Peter White at Noosa Photo supplied by Classic Malibu
PETER’S POINT OF VIEW
WE ASK CLASSIC MALIBU’S PETER WHITE FOR HIS TAKE ON TODAY’S SURFBOARD MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY
Q:
So many aspects of the production process are outsourced from machines shaping the raw blank, to outside contract glassers, sanders and polishers finishing the surfboard. How important is it to understand how to craft a surfboard from start to finish and be intimately involved in the whole process?
A:
To hand-shape from the raw blank creates a better understanding of the board. It allows the shaper, using his shaping experience and wave knowledge, to create new designs and new models. If you look at guys who have made boards for decades, you will most likely see a creative personality... That goes for those guys who glass, sand, spray and polish boards as well as the shapers. It is a shame that some of today’s shapers have lost the art of developing a surfboard from scratch. With the advent of computer shaping machines, literally anyone can use real shaper’s designs and put their own labels on boards. In fact there seems to be a trend, whereby, board labels are created
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without the actual namesake having any real knowledge of shaping or glassing boards... Both are outsourced with shaping machines and contract glassers finishing them off. I am not totally against shapers using shaping machines to create consistent accuracy in their own shapes, or to meet production quotas. At Classic Malibu the majority of our work is in-house with custom hand-shapes, together with the use of computer cutting of our standard shapes for accuracy and to meet demand. We do, however, like our workers to understand all aspects of production and take pride in their contribution. It seems that not many today have the time or inclination to learn
“LOOK AT THE EXPERIENCE OF THE PERSON SHAPING THE BOARD, THEIR FINISHING TECHNIQUES, AND THE CARE THAT GOES INTO MAKING THAT PIECE OF EQUIPMENT” all aspects of production, from board design, shaping, glassing, sanding and polishing techniques. It’s now all about the marketing of the product. A lot of “shapers” nowadays are better at “blogging” and “facebooking” than they will ever be at making a surfboard.
the enjoyment you pay for. My advice? Always question WHO is behind the surfboard you are riding and is there is real soul put into its production.
To create REAL quality in a surfboard you have to look at the experience of the person shaping the board, their finishing techniques, and the care that goes into making that piece of equipment which should give you
mar/apr 2012
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25/02/12 8:32 PM