starting from zero

Hi- I am interested in finding out as much as possible regarding the design and production of longboards. I want to do my own designs on them but I want to make the board too. I am very uneducated so I want to know all I can before I start. Also, I will probably be riding on the west side of Michigan around Grand Haven or South Haven so any input into the conditions and what to expect would be appreciated as well. Thank you. Karen Kelly

Hi- I am interested in finding out as much as possible regarding the > design and production of longboards. I want to do my own designs on them > but I want to make the board too. I am very uneducated so I want to know > all I can before I start. Also, I will probably be riding on the west side > of Michigan around Grand Haven or South Haven so any input into the > conditions and what to expect would be appreciated as well. Thank you.>>> Karen Kelly Hi Karen, wow, another lake surfer on Swaylocks! Never thought I’d see the day. Well, I have not been shaping for too long so my advice is limited. We’ll see if the guys here have any advice on getting started. Since you are in Michigan, it will be tough. One decent place to start are the shaping and glassing 101 videos. There is a lot more to surfboard design and making than what may appear. If you want, you can email me at and I can help you more, and also let you in on some good eastside lake michigan breaks. Mostly beachbreak, but there are some great points and reefs a few hours away. Good luck- ryan

Hi- I am interested in finding out as much as possible regarding the > design and production of longboards. I want to do my own designs on them > but I want to make the board too. I am very uneducated so I want to know > all I can before I start. Also, I will probably be riding on the west side > of Michigan around Grand Haven or South Haven so any input into the > conditions and what to expect would be appreciated as well. Thank you.>>> Karen Kelly Karen, I live in SD cali, but I know a mess load …shaping 101 and galssing 101 is good but for the beginner it might be a bit much and for the advanced not enough. It gives you the basic process, although much has changed with UV resin etc. Check out all the sites on design and shaping and glassing. Good luck.

Thank you for your help. Right now I am in the stages of just plain designs to put on the boards and not the boards themselves. I want to be able to make a board and then apply my work to it. So keep the info coming and I will check out those resources. Thanks again…KK