Shaping Influences

To all the shapers out there, I’m just curious to find out who taught you some shaping skills or influenced you in anyway. I learned the basics from this video produced by Desert Foam 11 yrs. ago featuring LA shaper Scott Anderson. I also was fortunate enough to have sat in on Cort Gion a few times…thanks Cort. I’ve always admired Ben Aipa’s creative and innovative shaping skills (swallow tail, stingers, bevel rails). It still takes me a long time to finish a shape (I’ve only shaped like 35 boards) but to me once you shape a board that works you’ll always ride your own shapes.

To all the shapers out there, I’m just curious to find out who taught you > some shaping skills or influenced you in anyway. I learned the basics from > this video produced by Desert Foam 11 yrs. ago featuring LA shaper Scott > Anderson. I also was fortunate enough to have sat in on Cort Gion a few > times…thanks Cort. I’ve always admired Ben Aipa’s creative and > innovative shaping skills (swallow tail, stingers, bevel rails). It still > takes me a long time to finish a shape (I’ve only shaped like 35 boards) > but to me once you shape a board that works you’ll always ride your own > shapes. I started shaping in my carport in Pearl City, Hawaii in 1961. I had 4 years in Hawaii to try to get the “feel” of riding my shapes there. In 1965 we moved to Dover, Del. and I set off to find that pot of gold, there were board builders up and down the east coast and my few years in Hawaii had given me an edge, a small one at that, over the local shapers. I found work everywhere and it all helped me hone my meager skills. The real pot of gold was meeting up with up with “Tinker”, Carl West a student of Velzy’s. This man could use a planer better than anyone I had ever seen, no surforms. He and Bill Bahne were partners in Challenger Surfboards, so by 1968 I was in California shaping for Bahne. Now 35 years later, I still help out Bill Bahne and have come full circle to being Velzy’s foam guru. It never happens overnight.

I started shaping in my carport in Pearl City, Hawaii in 1961. I had 4 > years in Hawaii to try to get the “feel” of riding my shapes > there. In 1965 we moved to Dover, Del. and I set off to find that pot of > gold, there were board builders up and down the east coast and my few > years in Hawaii had given me an edge, a small one at that, over the local > shapers. I found work everywhere and it all helped me hone my meager > skills. The real pot of gold was meeting up with up with > “Tinker”, Carl West a student of Velzy’s. This man could use a > planer better than anyone I had ever seen, no surforms. He and Bill Bahne > were partners in Challenger Surfboards, so by 1968 I was in California > shaping for Bahne. Now 35 years later, I still help out Bill Bahne and > have come full circle to being Velzy’s foam guru. It never happens > overnight. I was doing sloppy glassjobs in my moms garage in '71, ‘RUSTY’ was a surf shop clerk at PB surfshop and shaping also, so watching him and then watching Steve Walden in '86 when longboarding came up(9 footers in 45 minutes w/concaves, stinger wings, and chined rails, workhorse!!), then Dave Craig in IB (nicest shaper i ever met!)working in star glass(shithole!). then up the street to Stu Kensons garage where he’s glassing 12-15 Rustys and South Coasts. Bought a house, built a shaping room in backyard designed after Peter ‘PB’ Benjamin’s shaping room in OB, and its been me eversince. So glad I’m not doing it for a living it would get old real quick. Instead, I make what I want,when I want it, and enjoy the ‘art’ without the deadlines or production . Surfing comes first…

does “Surfhungry” have a name?

does “Surfhungry” have a name? YEA, BUT I’M GOING TO STAY ANONIMOUS JUST BECAUSE OF GENERAL PRIVACY, BUT IF I RUN INTO JIM PHILLIPS IN NORTH COUNTY I’LL INTRODUCE MYSELF BECAUSE I LIKE HIS GENEROUSITY ONLINE… ONE THING THAT IS DISAPPOINTING THOUGH IS AFTER YEARS OF MEETING MANY SHAPERS AT THE BEACHES, MANY HAVE A BURNT OUT/STRESSED/UNSTOKED ATTITUDE TOWARD GOING OUT SURFING, WITH THIS “ITS TOO CROWDED” CRAP, AND ARE FISHING OR SOMETHING ELSE! ALSO MANY CRITISIZE OTHERS SHAPES AND THAT TURNED ME OFF TO THIS BUSINESS. IT’S ALL GOOD! LONG,SHORT,THICK,THIN,1-5 FINS,BEAKNOSE,FLIPNOSE,OLD STYLE,PROGRESSIVE STYLE,…SURFING IS A LIFESTYLE…GET STOKED AND STAY PHYSICALLY FIT, ONE TUBERIDE CAN CHANGE YOUR HOLE ATTITUDE…LATER.

