Do it yourself...

 I met Blake Norrish at the Alley the other morning. He was heading out for a surf with his dad. Got talking to him about the board he had with him and it turned out he had built it himself.

 After the surf he was on the plane back to Melbourne again for the year. But he promised to send these pics here to share. So good to see guys having a go and doing it themselves. It is such a rewarding experience and the connection you then have with your surfing is very special. And I am sure it will not be your last.

  " I outlined the shape after drawing on the ideas of Bob Simmons, Ado from Rake and Tyler Warren's bars of soap but kept the nose pretty square just to experiment. Hull entry to flat to single between the fins. Hand foiled marine ply keels."

  " Prayer flag inlays on the bottom and a few laminates on the deck including an artwork by Michael Hsiung with alfoil beneath. The teeth are my crazy obsession, currently studying with a goal of becoming an orthodontist. Dimensions and a sexual innuendo on the stringer and she was done.

So far has performed well with a few sessions at Snapper, the Pass and the Alley.

The whole experience has been so great to learn all that is involved in making a surfboard and I feel I can only improve from my mistakes and am keen to get back in the shed and craft some more. Currently sussing out using a decent bay to create some more dust.

Cheers and all the best for the Fish Fry, I only wish Vic wasn't so far away! "