Ryan speaks his mind and puts it out there.

Ryan Lovelace from Santa Barbara who was at this years Fish Fry has just posted the following comments. I must say that I support him all the way. Hand shaping a board from scratch is an art that is rear these days. Finishing a CNC shaped board is a skill for sure , but light years apart and to say you hand shape boards and you don't is not on.

It seems trivial to a lot of people, and to others it's a pretty hot topic; but either way, the term hand shaped is being bastardized pretty hard at the moment. The following isn't a rant, just a humble observation on some wordage and some pretty blatant lies being told.

The term hand shaped, for years, has referred to a board that was whittled down by a planer, sandpaper and whatever other hand-held tools the shaper liked; chunks of foam flying, tight lines and experienced eyes laying down the cuts that make up our favorite boards. Not a CNC shaped board, that was then 'hand finished'. Finished and shaped are two very, very different words.

There seems to be a rash of shapers marketing "Hand Shapes" that when you do a little looking into, are most definitely not hand shaped. I'm not sure what the thought process is behind calling a machine shaped board anything else, but taking some router bumps down with a sanding block doesn't warrant the use of the term hand shaped. I'm sorry, but customers are being lied to daily and thousands of people are walking around with CNC shaped boards sporting the term hand shaped.

Let me digress for a second.

Machine shaped boards are fine, they surf, and they look nice like any other surfboard, they get glassed and have pretty colors.

What it comes down to though, for me, is creating a belief around your product through marketing and the terms that are used, and then selling something else. Thats telling a lie, just like our mommy's told us not to. I don't frown upon machine shaped boards too heavily, just the lack of distinction and honesty behind them.

Heck. If I was making machine shaped boards, I'd market THAT; they are flawless, perfect copies of each other and you have a very very narrow margin for mistake, that's got some value. My feathers start to get ruffled though, when every few weeks I learn exactly whose boards are machine shaped and marketed as hand shaped. When you're being dishonest and toting a term thats not applicable, in order to make a product more 'classic' and warrant a higher price tag, the truth usually comes out.

I'm guessing that most people reading this at the moment are thinking shortboards, hp longboards, etc. as the products I'm speaking of. When what I'm talking about are full on 'retro' 'classic' or 'alternative' boards. The ones all over the blogs and websites that you're cruising through today, by big, popular shapers, by the most 'soulful' shapers. I know people who have sold their entire quivers once they figured out the truth about their "hand shaped" boards. Making one or two honest hand shapes per week (I'm giving you guys the benefit of the doubt on that one), and 20 machine shapes, doesn't deserve the term 'hand shaped' for all of your boards...It's a blatant lie and to me just shows lack of respect for your customers.

Machine shaped boards have a place in the industry and honestly are likely the only way to keep board prices under $1,000 in the coming future. The demand for boards is just too large and honestly not everyone wants to spend more money on a hand shaped board. There are people out there though, doing justice to the term and being supported by people who care. I'd just like the lines to stop being blurred, and for everyone to be proud of what their product honestly is, even if it's machined...Just own it.

There's a laundry list of guys who fall under the pointed comments above, and your heart would likely break if I named them and you cared much for the debate.

I'm not trying to out anyone in particular. I haven't written this directly at one person or another, these are thoughts and bits of conversations I've been having for the past couple of years.

I'm pleading for some honesty from my fellow shapers that are, in their quest for their place in an honorable craft, dishonoring one of the last real traditions within it.

Pass this on if you feel like it, I hope the message is clear and not misread.

Fish Fry 2012

The Fish Fry next year will be as always the first weekend of March. If you were at this years Fish Fry you will have noticed a changing of the guard if you like . Not only fishes but other boards on display as well. This was a first but also if you like a natural progression and evolution for this group of like minded people. I have tried to explain it as follows...

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 , and I think it is great.

So please if you are one of the many people out there that is having a go at shaping your own boards , bring them along. There is no better feeling than surfing something you shaped yourself.

The dual fin Bolt by Tomo

This looks like a fish to me...

More like a gun here...

This is from Daniel Thomson's blog...
" I have been privileged with the opportunity to shape some concept guns for Lightning Bolt Surfboards. The legendary brand has stepped up to the plate and ordered some of my new Dual Fin Guns as a part of their revival push in the U.S

The Bolt once ruled the big wave domain in Hawaii in the late 70's and Early 80's. This era saw the peak of the world class surfer/shaper's Gerry Lopez, Mark Richards, Rory Russel to name a few, refining their own sleds to tackle the gnarliest waves in the world. I have always loved the foil templates of this era. Bullet noses with clean accelerating curves. Full Fluid Accelerators !!

It was my goal to try to re-produce this proven curve with all the modern design elements. Basically, I shaped a modern version of a 7'6 and 8'0 Lightning Bolt Pin Tail, proceeded to saw approx 6-8" off the tail before cutting in my (mini) Raptor V1 & V2 tails for low drag control.

I figured losing the pin tails adding the Raptors would open up the turning radius (tighter Arcs) reduce drag (speed increase) and balance it out with a naturally controlled, Parallel Dual-Keel fin setting to provide a stable, predictable ride.

