I live near Virgina Beach, VA and was wondering if there was any shapers out their to help a 16 boy with an aspiring career? I’m in it for the pure love of the sport and notinhg else, and not money. It has been my dream for quite some years now to live the life of a local shaper shaping boards for anyone whose willing to want a board. Or, if anyone along the east coast wants a summer apprentice. That is my dreamjob because that it what i enjoy, I wanna wake up for work and put on boardshorts not a shirt and tie. If anyone else knows anything at all about shapin, schools for shaping, or anything please help me out it would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely, Chas
Chas, I’ve learned how to shape using the internet(there are many good sites with step by step instructions), video(shaping 101), and most of all swaylocks. I dont post very often but I read almost every topic everyday, and just absorb it all. Read up, then get yourself some basic tools and a blank and start carvin it up. There is a place in va beach called Fibercraft, I believe they sell blanks. If you havn’t already seen it surfline.com has a good basic shaping tutorial, also the resource section of swaylocks has tons of info. good luck -jim 
Thanks a lot jim, i’ll definatley check in to that. I’m not that big on money right now so ill take whatever stuff i can get.
sorry bout the pickle
i was wondering what the pic was for
oh i forgot to ask… are you from around here in Virginia?
chas, im from fl, have u started shaping yet? buy the videos and learn as u go. i always wanted to be an apprentice, but noone wanted me haha. learn as u go, and sell them to make more boards.
If you can’t find someone to take you under their wing, just go for it on your own. There’s plenty of information out there. Start out by making your own templets, its a good excersise to get you on the right track. Save up enough money to get yourself a few blanks and figure on blowing a couple as part of the learning process. You learn something every time you shape. Keep us posted.
OK guys we might have good news, one of my old friends dads used to be a shaper, so tommorow I’m gonna talk with the kid and try to bribe his dad to give me lessons, then im gonna bribe my parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, families, and friends for money. But I need one thing from you guys, i stumbled across the internet and found this great (well, at least i think so) website called www.foamez.com but i need help in what to order, i know the basic materials but do not know evreything i need, so if some of you could possibly go to that website and create a list of every thing i need to make my first board it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again all!
skip foamEZ. All the tools and shaping equipment can be found at your local lowes or home depot cheaper. Blanks and glassing supplies can be found cheaper too. Not sure of your area, but am sure someone here could point you in the right direction.
Chas I live in South Jersey and get my blanks from US fiberglass in Harbour Point, NC. They are associated with WRV and they ship them to the WRV shop in Va. Beach where I pick them up. Frank
Chas, They also sell “board kits”, but it would probably be cheaper to buy the supplies yourself. Their # is (252) 491-8535. I know that they have a web site, but can’t think of it right now. Try WRV’s home page.
Thanks a lot guys, u talked with my parents and they are giving me about 500 dollars to “start my career” as i put it. My friends dad is gonna teach me to shape but i have to buy materials for him to make his own board, so its not that bad of a deal, i like the idea of board kits, i found some on www.foamez.com right now im about jusrt getting started not hunting for bargains, but beleive me that will come later. So if anyone knows any websites with kits that would be rad. Thanks
Chas, I live in Virginia Beach and shape as a hobby. Feel free to shoot me an email and we’ll get together. Hopefully I can save you a little grief with what I’ve learned over the last few years. The company that was referenced earlier for blanks is indeed part of WRV, they distribute for the whole area. If you go to WRV, Seasoned or anyone else in the area they will all have wrv printed on them. If you need glassing done when you first start out go to Tim Nolte, I HIGHLY recommend his work, you can also get your blanks from him a little cheaper than the other people. http://naglesurfboards.com