So, my thinking is, why do I need a custom board? What's so special about my surfing? Why not go with a tried and true design by say, Rusty that is precisely cut by a computer.
I've had more custom boards than stock boards, but the stock have simply been my favorite.
Thoughts?
For the same price,or often less, than a stock board, a good custom shape experience delivers the following
A shaper that understands where you surf
A shaper that understands how you surf
A shaper that looks at your current boards and listens to why some work for you and some don't.
A shaper that walks you thru the pros and cons of length, fin set ups, tail choices
A shaper that understands you are not as skinny or as inshape as you think you are.
Can you do all those things in 20 minutes in the shop?
Had this same discussion earlier today. Most folks want the board now, dammit. No patience for the 6 week wait for custom The time to work on this is June / July when it's crap around here.
You make some very, very good points.
I would probably have a very different experience if I went to a shaper that cared to ask all of these questions. I guess all custom shapers are not created equal.
just had my once every few year chat with Bob Pearson at Arrow to get a new board shaped. really a great experience.
totally agree with KoK: probably a little less money, definitely will learn a ton, and the boards Bob has shaped for me have been magic and gone all around the world with me. there have been a bunch of posts on SR about more local (SF) shapers that people really like also.
your mileage may, of course, vary.
I have both. I usually only pick up stock boards if I get a good deal on a used one. If I'm getting new I go custom. I figure with stock boards there is a high chance of finding a used one on CL. The whole custom shaping part of surfing is unique and pretty cool-not many other sports you can get that. Going with KOK's thoughts I would suggest taking a few boards to the meeting with a shaper and explaining what you like and don't like about each.
I basically do the same thing as Quadrafino, my new boards are custom but if I see a good board on CL I will scoop it up. Two other points are materials and durability. When you go custom you can choose what foam and resin you want, I go with EPS but if you want to use a poly blank you might want to think about using epoxy resin. Which gets me to my next point durability most boards off the rack are not build to last (they have weak glass jobs). If you get a custom job you can request either E glass or S glass (S glass is stronger but 20% stiffer) and 4oz or 6oz (per square yard) fiberglass cloth. If you want a bullet proof board that will last a long time request S glass with 6oz cloth. The down side is your board will be stiffer and heaver.
All great points BUT - how many surfers actually surf often enough and push themselves hard enough to actually know what they like in a board? I mean down to the minute differences because how rails, tail, volume, fin placement, rocker, etc. affect their personal style of surfing. Go a step beyond to how a particular board actually works at their "local" break. I use quotes because unless you live right on the beach, your "local" break is usually a combination of 3-4 different breaks you surf on a regular basis. Bottom line: if you surf often enough and pay attention enough a custom board is always going to surf you better - if its made by a shaper that understands where you surf and how you surf.
I was watching the Hurley Pro Lower Trestles feed today and was not too surprised when one of the commentators started talking about how many of the pros use a local shaper for their "Trestles boards." A good shaper knows what works. But most of us don't surf often enough or care enough to get to this level of surfing. As long as we're having fun, we'll take stock, craigslist, hand me down, found on the side of the road just about any day of the week :))
@ncalsurfer, that's the greatest thing about a custom board from a good local shaper. If you're honest about the conditions and where you normally surf, and tell them what you want to do/feel on a wave (ie want a board to get in early, or handle steep drops, or paddle better, or pivot in the pocket more, or ...) the shaper can translate that into technicals like rocker and rails, profiles, etc. Simple taking in your current daily driver and telling them what you like and what you wish it did better will result in a better board than you could blindly pull off the rack. A good custom stick will make your good skills better and your bad skills less bad, regardless of ability. And as others have said and I've experienced, the durability is way better on customs.
And an added bonus is that by working with a shaper you're also forced to put more thought into your equipment and your approach. Support your local shaper!
KoK nailed in on the head. working with a shaper to create a unique board for yourself takes time, and most people just don't have the patience for it.
in my opinion, working with a local shaper gives you WAY better value, as long as the shaper is legit. they typically will cost less on a $ basis and if done right will hold up better. you don't have to be a genius about rails, rocker, etc. to make your board how you want it. that's your shaper's job. tell him what types of waves you surf, your skill, and your intended purpose for the board and they'll set you up right.
i went through several stock board before working with sunset shapers in SF to make me a board. i have since gone back and will do so again. i have learned more about my boards going through the shaping discussion / process than i ever would have done just buying off the rack.
support your local shaper. have some fun with it. your stoke will benefit greatly.
