PERSONALLY HANDCRAFTED SURFBOARDS
Richard handcrafts every surfboard so his extensive surfing experience and shaping knowledge ensures your board will satisfy even the most discerning surfer, whatever style you choose.
- Many styles of boards avaliable in both foam and a variety of timbers.
- Years of accumulated knowledge and experience of surfboard design.
- Extensive experience from surfing waves of all sizes around world.
- Personal attention to handcrafting custom surfboard since 1969.
- Meticulous attention to quality construction.
- Shaping thousands of boards for surfers of all abilities.
SURFBOARDS
Richard’s shaping experience of over 50 years offers:
- A wide variety of surfboard designs.
- Years of accumulated knowledge and experience of surfboard design.
- Extensive experience from surfing waves of all sizes around the world.
- Competition success at the highest levels.
- Handcrafted in Australia.
- Creative original artwork to individualise your board.
DESIGN
When deciding on which board to ride there are many factors to be considered. Generally surfboards have an effective “wave range” of 4’ or a little over 1 metre. Of course even the shortest board can be ridden in the largest of waves and designs can be modified to surf a broader range of waves, but all this is to the compromising of peak performance and control. What is your performance level?
PERFORMANCE LEVEL
Starting with an honest look at your ability will result in a better suiting surfboard. One that will give strength to your surfing weaknesses and freedom to your surfing strengths. On the guide above with the black lines indicating the wave top and bottom and the colours indicating where your surfing manoeuvres are on a normal day, find where your performance level is from the list beside. Remember this is a guide to your everyday normal performance only, everyone goes over the falls at some stage.
WHERE ARE YOU GOING TO SURF?
The waves of such places as Samoa, Tahiti and Hawaii in the Pacific; or The Mentawi Islands and Maldives in the Indian Ocean; or France, England and The Bahamas in The Atlantic, all have very different characteristics. Decide on the main places you are going to surf and the size of the waves you are going to ride. Wave shapes and power vary dramatically even around the coast of Australia. Reef waves, beach breaks or long point waves all have an impact on the final surfboard design. This is where an experienced surfer/shaper can assist with your decision.
WHAT ARE YOUR PHYSICAL DIMENSIONS?
Next your physical dimensions and weight. Extra height can mean a wider distance between steps and therefore the way the board responds. Extra weight and fitness level are part of the equation as is the regularity of your surf session.
WHAT STYLE OF BOARD DO YOU WANT TO RIDE?
The style of board is a personal choice, but some styles like a fish will work better in smaller waves. It will be lots of fun in the beach breaks and small point waves, but maybe not as suitable in bigger reef waves. Board length determines the arc that the turn covers and assists in paddling. Width and thickness determine stability, buoyancy, paddling and wave catching ability. The combination is a delicate balance with many variables. Features such as channels, concaves, vees all have a specific characteristic including their plus and minus value. The plan shape and tail design as well as rail design determine the general style of the board. Fins also have a major influence on the boards performance. They stabilize the board, create directional thrust and allow rail to rail transitions without sliding sideways. The smallest change in the boards shape will cause a dramatic effect when the board is placed under pressure.