Hey guys,
I will be in Blenheim soon and I was wondering if anybody around that area wants to shape a Mini Simmons for me ?
I’m not that kind of surfer who goes out in 8ft, because I’m not that experienced and due to my actual living place which is germany, I need a board which goes well in small waves.
I’m pretty lightweight and short, about 5,7.
I would pick the board up, as fast as possible. Probably when I get a small car to travel around.
Anybody who would do me the favor ?
Thanks,
René
ive never shaped one before. but i could do. have you ridden one. ive done a few retro fishes
im in napier
Hey Paul,
Thanks for you reply. Yeah, shaped a Mini Simmons by myself one time. Worked out pretty good for the third board I made. But I’m pretty sure I want to get a Mini Simmons. A retro fish would be the second choice. However, I don’t have the opportunities to travel around that much, since I don’t have a car yet. I will take the ManaBus from Auckland, where I’m at the moment, to Wellington. So Napier isn’t really on my way down to the south island.
Do you have a website or something like that, where I can have a look at your work ? Or maybe a threat here in the forum? I will check out if I can stop by and if I take the board with me. We will see.
René
FYI, Paul is an experienced board builder as well as a pretty competent surfer. You could learn a lot from him.
hey man,
I didn’t mean to insult anybody at any point, but I already tried to find some stuff, and wasn’t that successful. If I read through the posts, I see that Paul is experienced, but this doesn’t mean I storm into his home to get a custom surfboard.
However I totally respect him, and I’m glad for the offer.
René
Edit: Thanks for the edit gdaddy.
Stoke to see a post, Wreck. I wuz thinking that you should try another go at a Mini or Fish yourself! (aside: didn’t sound at all like you were being offensive or insulting). Years ago, I bought a Mini-Simmons from a guy named Tony Lewis that lives in the Coos here in the states. It was an outasight board that worked great. S-deck, damned near square tail… anyway, I think he’s on here as “Rocklobster”. He is a great guy with TONS of insights on the small details that make a board surf proper. SUPER-COOL guy. I would seek his input, as well as others, and make another one yourself!!! My Mini was a little too long (6’ and a little change), as I weigh in at around 140 lbs. I was sort of over-compensating for my weak paddling and wave catching abilities. I coulda got this board at 5’10" (or maybe even less) and I probably could have done just fine, but the board was SICK nonetheless. You are such a sharp and able guy, and I would bet a bucket of chicken that Tony would give you a little advice, maybe even some of the secrets that guys like this know! I will write him and see if it’s cool to forward you his contact info. Hope you’re doing great, man! Peace!
Smoke.
hey Smokey,
glad to hear from you. I hope you’re shaping frequently. haha !
When I get home to germany next year, I will definitely shape an other board. I still have my fish undone at home. Gonna post a pic later in (post your last project). It still needs the fins, a leash plug and the gloss coat. Not that much of a work actually. It was good fun to shape a fish.
Oh man, that would be lovely. Tips and advices are always great, since I can’t just go to a shaper in germany and have a look and learn.
I recently shaped this mini simmons by myself. It was only 4,4 but it surfed great.
A bit bigger isn’t a problem for me!
That’s an awesome picture. and the board looks crisp!
I see that you were using boots ? How cold is the water at your place ?
Have a good one man.
René
Get yourself a Greg Griffin 3-fin Hovercraft. It’s his vision of what a mini simmons should be.
if you weren’t so far away, I’d make you one, just to blow your mind with it. I hope you find a talented builder, for your project.
