Surfing Waves

... now that I have attention- I am looking to build a brand which would be unlike many of the current surf hallmarks and logos.

Looking for a partner of which to bounce things off and work towards a bigger target...

I have been shaping for just over a year and have learnt quite abit but would like too expand to new horizons.

If you are interested drop me a DM or I could forward you my E-mail.

Cheers, Russ.

Russ, you have been hand shaping for just a year, if we follow you posts we can see that.
In order to have a surf brand you need more han a logo or brand name!
The usual way to start out can make you pretty broke, buy the tools tick it looks like you’ve done that!
understand how to use them , half tick, need to realise power tools can make interesting damage to templates and fin installation guides.
Need guides for several systems
Shape good riding boards/ get friends to ride them get feedback, engage feed back into next boards/ have somebody interested in buying

Some of your posts make me worry for your safety, space heaters and resin fumes while it is setting is potentially explosive, correct temperature is vital to epoxy resin setting, free flying foam dust is a fire hazard and a health hazard.
There is so much more for you to do before you even get credibility as a shaper.
I could be wrong about that, so why not put a picture of a board you shaped up so we can advise you because it is pretty brutal giving what appears to be tough advice on stuff unseen but I have seen backyard shapers trying to make it out to bigger things struggle without mentors etc!

Meant to ask one question that hasn’t been asked yet;
Do you surf and if so how well?

RussH wrote: I am looking to build a brand which would be unlike many of the current surf hallmarks and logos.

Are you trying to make a new, different and unique surf brand LOGO or new, different and unique surf board DESIGN ?

jaffa1949 wrote:Russ, you have been hand shaping for just a year, if we follow you posts we can see that.
In order to have a surf brand you need more han a logo or brand name!
The usual way to start out can make you pretty broke, buy the tools tick it looks like you’ve done that!
understand how to use them , half tick, need to realise power tools can make interesting damage to templates and fin installation guides.
Need guides for several systems
Shape good riding boards/ get friends to ride them get feedback, engage feed back into next boards/ have somebody interested in buying

Some of your posts make me worry for your safety, space heaters and resin fumes while it is setting is potentially explosive, correct temperature is vital to epoxy resin setting, free flying foam dust is a fire hazard and a health hazard.
There is so much more for you to do before you even get credibility as a shaper.
I could be wrong about that, so why not put a picture of a board you shaped up so we can advise you because it is pretty brutal giving what appears to be tough advice on stuff unseen but I have seen backyard shapers trying to make it out to bigger things struggle without mentors etc!

Meant to ask one question that hasn’t been asked yet;
Do you surf and if so how well?

Yup being shaping over a year- was a casual surfer until I saw some guys in bali shaping and it has taken my passion to new level. I dont believe there is anything wrong with asking questions on forum which is focused towards shaping and the relevant Intricacies?

The only way to learn something is by asking questions, no? which is why i have posted on here a few times- but I get it a seasoned pro like yourself would be way past this. I have setup an instagram @ ___cadence___ where I am working on the effects of irregular fin patterns hence the FCS question. I also have a degree in fluid dynamics which I hope to put to good use in a practical manner

Your reply is the exact reason why i hate surf culture- I guess locals only here?

Cheers, Russ.

waikikikichan wrote:

RussH wrote: I am looking to build a brand which would be unlike many of the current surf hallmarks and logos.

Are you trying to make a new, different and unique surf brand LOGO or new, different and unique surf board DESIGN ?

Both, I am working on some irregular fin layouts with a view to experiment with tiny carbon fibre tube as an inner core. I have only worked with EPS, XPS & PU but would like to move on to wood at some point .. The brand is live on instagram @___cadence___

Russ, I’m sorry you think I’m spouting “ locals only” at you!
My reply is not about that and really if you have developed a passion for shaping out of Bali great!
I too am passionate about investigation of fins, boards, and I surf alternative craft as well right down to surf mats!
The course you appeared to be wanting was towards commercial shaping maybe not so?
That certainly is a well worn path, seen guys with fluid dynamics degrees go that way too!
Right now I live in Austria, and the activity in fluid dynamics here is dynamic ( sorry had to pun) both the structure and materials of boards is being developed in river waves both man made and natural, the waves too are being designed to be variable and functional responding to river flow.
It is new here and passionate, some of the good surfers here have never surfed the ocean!

Absolutely ask the questions talk theory, put your ideas into practice shake up things keep stuff you clearly invent, even patent it FCS inventors sold the rights to a bank!

Much of the ocean scene is self interested and break ( locals only stuff ) protective, it also varies greatly in the back culture as you would seen in the difference between England’s surf culture and Bali.