surfhungry great response, i completely respect that. so do you just shape for yourself and friends? being a true surfer/shaper, what is in your “quiver” and do you have a favorite? Tim

Surfhungry. Keep on surfing. I wish your great attitude about boards, openness and acceptance, could extend to the attitude of surfers themselves. Less chips on the shoulder and more smiles and generosity would make the water a better place. How hard is that? But no, we have a mainstream surf media that has no clue what true soul is an tons of moronic readers who are sheep. But I digress…This forum is about making and designing surfboards, no whining. Thanks surfhungry. Jim has been a saint on this forum. And many thanks to the rest of you (ryan, HERB, Tim, tom, DT and others) who have posting provocative questions and providing generous answers. Swaylock

These are the major influences in my shaping world.Rich Harbour,Rich Brewer,Jay Novac,Johnny Bragg,Rick McHale,Les Pronier,Ricky Mitchell,Joe Solder and a special thanks goes out to M.R. Ben Aipa for sharing his time with the Rainbow Bridge group,also a "quiet memory thank you " to Tom Goffe who died surfing at tunnels,we miss you tom.He was more than just an influence…he was a close childhood family friend.

surfhungry>>> great response, i completely respect that. so do you just shape for > yourself and friends? being a true surfer/shaper, what is in your > “quiver” and do you have a favorite?>>> Tim YEA, BASICALLY I SHAPE CONSTANTLY FOR MYSELF AND TWO SONS, PEOPLE I MEET WHO ARE COMPLIMENTORY OF MY SURFING USUALLY ORDER A CUSTOM BOARD FROM ME(I’LL DO IT IF THEY HAVE THE RIGHT ATTITUDE/STOKE/THE ABILITY LEVEL DOESN’T MATTER). I HAVE A COUPLE OF “MAGIC” BOARDS THAT ARE SO RELIABLE THAT NOW I JUST TRY TO REFINE THEM. I WORKED FOR 3 YEARS ON A BOARD THAT WOULD ALLOW A “RESPECTABLE” HANG TEN AND STILL WHIP A CUTBACK AND PUMP TURNS, NOW I GOT IT FROM A 10’1Y CLASSIC ITS A 10 FOOT NOSERIDER WITH UP RAILS IN THE TAIL. ALSO A 7’8" SQUASHTAIL FROM A 7’11R THAT PUMPS DOWN THE LINE SO WELL IN HOLLOW WAVES, EVERY BOARD I’VE MADE FROM A 7’11R HAS BEEN GOOD FUN(EVEN A 7’2"). A 9’9" ROUNDPIN I HAVE IS TRACED FROM A KEVIN CONNELLY TEMPLATE THAT TURNED OUT TO BE EPIC AND I’M SHAPING A THINNER ONE NOW FROM A 9’10H/GREEN BLANK CAUSE IT HAS PERFORMED MANY/ALL HOTDOG MANUEVERS WITHOUT STICKING A RAIL OR PEARLING WITH A LOW NOSE ROCKER(4"TAILROCKER IS KEY). ALL SIZES IN BETWEEN HAVEN’T MATCHED UP TO THESE THREE SO THEY ARE JUST RAFTER MONKEES RIGHT NOW. BY THE WAY, RIDING A NO-NAME BOARD IS NOT AS GLAMOUROUS AS A MULTI-LOGO’ED LOST/RUSTY/or $880. Joel Tudor BOARD BUT LIKE I SAID BEFORE, I GET IT WHEN I WANT IT/HOW I WANT IT/AS MANY AS I WANT (SORRY MAN I STILL GOT THAT EARLY 70’S ANTICONTEST THING GOING!!!) BYE NOW…

