board to perform is key.
There is such a big difference in the performance of boards for the coasts they are made for and the surfers who ride them. I will always ride custom and use the same shaper, I just wish I could give him more business than I do. He has done me solid over the years and hopefully years to go.
Shoutout to ya B!... Don't go comercial on me!

 

^

Yup

Wave knowledge key