There’s a little secret I want to share with you. If you are riding an Al Merrick surfboard right now, or have owned one anytime within the last 10 years, there is a very high likelihood that Al Merrick did not actually shape that board. “That’s because Britt is the shaper now,” you might think. Well, there’s a great chance that he didn’t shape that board either.
If you’ve got a …Lost board, Biolos probably didn’t scrub it, or if you’re riding a Chilli, James Cheal might not have made your board. What I am telling you is that there is such a thing as a Ghost Shaper.
This isn’t the most popular truth in the industry, but it is true. If you live in a big enough surf town and you spend enough time around a factory, you can quickly find out who makes boards for what brands. Do you think Jason Stevenson is flying back and forth between Australia and the US to shape stock boards for his NSW, and his Oceanside JS Industry storefronts? He’s not.
So what? Why does it matter if there is another guy shaping boards under the label? I guess it doesn’t, so long as you don’t mind paying an extra $50 to $200 for your board, waiting an extra week or so, and you don’t care about supporting local business.
I browsed a handful of local shapers and compared prices to the top board manufacturers on the Vissla Shaper rankings. The most expensive shortboard shaper in my vicinity is still $15 less than the least expensive board you can find from any of the Big 5. Now factor in the time. Every board I’ve ordered from a local shaper they say 4-6 weeks, that’s basically the industry standard, but it’s usually ready before then. I think I’ve gotten a board late once, out of 15+ years. Now, keep in mind that I’m not talking about backyard guys. I’m talking about local shapers who actually know what they’re doing – guys who have been in business a while and lasted.
Of course you might be thinking – I want a board that works. Well isn’t that what we just talked about? If you can find a local guy (or gal) who’s been around long enough, chances are they are, or have been, a ghost shaper. Which means they are talented enough to get the approval from these bigger companies that you adore. They know how to shape boards, and they won’t make you a dog.
Also, most boards come off of a machine anyway. As long as you don’t have a guy who royally fucks up the design file, you should be fine. It’s just a scrub up after that. It still takes skill, but it’s cut out a tremendous portion of the learning curve and the work process.
On a side note – I’m not sure what the fuck some of you guys and girls are thinking anyway.. Some of you can hardly get down the line, but you’re riding a $900 FireWire. Buying a Mayhem, CI or any other big name brand will not make you a better surfer. The logo underneath that fiberglass is not some magic fucking stamp that unlocks some unforeseen talent you had hiding up your sleeve.
Last reason I believe in ordering from local shapers – they actually give a shit. Some of ‘em. At the very least, it’s easier to have a face-to-face relationship with them. They’re not as worried about pumping out numbers each day, keeping up with a massive overhead, huge team base, online orders, shipping, shop stock, etc. After you order more than one board from them, the relationship usually starts to open up a bit more, and that’s when you’ll start to get your best boards. You’ll be able to ask questions and learn shit. It’s rad. Supporting local is the way to go.
If you’ve got any questions or need some suggestions, hit me up.
Cheers,
hwilsin
Drew Stanfield