Think of it as a ‘Double single fin’ with heel/toe control rather than a ‘twin-fin’ .

Furthermore, i feel there will be no loss of paddle power as the now wider pod area will lift the tail into waves resulting in a smaller more efficient big wave package.

I decided that the high velocity ‘Tomohawk Keels’ were apt for these designs to combat the extreme laminar pressures apparent in big wave surfing. The leading edge of the fins will efficiently cut through the water with effective rail to rail pitch. Once the board is on rail, the clean parallel rail outline will engage, the hatchet fin will flex and load accelerating the rider through the turn. I have experienced no cavitation as a result of using the particular angular fins,

Whether or not this is a breakthrough in big wave performance will remain to be seen.

But logic suggests, two is better than one, faster than three and four and all the performance boxes are ticked and circled. Cant wait to launch over a few ledges this Coming Winter.

*Special thanks to Moonlight Glassing for the pro glass jobs."

The big fish are out there

HELLO, from Skip - Sea Movies from www.KORDUROY.tv on Vimeo.

Fish and Simmons from Chus in North Western Spain

Mini Simmons Quad 5' 5" x 22" x 3"

The big Simmons 7' x 22" x 2 3/4"

Mini Simmons 5' 6" x 22 1/2" x 3"

6' x 22" x 3" keel fin fish

The big fish - 7' x 22" x 3" quad fin fish

5' 6" x 22 1/2" x 3" Mini Simmons

5' 4" x 20" x 2 5/8" Mini Simmons

It is great to once again see a range of boards from Chus in Spain. He has a nice mix of influences in his range of boards . He has mixed them up nicely and created some interesting boards.

Check him out at : www.chusmasurfboards.blogspot.com

A story to share , that has touched us all.

Some Indo Simmons action

The "Tiki" Simmons

5ft x 24" x 2 3/4" Bamboo Quad

Nice little board by Keith "Tiki" Nevelee...

" I personally prefer quads for wide tail boards both short and long and after making twin fins for the first two simmon's I made, the quads seem to go better with more drive with the wider tails."

The Sandia Fish from Almond

Sandia Fish from Almond Surfboards on Vimeo.

The Dim Sim

Mark Pridmore and his latest Dim Sim

Fabric inlay

Mark hales from the Sunshine Coast - www.moresurfboards.com

Wooden Board Day this weekend

Click on the poster for a bigger view

This weekend is the wooden board day at the Currumbin Alley. I hope you can make it. Sounds like we have some interesting people with a great deal of talent planing on being there. It will be a great opportunity to meet other board builders / shapers and see what they are up to. Or if you are interested in starting a project you couldn't be amongst a greater talent pool. So if you have built a board or would like to, come and join in the spirit of the day. Bring your board , your picnic lunch and have a surf. Low tide first up , some nice banks at the moment.

Don't forget if you are in town Saturday night head over to the Gold Coast Surf Museum and hear from 3 greatly talented speakers on wooden board building.
6.30pm at Surf World Museum
Tomewin Street opposite The Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary.

If you have any questions contact me - grantnewby@bigpond.com

The 2012 model

Here is the new "Trash Can Simmons" from Adrian Knott at Rake

" Full art inlay black laps - black pigment deck, stringerless arctail - refined shape for 2012"

" This is a 5'0 x 21.5 x 2 3/8 "

" Laminated by sean nettleton - art & shaped by Ado Knott "

Word is - " this new board goes sick. "

www.rakesurfboards.blogspot.com

Off to Bali on Saturday

Johnny T , a happy camper with his new simmons. On the plane to Bali Saturday for 3 weeks.

5ft 4" x 22 1/2" x 3" - nice gloss job by Peter Mo.

Futures Rasta keels seem to be the goods.

Check out Johns blog : papanuisays.blogspot.com

David's winter project.

The Annual Alley Fish Fry has attracted the interest of many innovative shapers in the past. And a growing number of home / backyard inspired shapers as well. It is great to see and great for the whole surfing community to have guys have a go at it themselves and realise what goes into building a board. To appreciate what so many have taken for granted for so long. Anyway here is David Chung's first shape with "Chunky" - 5ft 2" x 22" x 2.75" - looks the goods to me.

" I just wanted to share my latest project with you. I've been obessed with the Mini Simmons for a long time and always thought it's simple shape would be perfect for a garage shaper's first attempt at mowing foam. I had so much fun using new tools to shape the board and it was totally satisfying experience."

" Chunky (it still has a lot of foam left in the nose and tail) had our maiden voyage this morning in shoulder high waves. Despite my nervousness she handled the bottoms turns and loved the high line. Chunky has a substantial tail (14.5") so the real test is whether I can turn her back into the foam. "

" Thanks again for inspiring us to have a crack at shaping our own water sleds with your blog. Nothing beats riding something you've spent hours making yourself "
Dave.

One mans storm surf is another mans curse.

Snapper Saturday morning
(pic from Coastal Watch)

The recent storm that hit the south and east of Australia creating some great waves over the weekend for us. Has continued on to New Zealand dumping snow down to 300m. This is Christchurch this morning 25th August. Pics from Dave Foulds a Christchurch local and a Dick Van fish man.

" The quiver having a shiver "