YEA, BASICALLY I SHAPE CONSTANTLY FOR MYSELF AND TWO SONS, PEOPLE I MEET > WHO ARE COMPLIMENTORY OF MY SURFING USUALLY ORDER A CUSTOM BOARD FROM > ME(I’LL DO IT IF THEY HAVE THE RIGHT ATTITUDE/STOKE/THE ABILITY LEVEL > DOESN’T MATTER). I HAVE A COUPLE OF “MAGIC” BOARDS THAT ARE SO > RELIABLE THAT NOW I JUST TRY TO REFINE THEM. I WORKED FOR 3 YEARS ON A > BOARD THAT WOULD ALLOW A “RESPECTABLE” HANG TEN AND STILL WHIP A > CUTBACK AND PUMP TURNS, NOW I GOT IT FROM A 10’1Y CLASSIC ITS A 10 FOOT > NOSERIDER WITH UP RAILS IN THE TAIL. ALSO A 7’8" SQUASHTAIL FROM A > 7’11R THAT PUMPS DOWN THE LINE SO WELL IN HOLLOW WAVES, EVERY BOARD I’VE > MADE FROM A 7’11R HAS BEEN GOOD FUN(EVEN A 7’2"). A 9’9" > ROUNDPIN I HAVE IS TRACED FROM A KEVIN CONNELLY TEMPLATE THAT TURNED OUT > TO BE EPIC AND I’M SHAPING A THINNER ONE NOW FROM A 9’10H/GREEN BLANK > CAUSE IT HAS PERFORMED MANY/ALL HOTDOG MANUEVERS WITHOUT STICKING A RAIL > OR PEARLING WITH A LOW NOSE ROCKER(4"TAILROCKER IS KEY). ALL SIZES IN > BETWEEN HAVEN’T MATCHED UP TO THESE THREE SO THEY ARE JUST RAFTER MONKEES > RIGHT NOW. BY THE WAY, RIDING A NO-NAME BOARD IS NOT AS GLAMOUROUS AS A > MULTI-LOGO’ED LOST/RUSTY/or $880. Joel Tudor BOARD BUT LIKE I SAID BEFORE, > I GET IT WHEN I WANT IT/HOW I WANT IT/AS MANY AS I WANT (SORRY MAN I STILL > GOT THAT EARLY 70’S ANTICONTEST THING GOING!!!) BYE NOW… SurfHungry, Thanks for the info. Sounds like you have the whole surfing thing wired. Do you glass your own boards as well? By the way, is their any other kind of hangten, than a “respectable” one? I am kidding of course. How much tail rocker do you like for your noserider (also 4"?) How do you feel about concaves and “v"s? Are the rails on the 10’ and 9’9” pretty soft throughout? How do you like working with the 10’1"Y blank? I hope to be able to shape boards the way I envision them one day…I think that may take some time though! I dig the no contest thing - I am not condemming them, just definitely not for me. Thanks again, Tim

I started shaping in my carport in Pearl City, Hawaii in 1961. I had 4 > years in Hawaii to try to get the “feel” of riding my shapes > there. In 1965 we moved to Dover, Del. and I set off to find that pot of > gold, there were board builders up and down the east coast and my few > years in Hawaii had given me an edge, a small one at that, over the local > shapers. I found work everywhere and it all helped me hone my meager > skills. The real pot of gold was meeting up with up with > “Tinker”, Carl West a student of Velzy’s. This man could use a > planer better than anyone I had ever seen, no surforms. He and Bill Bahne > were partners in Challenger Surfboards, so by 1968 I was in California > shaping for Bahne. Now 35 years later, I still help out Bill Bahne and > have come full circle to being Velzy’s foam guru. It never happens > overnight. Jim, I happen to live in Pearl City, hehe. What a coincidence eh? Right across the street from the Foodland Supermarket. It’s actually my moms house, but when she sold one of her cars, it opened up a space for me to put in my shaping room (thanks mom!). Jim, I’ve seen your other posts and really apppreciate you sharing your knowledge with us. Mahalo DT

SurfHungry,>>> Thanks for the info. Sounds like you have the whole surfing thing wired. > Do you glass your own boards as well? By the way, is their any other kind > of hangten, than a “respectable” one? I am kidding of course. > How much tail rocker do you like for your noserider (also 4"?) How do > you feel about concaves and “v"s? Are the rails on the 10’ and > 9’9” pretty soft throughout? How do you like working with the > 10’1"Y blank? I hope to be able to shape boards the way I envision > them one day…I think that may take some time though! I dig the no > contest thing - I am not condemming them, just definitely not for me.>>> Thanks again,>>> Tim GLASSING, YES I USED TO BUT IT REALLY ISNT WORTH THE TIME/COST COMPARED TO HAVING IT PROFESSIONALLY DONE. (HANGING TEN) I WANTED TO DO THEM FOR MORE THAN A NANO’SECOND, SO NEEDED GOOD BOARD COUNTERWEIGHT/BALANCE. YES 4+" TAILROCKER FROM 'UP’RAILED TAIL. 60/40 MIDS ON RAILS/NOSES WITH CONCAVE. 10’1Y IS GREAT AND SO IS THE 9’10H, WHICH THEY WERE SLIGHTLY THINNER THOUGH.

