Eric Arakawa (HIC). Uses a computer and shaping machine. Great designs, technically perfect shapes and high quality control in their glasswork. http://www.surfingthemag.com/magfeatures/12_5_03_shaper_of_the_year/
how about the underground surfboard maker of the year: Works alone, one guy does it all himself in a garage, low production numbers, well constructed durable boards of high quality, variety of well sorted templates ,absent the marketing and hype, no team riders… I’d suggest that EA is “first among equals” and that there are many at his level. Note that he disclaimed the honor and referenced inspiration by/from others. Wish him well, but I don’t think he needs any help from me.
Very deserving of the award. He’s from my hometown and started doing it just like a lot of us here, shaping, glassing as a hobby in high school. His big break was when he got hooked up with Michael Ho at HIC in the late 70’s. A very quiet, humble man that lets his boards do the talking.
Very humble and well respected shaper. Surfing could use more guys like that. When I was a teenager I met Rusty. I was hoping he would be stoked that I was trying to make my first board. He could have been more of a prick!!! FOr years I thought many guys in the industry were jack asses. Guess waht, many are. It is nice to see a guy Like Eric get the award. His shapes are great and his great attitude exemplifies waht the surf industry needs to do.
I once told Bill Caster I had bought a Skil 100 to hack out some shapes, but the blades were broken. He reached into a drawer and gave me a brand new set of blades!
i got to say the article is sitting next to me. arkawa seems like a good dude. i was surprised to see all the design/shaping info and coverage in this magazine. it was a definate plus.
EA has some really nice shapes and are technically very nice. Even though he uses a CNC it’s pretty much a “mickey mouse” cnc. I have seen much better contraptions made in a garage. I hope he didn’t pay too much.
With regards to EA’s shaping machine…what exactly makes it Mickey Mouse??? Your comment about having seen better “garagetech” machines is suprising, cause I sure as hell haven’t been able to find any of em’. Nothing half way decent for less than 60-80 grand. Any thoughts? Other than KKL or Cobra?
Personally, I think the fixturing is not upto exacting qualities. The thing has only a center fixturing, and end fixturing for centering. The motor looks like a router motor, and the cutter is extremely small. No rail detail and no recentering after cutting on side. It looks like you have to bend in the rocker with the centering jig to cut the board. I would think that EA would be using a much better system that’s all.
Also the guides and ways aren’t designed very ridgid the entire struture frame work is built very light weight. To accurately machine to tolerances the framework needs to be very ridgid.
Just took another close look at EA machine, looks like it’s the one from Brazil (designed). T&C also has one. It’s basically an expensive profiler with outline capabilities.
you and Eric in the same shaping room… you’d be lucky if he’d let you hold his dust pan…
No need to get riled, unless you designed the thing. Nothing against EA, I think he deserves to be shaper of the year. Just my observations, and from what I have seen and built. No need to be in the same shaping room, thanks. I have my own.