what’s up guys,
i live about an hour from the manasquan inlet in Jersey. I’m a first time shaper and would love to know how you guys got involved in the industries. i want to eventually shape my first board within the next year and tips from everyone can help. thanks so much
Welcome.
You can archive just about anything involving shaping here…at least 4xs…lol.
I wish you much success on your first venture into shaping.
I wish I had it this good when I started out…but then I wouldn’t be me… then…would I ?
Good Luck !
Herb
Welcome,
The craftsmen on this site are second to none and can help you with everything, and if you need some hands on you can come by my place, I live in Wall NJ about 10 minutes from Manasquan.
Tom
welcome and welcome to hours of reading and re-reading and indecisions about what to shape for yourself for your first board. This shit aint rocket science and if it floats you can surf it.
There are some in the industry who’ll have you believe they learnt this craft from a guru on a mountain top in Nepal and carry that air of superiority about them. But they started just like you with a wish to build their own boards.Remember its suppossed to be fun.
One piece of advice if I may.
I have read many first time post of “this is my first board” which is usually followed by " I’m not the worlds best surfer" which leads on to " But I want to shape my self a Triple flyer six channel forward spiral vee with down rails and a 5" swallow tail."
What I’m getting at is keep it simple, make your first board enjoyable and you will build many more, make it too difficult and you will be hating life.
Good luck
Daren
Welcome! I’m sure you’ll find many helpful people on here but just do your best to check the archives before asking a question. Good luck!
I liked making things, I liked surfing, I wanted to make a board. So like you I set out to learn, looked up what I could (precious little at the time) dug around a bit for any of scaps of info I could find or get out of people and asked a lot of dumb questions.
Had a shot at making a few boards then eventually started asking some of the right questions.
The more specific the questions the more specific the anwers. Don’t rush it, it will all come with time and patients, just try to learn something new everyday.
Have fun doing it as an educational excercise but don’t be too precious with your intial attepmts, just try to improve each one.
Don’t let anyone tell you the sort of boards you should be shapping, shape for yourself, shape what you want to ride.
Welcome and enjoy.
I fell into the industry. Shaped my first board at 16 and was hooked. surfing and shaping was all I ever wanted to do, before I ever thought about work. I got my first job in the industry with Feral Dave (a regular on this site) fixing dings. I always asked him if I could shape for him but to no avail. Then one day In the surf I was told that Brothers Neison (may they rest in peace) needed a goast shaper. I went in the next day and bingo, I was a shaper. I worked my guts out shaping for 10 to 12 hours a day finishing boards for Paul Ward. I ended up doing %75 of all his work and signing his name. One year later I moved out and started YORKY Hand shapes.
But really, it is a shit of an industry sometimes. I’d love to shape only for fun, so dig in, the personal reward are awesome.
As the boys said, this site is a special place.
Enjoy and welcome.