(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

Friday, March 29, 2013

The beginning of it



my "lipstick" board was my very first step
in the surfboard making adventure
(although I only did the paint job)

As a backyard shaper, I get the following question a lot: " how did you get into this??"
Well, it all started because of a trashed surfboard. I can't stand wasting food but also anything else which could have a second life. I took the board home and brought it back to a useful life (click here to read details about the make-over). A few weeks after, I had the visit of my friends David Charbonnel and his partner Fredo. He's the owner and shaper of SWOP Surfboards, a very successful surfboard company in France. He convinced me that I could give a try to creating the shape itself! He has been my mentor since then and his boards are my inspiration (click here to read about my SWOP workshop).

Last week-end I took my "first board" out. I got the couple of usual  comments about how special (and very pink :)) this board is, which made me realize the reason behind Mère-Made Surfboards: I crave for original creations which will reflect the rider's personality, like surfing on a tattoo.

guys tend to think that a girl on a very pink board will not charge.
Bad mistake.

(Thank you honey for all the pretty pictures)



1 comment:

  1. what a perfect day to go surf!! i love your idea that every board should be unique, like surfing on a tattoo. very original imagery. and yes, you kill it on that board!!

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