It all started with the fish when the innovative shapers and board builders out there decided to revisit the past for some inspiration. In doing so they brought back some lost skills such as resin tints and hand foiled fins.The Fish Fry has been a place for these fine craftsmen to showcase their skills. We have seen some amazing boards as shapers have pushed the boundaries over the last few years. As this new look at the fish has evolved to its many forms, it has influenced other shapes and designs along the way.This has spawned a renewed interest in other board forms by this same group and a wider following.Notably the Mini Simmons, Hulls, old school Logs and Pigs. It is pleasing to note that there are an increasing number of people building their own boards as well.All of this is to be applauded and celebrated as a positive for surfing.So it is only natural that these shapers and board builders continue to share their skills with us and include these other shapes at the Fish Fry.It has truly become a melting pot of ideas for like minded people.

Now this is a quiver ...

" Big " Steve Schirmacher just sent me this shot of his Rich Pavel quiver. Impressive by any standards.

" This is almost all of my Pavels minus two or three. The fourth board from the right is honestly, the best twin fin board i've ever ridden in my life. Rich spent a whole day making the template for it and this board was the result. I'm hoping the 7'5" will be just as good considering it was kind of a fluke that it ever came into existence. Rich is going to make me a 7'7" when he gets back. It will replicate the board (#5 from the right) only it will have a bonzer bottom like the (#2 board from the right) and he will also shape me a smaller version of the green fish Simmons tri. When he is out there, you definitely should have him shape one of the big fishies. They ride incredible! Actually, every board in this shot works insane!
So from R to L, 6'1" Keel hauler with Gephart fastback keels, 6'5" flexdialer with canard cutawy lok box, 6'9" Quad with a very neutral bottom (like a Keel) and Gephart quads, 7' magic long fish with Gephart straight back keels, 7'2" quad with Gephart fins and speed dialer bottom, 10'11" fish Simmons tri with john cherry fins, 11' big swallow tail single fin, and the original 10'11" fish Simmons quad with gephart fins."
Steve you are a lucky man.

Rich has been busy building more boards for Steve , big and small.

All hand shaped


I pick Rich up from the airport tomorrow morning and look forward to having him stay a while. He is keen to shape a few boards while he is here as well so if you are after a classic board like Steve , Rich is your man. There is no one here in Australia apart from Dick Van Straalen that shapes these sorts of boards on a regular basis as far as I know. And you certainly don't see them very often if they do. So a great opportunity to talk to Rich on the weekend and meet a very talented and interesting guy for sure.

Check out Steve's blog at : www.the-big-slide.blogspot.com
Posted by Big Fish
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1 comment:

KP's Round UP said...

Nice to know there is someone out there I can point to when somebody , namely my better half says, you have a problem with too many surfboards.

March 2, 2011 at 7:40 PM

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