Meet Chops who rides a 7'0" x 21" x 2 3/4" Rustler Model
1. Ah yes, the black art of surfboard shaping. Also probably the only part of the business of making boards that everyone has at least some idea about.
Chops proudly showing off a tripple stringer Cord longboard with Nose and Tail blocks. Cord is Chops' family business from the sunshine coast of Queensland, Australia. A true core label dating back to the 60's, Cord surfboards, shapers and riders, were a key part of the evolution of surfboards. find out more below: -
2. In these pictures, Chops in his shaping room, working on the blank. These have already been "cut out" i.e. the plan shape has been cut from the foam blank using the templates you can see hanging up. Once the basic shape has been cut and cleaned up, the blank is planed to a basic shape. The blank is then refined with machine sanding and hand blocks.
3. Finally fin placements are marked and the newborn board is signed and code-numbered. All shapers use basically the same technique to shape blanks, the real difference in their boards is down to their templates, rockers, bottom shape and rail shape.
4. Most shaping rooms will look like this as, the dark walls and diffused low level lighting help the shaper shape and design. The even shadows and dark walls make it easier for the shaper to use their knowledge and techniques to produce symetrical, super fast shapes! The board is then passed to the next stage.
