(Photo: Laurent Chantegros)
I LOVE shaping surfboards and I'm kinda obsessed with this craft. Even though I am about to shape my 243th board I'm still considering myself as a novice but I hope to become a master one day... This blog is a virtual portfolio and a diary of my journey in the shaping world. Feel free to leave comments or contact me directly at valerie@meremadesurfboards.com.

Valerie Duprat
-Shaper of Mère-Made Surfboards

Sunday, November 8, 2020

Board#165: longboard for Jade

 

Jade & her Dragon in Malibu (2017)

Dimensions: 9'0 x 22 x 2 3/4

[completed in August 2017]


The story: Jade heard about me from the Wahine Kai Women's Surfclub and ordered a board for herself and her husband (board#166). She lives in Los Angeles area and the ordering process happened through emails. It is always a pleasure to shape Wahine Kai's members!


The shape: 9'0 longboard single fin with a Vee tail.


The artwork: Jade always had dragons on her boards. I was happy to perpetuate the tradition since I am a big fan of dragons myself! I spraypainted the Beast and Tiger G glassing glassed it with a beautiful polish finish.








Friday, December 27, 2019

board#164: first board for my daughter

Happy

Dimensions: 5'8 x 19 5/8 x 2 1/2
[completed in July 2017]
Model Versatile

The story: my 8 year-old daughter was playing in the white wash in Costa Rica when a girl passed by on her way out to the line-up. That girl was probably 11 year old at most and surfed really good. But the way she looked (down) at Victoria decided my daughter she will surf as good as her one day, or even better! Since that day, and from her own will, Victoria has been surfing 3-4 times a week and compete in regional surf contest. This board was her first one.

The shape: for a first board, the goal was an easy paddle into the waves as a priority. I made an eggy board that had a generous outline but with proper concave on the bottom and a progressive rocker. 

The artwork: I have a hard time saying "no" to my daughter. She knows how to play with the mommy cord... Anyway, she decided she would have food on her board. Her favorite sweets from USA and France: Cupcakes and Macaroons ! I bought the perfect image on a stock website and have it printed on rice paper by Boardlams. Then the magic of my Dewi Malopsi, my glasser and owner of Tiger Glassing, operated. She laid in the printed rice paper on the painted board and added glitter on the pinline ! 

This board is and will always be very special to my heart.











Wednesday, December 25, 2019

board#163: shortboard for stranger



Dimensions: 5'4 x 18 1/4 x 2 1/8
[completed in May 2017]

The story: sometimes I cut at the wrong dimension. But I can't throw away unfinished blanks. So I finished them. Like that cute little shortboard that found its owner at Encinitas Surfshop.

The shape: improvised shortboard shape to accommodate issue mentioned in the section above.

The artwork: when I have a free pass for artwork, I do my favorite thing: stripes!!