hey everyone- is it possible to make a board that rides pretty well on your first shaping try? mark
hey everyone- is it possible to make a board that rides pretty well on > your first shaping try?>>> mark Mark I’ve just finished my tenth board yesterday so it wasn’t that long ago when I was in your position. My answer for you would be yes. With the blanks that we can get these days it’s pretty hard to shape a complete piece of crap. I would suggest templating a board you like, figure out the best blank to use and go for it. If you follow some basic procedures you’ll probably wind up with something that works. I’ve found the JC videos to be very helpfull. You may want to check one of those out first. The potential for fucking the thing up so bad that it is unrideable is really in the glass job (and the sanding). I’ve done mine myself and they’ve all come out decent, though I’ve definately made mistakes. The whole process is fun and I think it adds a whole new aspect to surfing. And even if the thing does come out a little jacked up you’ll still enjoy riding it because you put the effort into making it.
Well said Bo!
I agree, I’ve made a dozen or so boards now, and I still ride my first one here and there… there is nothing to beat paddling out and catching a wave on the first surfboard that YOU made yourself. Unless you rip like Kelly Slater, you won’t notice the little mistakes you make. Take your time and don’t be affraid to try. Remember, asthetics don’t affect the way your board rides. With the low tolerance blanks we use, you culd glass it straight from Clark and It would go! Have fun
hey everyone- is it possible to make a board that rides pretty well on > your first shaping try?>>> mark Mark, Its very possible that your first shape can ride good. I was very picky about my boards before shaping my own. During my first attempt at shaping (I was 35 yrs old), anything and everything that could go wrong, DID. I pinched the rail on the nose, so I had to whittle it down from 8’ to 7’8". The resin went off too fast while glassing it. I was almost ready to trash it, but finished it anyway. The shape turned out ok, only it was straight as a pancake, rocker wise. To make a long story short, I ended up riding that board exclusively for about a year. It rode quite well, and even others who rode it liked it. I kinda wish I had kept it now, just to look at my first effort. Like others have said here for first timers, do your homework, set up your shaping tools and stands right, and TAKE YOUR TIME. Good luck dude.
as everyone has said. you will make mistakes. im only shaping my second at the moment, and im fucking it up, but not that bad. and whatever goes wrong, its always fixable. my first board, a minimal, went a little pear shaped, mainly in glassing, coz resin went of to fast. my main tip would be, MIX THE RIGHT AMOUNTS OF CATALYST AND RESIN, coz i put far to much in and it makes it a real rush. anyway, have fun
Sure, I’m going on board #10 and I still ride # 1 most of the time… the advise I can offer is : 1. Absorb all you can through videos (JC 101 series) and internet sites like http://content.surfline.com/sw/content/mag/shapers/index.jsp 2. Know what it is you’re trying to achieve BEFORE you pick up a tool 3. If/when you make a mistake, keep cool and fix it the best you can 4. Mix your resin cold!!! One of the most common mistakes I hear about is the resin kicking too fast, remember uncatalized resin WILL eventually harden, so keep it cool. 5. Enjoy, there is nothing IMO more satisfying then catching your first wave on a board YOU made Hope this helps, and if not ASK HERE, this is the MOST USEFULL website I’ve ever found Aloha>>> hey everyone- is it possible to make a board that rides pretty well on > your first shaping try?>>> mark http://content.surfline.com/sw/content/mag/shapers/index.jsp
Mark I’ve just finished my tenth board yesterday so it wasn’t that long > ago when I was in your position. My answer for you would be yes. With the > blanks that we can get these days it’s pretty hard to shape a complete > piece of crap. I would suggest templating a board you like, figure out the > best blank to use and go for it. If you follow some basic procedures > you’ll probably wind up with something that works. I’ve found the JC > videos to be very helpfull. You may want to check one of those out first.>>> The potential for fucking the thing up so bad that it is unrideable is > really in the glass job (and the sanding). I’ve done mine myself and > they’ve all come out decent, though I’ve definately made mistakes.>>> The whole process is fun and I think it adds a whole new aspect to > surfing. And even if the thing does come out a little jacked up you’ll > still enjoy riding it because you put the effort into making it. If that were to be the case, a poorly riding board, why would any of us still be after the Holy Grail. We came, we saw, we conquered. I have had boards that I hated, but some of my best all time favorites were those boards. It seems at times, there are boards that want to see if you are man enough to ride the bucking bull. After enduring dug rails, pearls and spin outs, a day comes when the board has decided you are ready to ride me. Just bend me over and do me hard, I’m your bitch and I’ve got your back. Ride me hard and put me away wet!