Haha yeah, man!
i’m pretty confident! Nz has some good shapers!
i cant even spell competent g"daddy but thankyou. anyway. i wouldnt recomend a super short board for a competent surfer really unless you wanna ride on your knees or something. they are really easy to overpower and are difficult to catch waves on, in my opinion. however i find i adjust to anyboard i ride. so whatever floats your boat, so to speak. for me there is so much more to surfing then the board im riding and i find i could pretty much have a reasonable day on a door if there was no one else in the water. for me i wanna maximize ride time and that means out paddling anyone on a shortboard and catching waves further out and deeper . so also i love shortboards so i think eggs and hybrid eggs works the best. fish are fun i love ripping my back hand on a twin keel retro. but they let you down when they waves become more critical. so NOT a one board quiver design in my opinion . same gos for fat minimal type noses. big wide tails and any pointy bits that break off or impale other riders. for me its sad to say that surfboard design of today reminds me of 70s and 80s race cars both in lines and paint jobs. just a bit dorky…so im into roundy smooth bits like curves like a sexy wench. when i look at an outline i think YEAH sexy. id have sex with that surfboard if it had a vagina. i dont like sharp hard edges on my beeches nor ma shooters. also i like wenches my hight or a little less, i dont want to have to stand on a telephone book for a smooch nor am i onto kissing a pillow. .my hight or a few inches less is sweet. and a few inches taller if shes is really really hot. also a bit of meat on the bones… i hope that helps its about as relevant as anyother theory in surfboard design 
anything thats shaped like a dog poo is a NO GO imo
think sexy woman. or fast marine mammal
no brick shapes or race cars
Ok Paul, thanks for the advice.
So you think an egg/hybrid egg around 5,7" ish would work best here for me?
Never surfed one before I have to say, but they always seemed to be a good option. Easy to paddle and still maneuverable? That sounds actually pretty good and fun!
I’m into it! Let’s do it !
René
Hi rene.if you live in blenhiem you will mostly surfing Kaikoura. mangamanu . meatworks and kahutara. 3 of my favourite waves. mangamanu is often soft and fat but crazy long rides. longboarders love it…it has a sweep current on the prevailing swell…u need a good paddling board. . great wave for a fish or egg. it is a right hander.and gets epic. meatworks is a powerful reef break that breaks left and right i wouldnt go anywhere near it on a fish. kahutara is a long powerful rippable right hander. both these boards require length they breakout of deep water with hawaii type power. mangamanu is not like this most of the time and is kinda of soft but gets HUGE in size. for these waves i would suggest a rounded pin tail egg or hybrid
Wow, nice. I’m freakin excited to get a board under my feet.
Yeah, I will spend some time in Blenheim, probably traveling down the coast. Those waves sound really fun.
So what’s your suggestion in size of the board? And if you know, are into shaping one for me?
…if you talk about those retro fish, you are right; you should see and test a modern fish. It will not dissapoint you in hollow faster beachbreaks.
Why some one would want to ride a retro board? I do not get it really.
Modern fish; 2 types.
-Ok, regarding smaller eggs; beware that you finish with an smaller tail area; pretty good for control in those hollow beachbreaks, etc but if you shape a modern egg in those dims, is like an HPSB with rounded nose…so be aware if you are not an skilled surfer.
Hi Rene. i was just thinking. i know a really good shaper in Kaikoura just down from you. he is a handshaper and thinks outside the box and surfs those waves regularly. he is Surge Surfboards . hes iis a really nice guy and if you tell your story and let him know you want something different he has the skills to do it for you. that way it wont be problem with shipping. im a bit rusty on the planer to be honest im shaping a few boards at the moment and it all feels a bit rusty. still if you really want a board i will make you one
Hey Paul,
That’s so kind of you. Yeah, that would be actually really good. That way it might be possible to even have a chat with him. I really don’t like shipping boards that much. Did it one time in germany and a fin broke…
You have been such a helping hand for this project Paul. How can I thank you for that?
I will definitely stop by in Napier around october. Maybe we can have a chat, or even surf some waves. Looking foward to that !
Thanks !
Cheers,
René
Yeah, board is ready.
Got a beautiful 5,9x19 1/2x 2 1/2 single fin with the option for a thruster.
Surfs awesome.
Thanks to everybody for helping !
Nice looking board !
I specially love the color, is this a specific tint or a color mix ?
If mix it is, can u give the components and ratio ?
Enjoy it !
Z.
