Tried my third home made board today. It is the first one that really performed as expected. My question is: Some of you guys have made a LOT of boards, do you still feel that excitement when you pull up at your favourite break with a new shape? Me, I couldn’t get in the water fast enough to see how my new creation would go. alex
…I can NEVER get it the water fast enough!It’s been this way from the beginning.Herb
Not for me either…its not the first ride though. Just puting it in the water and seeing that it floats is a buzz. But the first several strokes paddleing out is the true test. I can usually tell if it’s going to work by how it balances and paddles. Spring has sprung…what a bummer! Newbs
It is true, but one should be patient as to not get into a hurry to get the board done. I do a nice shape and then I screw up the glass job by rushing it. I am still learning patience…
MY 12 YEAR OLD, WHO ALREADY RIPS BY THE WAY, IS PICKING UP HIS 5’2" TODAY, IT’S BEING SANDED RIGHT NOW…THIS MORNING HE SAID HE DREAMED ABOUT IT ALL NIGHT!!!
It hasnt waned for me yet. Still get the butterflies waxing up a new stick, wondering if its gonna be so so, good, great. Yes, you can usually tell from paddling the board out if its gonna be a keeper or not. Waiting for a 7’0" egg to be finished glassed right now.
I always find myself putting my hands where my feet will go and trying to cop a feel by pushing my new boards through “turns” as I’m wading out.
I have a new 10’0 today. It’s pretty flat out there, but I’m going for a paddle anyway.
After 35 years of it and it’s still the same feeling. It’s almost like dating someone and anticipating how they’ll be in the sack when the time comes. Seriously though, From the time my personal boards leave the shaping room and get put in the “waiting room” I’m totally jonesin’! Luckily we have an unwritten law at the factory that shapers’ personal boards go to the front of the line, so it’s a 4 day wait. But it’s a lonnnnnnnnngggg 4 days and if there’s surf when it’s ready you’re STOKED!!! The best feeling in the world is a new board, so I try to get a new one every 4 weeks. So I guess I’m my own best customer! aloha, tw