@ncalsurfer: I hear ya, but I am a super-average surfer, and still get a ton out of Bob's discussion of tail shape, rocker, rails, glassing. fins, channels and other stuff I don't surf well enough to get. but the first time I stepped from random stock boards to a custom, my surfing just got better coz I had a better idea of what worked and what didn't.
even having a shaper talk about basic stuff like board length, width etc etc is useful.
just my opinion.
Most stock shortboards are designed around So Cal conditions, where the industry is based. For OB I like a little extra foam, and personally I like to add a little width and thickness, rather than adding more length which is typically your option in stock builds. And a heavier construction, since what good is a board if it is in two halves. Plus it's kind of cool knowing that someone who has actually surfed OB built you a board for the task.
Bob Pearson is the Kook whisperer. I cant believe he sits down for an hour at a time with a schlub like me.
Got my first custom board this summer and will probably never go back to stock, unless I find a good deal on a used stock with the same or similar dimensions.
It's part of his job. Your money is green, why shouldn't or wouldn't he talk to you?
Not sure why, but that photo of the wharehouse full of stock boards is kind of nauseating. Looks like an army of battle-droids about to storm the beach...
The fact that Pearson sits down with you for an hour Kook really says a lot. I've had 6 custom boards shaped by 2 shapers and never was more than 5 min spent on trying to cram my needs into an existing template they like to shape.
It's no wonder my stock boards have been better. I would like to give it another shot and go to someone like Pearson who spends an hour with me dammit.
As for Turd. I wonder what you do all day, if this is profile is like your alter ego where you get out all of life's frustrations and you are otherwise just a pretty cool guy, or if you actually argue with everyone, everywhere all the time.
Just curious. No big deal.
No frustrations. I'm just like you, here to have some fun and express my opinions FWIW. Have a great day and hope you find a board/shaper you like.
@mlanson: call up the Arrow shop in santa cruz, say you want to see bob for a custom. drive down for the day, surf the lane, talk to bob. wait three weeks, drive down, pick up yr new board, surf the lane, increase your stoke quotient :-)
good luck!
Yes to custom shaper experience, price is usually right too. Nice topic. I agree with the already stated sentiment to pick up stock boards as deals come up. Good way to experiment
Dave Vernor also comes up to Aqua Surf on Sl0at quite often (usually on the weekend from like 12-2pm) if you don't want to make the drive to SC. I just ordered a custom shape from Sunset Shapers and James Mitchell was great working with. Nice guy..very professional and patient. No brotitude. It really is crucial to bring in boards you are currently riding and tell the shaper everything that KoK mentions in his first post.
Its not something I looked for when making the decision of stock/custom, but I can say I've "liked" my custom boards more...to the point that I've nearly had funerals for broken custom boards.
@ purpeana: second that on James an Sunset Shapers. Known the dude for a couple years since I was a mega kook and he has helped me rise to the status of an OB comfortable kook. he knows OB as well as anyone and what types of board shapes work out there depending on the conditions.
specifically if you surf OB a lot, call up sunset shapers, find a date when James will be at the shop, bring down a couple of your most similar board to what you are looking for, and take the plunge! you won't regret it.
Custom boards √. However, what do 'you' do after you've spent time with your custom board shaper, paid good money, and then it comes back not the way you really wanted it, and or with defects in the glass and finish coat, and color/design?
Do you expect and or deserve any money back, or another board to the original specifications?
I've got about half a dozen horror stories from when the finished blank left the shaping room, to the glass shop, then shipped/delivered to me.
I've had lots of customs...having one shaped now. But almost all my bestest boards have been off-the-rack. Sometimes you see one and you just know. Go figure.
Same here, Cazie, except I'm strictly an "off the rack" guy now. It's always nice to get a new custom board, but just because it's custom there's no guarantee you will like the board. And it's the same with an OTR board but at least you can see, then and there, what you're getting...the shape intrigues you, so you buy it. I think that repetitive board exploring by some, especially the custom route, is strongly derived from the notion that there exists a magic board or shape...like the magic bat or glove in baseball. Witness the marketing genius of Walden's 'Magic' line. Who doesn't know at least one archetype surf dude who always has the latest trendy shape and/or a bursting quiver, yet never seems to improve his skills?
Most important part of the off-the-rack experience is sticker placement and design. Get this wrong, and the board just wont work.
