Tim Griffin

 
For me, shaping surfboards was a natural progression of my passion for surfing. It seems obvious that a surfer would eventually take an interest in his own surfboard and how it works. That interest led me to try my hand at shaping: first my own boards, and then my friends’. The ability to tweak things here and there and then feel the effects on a board’s performance is truly a satisfying experience. To be able to work with other surfers and shape someone else’s magic board is even better. To learn the craft and supplement my own business, I worked as a production shaper for ten years. Under labels like Xanadu, Evolution (Wayne Lynch,) and SB Surfboards, I was able to shape and see first hand what the top surfers in the world ride. All of my production work influenced what I shape and surf today, and gave me the opportunity to shape tons of boards. Production shaping also introduced me to the computer shaping machines. While I understand their importance for doing large numbers of surfboards, I feel that computer shaping has taken some creativity out of the process. I find that the entire process of hand shaping a board gives the shaper ultimate freedom. Whether it’s a high-performance shortboard or a funky, retro twin fin, each board deserves the full attention and focus of the shaper. I think it’s through that attention to detail that magic boards are born. My goal as a custom shaper is to provide individual surfers the surfboards that work best for them. Also to let them take part in the process, whether it’s through discussing design or simply choosing an airbrush. There’s something different about riding a board that was created specifically for you. In the end, surfing should be about feeling good and doing what you want, and your surfboard should reflect that.