(HANGING TEN) I WANTED TO DO THEM FOR MORE THAN A NANO’SECOND, SO NEEDED GOOD BOARD COUNTERWEIGHT/BALANCE. YES 4+" TAILROCKER FROM 'UP’RAILED TAIL. 60/40 MIDS ON RAILS/NOSES WITH CONCAVE. 10’1Y IS GREAT AND SO IS THE 9’10H, WHICH THEY WERE SLIGHTLY THINNER SurfHungry I understand the 60/40 rails from mid to nose with a concave under the nose, even the 4+" tail rocker (by the way, what technique do you find best in carving the tail rocker in?) but why are the rails turned UP in the tail? Thanks, Tim

(HANGING TEN) I WANTED TO DO THEM FOR MORE THAN A NANO’SECOND, SO NEEDED > GOOD BOARD COUNTERWEIGHT/BALANCE. YES 4+" TAILROCKER FROM 'UP’RAILED > TAIL. 60/40 MIDS ON RAILS/NOSES WITH CONCAVE. 10’1Y IS GREAT AND SO IS THE > 9’10H, WHICH THEY WERE SLIGHTLY THINNER>>> SurfHungry I understand the 60/40 rails from mid to nose with a concave > under the nose, even the 4+" tail rocker (by the way, what technique > do you find best in carving the tail rocker in?) but why are the rails > turned UP in the tail? Thanks, Tim TO DIRECT THE WATER FLOW OVER THE TOP’SIDES OF THE TAIL TO HOLD THE TAIL IN WHILE NOSERIDING(TEN). THE FLIPPED UP TAIL 4+" TAIL ROCKER FOLLOWS THE WAVE CURL-LINE WHICH IS GOING UPWARD, YOU NEED SOMETHING TO HOLD THAT TAIL IN WHILE ALL YOUR WEIGHT IS ON THE TIP (I STILL OCCASIONALLY SLIDE OUT EVEN WITH A 10" FIN IF I STEP ON INSIDE RAIL TOO MUCH) NUUHIWA’S BING NOSERIDER IS LIKE THIS, HE LET ME CHECK IT OUT. THIS BOARD RIDES DROP KNEE STYLE ONLY THOUGH AND HIGH PERFORMANCE GUYS WONT RELATE UNTIL YOUR GETTING “TEN” IN THEIR FACE. CON “UGLY” IS PROBABLY THE ORIGINAL, NEVER SEE THEM AROUND THOUGH. IN ESSENCE THE TAIL IS UP(ROUNDED VEE TO DECK AND THE NOSE IS DOWN WITH TUCKED UNDER EDGE, MID AND TAIL NO TUCKED UNDER EDGE. WHY DO I THINK IT IS WORTH HAVING A BOARD LIKE THIS? THERE’S ONLY 1-4 GUYS AT ANY MAJOR LONGBOARD SPOT THAT CAN EVEN HANG TEN OUT OF THE HOARD AND TO ME ITS THE TOP MOVE AND I DO THEM ALL(INCLUDING SWITCH-STANCE HELICOPTERS), I’M NO YOUNGSTER AND CERTAIN MOVES BRIDGE THE GENERATION GAP EXPECIALLY IN AN AGGRESIVE PACK OF YOUNG SHOULDER HOPPING LONGBOARDERS.

SurfHungry The board you ride is exactly the board I want to shape! I must say, they people that get to ride the boards you shape are very lucky people indeed! Do most of your friends that you shape for ask you to shape them this NoseRider? How do you get them glassed by the way? My traditional 9’6" has 10oz & 6oz Volan on the deck and a single 10oz Volan on bottom. Tim

SurfHungry>>> The board you ride is exactly the board I want to shape!>>> I must say, they people that get to ride the boards you shape are very > lucky people indeed!>>> Do most of your friends that you shape for ask you to shape them this > NoseRider?>>> How do you get them glassed by the way? My traditional 9’6" has 10oz > & 6oz Volan on the deck and a single 10oz Volan on bottom.>>> Tim NO, MOST PEOPLE STILL RIDE 6 OZ GLASSED 3 FIN MODERN LONGBOARDS, PEOPLE LIKE JOEL TUDOR, DEVON HOWARD,KEVIN CONNELLY IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD HAVE POPULARIZED THE OLD STYLE BOARDS BUT TO A LIMITED GROUP OF HANG TEN HUNGRY SURFERS. TO ME HEAVINESS IS A KEY TO HANGTEN AND VOLAN WILL GET YOU THAT BUT LIMITS YOUR VERTICAL ATTACK TO WAVE RIDING.

i like heavy as well – so much glide. i could be wrong but i bet you get along with skip frye.