I've sometimes wondered what became of some of the boards I've done for myself and sold or made for others. The odds against me running into one of my old boards is really high considering I've only shaped about 40. This fall I came across two boards from the past. The first encounter happened about a month ago when I paddled near a guy and recognized the color scheme and logo. I paddled up and told him I had shaped that board (a 7 ft. retro roundpin single fin) about 6 yrs ago and asked him how he liked it. He commented that it was just ok and asked me what fin he should use. I gave him some recommendations and paddled off. The second sighting was today as a friend and I were watching the waves and a guy walked up the beach carrying a board (an 8 ft. funboard) that had a familiar triangular logo. Upon closer inspection I saw my signature and the guy I made it for written there along the stringer. It was my 5th board, made in 1989. It actually looked quite decent of a shape. The guy told me he borrowed it from a guy in the parking lot there who looked homeless. I wondered where the board had been and how many hands it had gone through in the 21 years since I had shaped that board. I've been tempted to go back there and offer to buy the board back just for sentimental reasons.
This is a good discussion. I run into a few of my boards espeically in Waikiki and White Plains. I get emails from guys who bought boards from the past asking if I got any 2nd hand boards for sale. I specialize in boards for the heavier / older surfer or mini-mal quads for females. I am not too sure if they like the shapes or the colorful glass work.
Mahalo,
D
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...The guy told me he borrowed it from a guy in the parking lot there who looked homeless. I wondered where the board had been and how many hands it had gone through in the 21 years since I had shaped that board. I've been tempted to go back there and offer to buy the board back just for sentimental reasons.
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Buy the board from the homeless guy, then donate it back to him. He lost his home, but kept your board. Says something.
great thread in the making hmm curious how those with decades of shaping feel whenever they come across their earlier works of (he)art
" )
It is nice to see boards I made out there in the water.
I once came across the fella who owned the very first board I shaped for a shop, age 17. I did'nt feel I had the cred to go claiming it then, so I kept mum, but it felt special..
And the personal boards that I'd I'd buy back in a flash...I guess thats why keep so many- I have too-long a memory and there's a story to each of them.
JD
