Is shaping surfboards all that should matter at the Boardroom? Photo: Green
Mark Richards was a great choice for this year’s honoree at the show. World champion surfer, great shaper and, from what I understand, a very nice guy and a class act.
As I have grown to expect from the show, there were many old and new surfboards on display as well as surfboard shaping demonstrations. I ogled the boards, talked to many world class surfboard shapers and watched with the rest of the crowd as several of my heroes mowed some foam. But in the days after the show I have begun to wonder. When does a hand plane shaper get into the “in honor of” slot at the show? Or a Paipo shaper? How about a surf mat maker?
Swim fin makers and knee board designers have all made contributions both large and small to our sport over the years but don’t seem to be represented on the marquee, the shaping booth or on the show floor to any great extent. Body boards have been and continue to be ridden by more people in more places than any other surf craft. When does Tom Morey get the nod he so richly deserves?
Can we really celebrate surfing and the people that design our surf toys if we are only looking at one facet of the sport? Inclusion of the many other approaches to wave riding would add so much to the show. My advice is for the producers of the show is to close their eyes, take a deep breath and picture all the things we love to do in the ocean and to try to include them in the next show.