I actually encourage you to build a better surfboard, the overall surf scene has a lot of stale corners and attitudes, a break beyond is needed.

Me I just surf because it is my love, simply that! Too old for chest thumping BS

I went to you instagram page, nothing there to see, yet!
Is that Z line one of your shapes?

jaffa1949 wrote:Russ, I’m sorry you think I’m spouting “ locals only” at you!
My reply is not about that and really if you have developed a passion for shaping out of Bali great!
I too am passionate about investigation of fins, boards, and I surf alternative craft as well right down to surf mats!
The course you appeared to be wanting was towards commercial shaping maybe not so?
That certainly is a well worn path, seen guys with fluid dynamics degrees go that way too!
Right now I live in Austria, and the activity in fluid dynamics here is dynamic ( sorry had to pun) both the structure and materials of boards is being developed in river waves both man made and natural, the waves too are being designed to be variable and functional responding to river flow.
It is new here and passionate, some of the good surfers here have never surfed the ocean!

Absolutely ask the questions talk theory, put your ideas into practice shake up things keep stuff you clearly invent, even patent it FCS inventors sold the rights to a bank!

Much of the ocean scene is self interested and break ( locals only stuff ) protective, it also varies greatly in the back culture as you would seen in the difference between England’s surf culture and Bali.

I actually encourage you to build a better surfboard, the overall surf scene has a lot of stale corners and attitudes, a break beyond is needed.

Me I just surf because it is my love, simply that! Too old for chest thumping BS

No sweat my man - think you may have thought i was looking for shortcuts into surfing as i agree that is a well worn path. Have looked a few alternative designs such as Wyve & Pyzel 3D printouts but think these designs lack individuality and a sense of self. Think the surf scene right now in general is quite cringey people like Jamie O'Brien put me off for quite a while. So would like to bring some fresh air to crowded scene if possible. This is why I am currently looking to build a group to bounce ideas off and gain knowledge that way, mentor-ship opportunities are few and far between in UK especially as i live in the middle on england lol!

Happy Christmas and NYE

Some interesting reading across a number of areas in the world about alternatives and food forethought.
First a snack…- compare templates of the mass of short boards on offer, Is there much difference across the range?
Most of the parameters are the small , wanna surf like a pro, surf on a pro likeboard!
Skill is a set peculiar to each rider!
Unique surfboards are rarely used by Pros, as consistency of function is needed.

So now so reading,
Anything about George Greenough and his knee board spoon , Velo… his look and work in Edgeboards

Derek Hynde and finless designs
Tom Wegener Paulownia wood boards, since you desire to work in wood.
Look at Bert Berger and Sunova surfboards doing vacuum bagging composite work connected with the Cobra factory in Thailand.
For an Austrian flavour look at Wuux surfboards in Salzburg Austria.
From snow boarding in Canada check out Libtech surfboards.
For really out there stuff on very alternative surfboard theory, go to Roy Stewart or Roy Stuart in New Zealand.
Check out the weird and wonderful world of the continuing ancestor of short boards ( knee boards) from whence came fishtails rolled bottoms , short lengths and non mainstreamed characters.
Go to a website , mostly inactive now call Surf Research another Matt Warshaw‘s encyclopedia of Surf.
There is the full variable reactive bottom and rail craft of inflated surfing in matsurfing
Let me know how you and how many already explored ends you won‘t need to go down!

Fluid dynamics are great to consider but the biggest variable is who is on deck! Since most of those are on deck are average, the fashion is todesign boards that generate sales there! Minor tweaks to a proven design.

I get excited about new designs and those with courage to go beyond the norm.
I have however seen so many broken but the norm and marketing forces

Well worth of resources right there- appreciated Jaffa, will get back to you

I second all of Jaffa's suggestions.. especially the Minor tweaks to a proven design.

Along those lines.. there's a shaper on the east coast that specializes in recycling old/broken surfboards into a new design that works with the remaining/undamaged foam blank. Sometimes it makes for some interesting designs like Bat Tails etc that work around the damaged part of the board. I think it seems kinda similar how Mini Simmons were first designed to use up the leftover blanks after the longboards were cutout. Might be worth exploring..

In my time I have seen boards made. of cactus, aluminium hexagonal honeycomb, newspaper, cardboard assemble stuff , agave plant, balsa, pawlonia wood. totally hollow fibre glass shel, I have a long board that breaks into two halves for air travel.
Inflatable surfboards not SUPs several brand, hollow plywood both old and current. 3D printed fins, pop riveted metal sheeting , .
Plant resins, honey wax, normal plastic boards, my brain hurts just think about them all

Yeah Jaffa, but have you tried a ...................

Right now I'm on the drawing board!