![]() This process is repeated for the deck (with multiple layers of fibreglass cloth) after the lap lines visible in picture 11 have been sanded smooth and flat.As the tools of a craft evolve, so too do the craftsmen. ![]() The late ’90s saw the first glimpses of computer-aided design (CAD) being applied to surfboard manufacturing. Since, the programs and processes have improved, allowing an art once left solely in the hands of traditional shapers to be accessible to those with little or no hands-on shaping experience. And, consequently, with this shift from handsaw and planer to keyboard and mouse comes a simultaneous shift in the profile of the surfboard shaper. “There are world-class surfboard designers who can’t use a planer,” says Matt Biolos, of …Lost Surfboards. But can surfboard designers really become “world-class” without mastering traditional methods? All tools-a planer, a tractor, a violin-require a lot of time to master.” Biolos argues that his hand-shaping experience has equipped him with an exceptional grasp of what he is designing, which applies directly to his mastery of the CAD software. While new designers may lack extensive shaping experience, they’re finding innovative ways of applying their own practical knowledge to the craft. Aku shaper files software#Ĭhris Gallagher, who began making boards on CAD software after his career as a World Tour competitor, notes that surfing professionally is what formed his understanding of design: “I rode for and worked with a lot of great shapers as a pro, which gives you that feel for a magic board under your arm.”ĭespite shaping only 200 boards by hand-less than what many hand-shapers produce in a couple months-Gallagher is no amateur designer. ![]() ![]() He regularly makes boards for the Hobgoods and other top pros. Although he lacks a traditional shaping background, he’s worked backward to gain some irreplaceable knowledge of the craft. ![]()
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