The more boards I make the more i realize how hard it is. What specialist skills are involved just to shape an eye for detail, feel, sense of symmetry tool handling, discipline and an orderly approach and I havnt even gone into glassing yet which looks like its own chemistry and art and all together another complete skill set. Then to be able to do that fast enough consistent enough to make a living. On top of that to be able to have a wealth of experience necessary to design and make models and modifications to suit different surfers, build a respected brand,work in a dusty and hazardous environment year after year have good listening skills and communication be willing to be self employed or in business with all the accounting, bookwork,investment etc, competing in a tough market building yourself a factory and then to sell a completely customised one off piece of functional art in a market full of mass products at a price point. If we were cyclists a custom seat would cost more. I make surfboards but it would be years and hundreds of boards before I would say Im a shaper or person of esteem in the world of board shaping. but I think I will admit to having the same passion to make boards as a shaper does. thats probably the only reason i would do it for a hobby.
Posted on: Sun, 24 Aug 2014 07:02:45 +0000