Plane Passion

These personalities and talents from the 60's and 70's prompted my hunger and curiosity to understand surfboards on a deeper level. I wanted to learn how to shape my own crafts and ride them how I feel they should be ridden.

I have always been curious of this mystical skill that shapers hold, to be able to translate a surfers spiritual and personal experience with the ocean, into foam.

I have always fantasized about being able to shape, but I have never understood the design concepts, tools or steps involved in the process of shaping. Nor have I found it easy to forge relationships with all the middle aged men who make my boards.

I could never seem to get that mutual understanding with a shaper. I always felt that my ignorance for the craft left me lacking confidence and prohibited me from expressing what I really thought I was looking for in a board. My current shaper Vanda, happens to be the exception to this. Our relationship as surfer and shaper is exactly what I have been working towards. He has become someone who I can easily communicate with about what we are collaborating to create.

Up until now I did not know any female shapers, nor did I hear of any regularly. Every now and then a few names pop into the scene with stories of shaping boards and pictures of their attempts, but I am unaware of a prominent and well known craftswoman as such. Last year however, I was introduced to a surfer and cabinet maker by the name of Leslie, who also shaped beautiful wooden surfboards. I can best describe Leslie in these three words: Master Crafts-Woman. Yes! Woman!