Mère-Made Surfboards: board#034: shortboard for Nicole

Isn't it the best testimonial ????

Dimensions: 5'7 x 18'' x 2'' 1/16
[completed in December 2013]

The story: Nicole is a 13 year old talented surfer who was in search of her next short board. Her Dad heard about my hobby and she was thrilled to have her board shaped by a girl… and likewise I was thrilled to shape a board for a girl.

The shape: Nicole brought her current board and she told me what she liked and what she did not like about it. From this discussion, I tried to make her new board by keeping all the positives and changed the negative points. I basically went for a less narrow nose for more flotation combined with narrower tail for better transitions. I was so excited to work on my first performance short board for a teenager girl !!!! The challenge came also from the very short timelines: I got a text from Nicole's dad showing her current board she just snapped in two pieces in Hawaii (yes, she is charging!). It was Shaping 911!! I got a little help for Nicole herself when she joined me in the shaping room to help finishing the fine sanding. She did a great job even though it is a bit intimidating to work on a board at that stage: the board is so fragile and vulnerable. Fearless like on the waves, she got the job done! Next generation of female shaper on the way :)

The artwork: All credits go to Nicole! She had her mind set on a very modern artwork and she made sure I accomplished it: she sent me sketches and came to my house with the colors she picked at Michaels. Love that determination in her!

Testimonial: the best testimonial is that Nicole picked this board for her latest trip to Kauai and sent some awesome shorts of her shredding on her Mere-Made! She also sent me that text: "Hi Valerie this is Nicole I wanted to let you know that the board works really well (insane) it's so fun the board paddles really well an then I stand up and ride the waves and do turns I don't dig my rail it is the perfect size too its better than any of the other surfboards I've had thank u so much." Thanks Nicole for trusting Mere-Made Surfboards! I am as stoked as you!