board#125: egg for Maylane

Isn't she a beauty? I am talking about Maylane!!!

Dimensions: 6'6 x 21 5/8 x 2 5/8
[completed in September 2016] 
Vintage 17 model

The story: like her twin sister Laurane [see board#102], Maylane fully embraces her new californian lifestyle since her family moved to California two years ago. Therefore she really wants to give surfing a try. This board is her first non-foamy surfboard ! And I was so happy she picked me to shape her first real surfboard!

The shape: since Maylane has to get familiar to her new water activity, I decided to make her an easy to-paddle-in-the-wave board on which she can improve on for some time and also easy to carry under the arm. 

The artwork: It is Maylane's grand-father himself who created the digital artwork for especially for her. It features edelweiss' flowers which symbolize Switzerland (Maylane's country) intermingled with hibiscus found in SoCal. It was printed out on fiberglass by Boardlams to create that wrap-around-rail effect.

With her sister Laurane who got a board too :)

board#080: egg for Nicolas (Keltic Surf Academy 4/5)

the only picture of board#080 (the one in the middle).

Dimensions: 6'8 x 21 1/8 x 2 1/2
[completed in January 2015]
model Vintage 17

The story: Fourth board shaped for a group of french surfers coming to SoCal for a surf trip (see details of the story here). This one was for Nicolas. Hard for me to write about Nicolas as we barely communicated.  I got this message from the organizer of the surf trip:

"Nicolas -> 1m73 65kg

niveau débutant/intermédiaire

Ca sera sa première board

Souhait: une board passe partout en 6’2 avec un peu de volume pour la rame. Monté en 2+1

Il surfe des beachbreak classique en bretagne"

In brief it was his first board ever and it sounded like he was just starting surfing. Then I exchanged a couple of one sentence emails with Nicolas directly. Clearly, that board was a necessity. That was probably the Mere-Made customer with who I had the least interaction ever! But it seems it was part of the deal not to have to worry about his board.

The shape: Because of the very limited directions given, I had the chance to pick the shape I wanted to. I went with an outline I really like and I know works for intermediate surfer, the Vintage 17 model. Always a lot of fun to shape, except for the channels!

The artwork: pretty much the same story as for the shape. Nicolas could not care less about what was painted on his board. Because of the time constraint (I needed to make 5 boards within a month), I decided to do a very simple artwork, using the same color I had ready in the spray-gun for another board ;)

board#067: egg for Paul

Paul & board#067

Dimensions: 6'10 x 21 x 2 3/4

[completed in October 2014]

Model Vintage 17

The story: Paul is a software engineer at my day job work place, Illumina. The word is starting to spread over there that I shape surfboards on the side… That is why one day I got a non-work related email in my work email box. It was Paul asking for a board meeting. Paul came very prepared to the meeting. He knew exactly the shape he wanted, the dimensions, every single detail without me having to ask. The fastest custom board order in Mère-Made history!

The shape: Paul wanted the Vintage 17 model (Astro egg inspired shape) I already shaped for Keith (board#026) and Loick (board#033). I had the template ready. I made the rails very foiled to Paul’s request.

The artwork: no artwork from me this time. Paul wanted a Garibaldi orange resin tint which was nicely done by ad at Global Glassing.

Testimonial: here the text message I received from paul : “… Here’s what I think from the board: it’s totally rad. I am selling my other boards.” But the best testimonial is that Paul just placed an order for two more Mère-Mades ;)

traditional channels on the Vintage 17 model

board#033: egg for Loick

Loick and Laeticia welcoming their new baby: board#033!

Dimensions: 6'8 x 21 5/8 x 2 1/2

[completed in december 2013]

The story:

Loic got his new Mere-Made surfboard last November (click here to see it).

He told his friend Loick about it.

Loick placed an order (with wine and cheese).

Loick got his board too last January.

Loic and Loick are now surfing together on their respective Mere-Made surfboards.

The shape: Loick who started surfing a year ago is so passionate about it that he was ready to move on from his longboard to a smaller size board. He noticed the Astro egg inspired shape I made for Keith (click here) and asked for a slightly longer version. Because I already had the template ready to go, the shaping part was straight forward and easy.

The artwork: (that is where things get more complicated) This section is always a sensitive matter as a custom board comes custom in shape AND artwork. Loick approached me with the ideas of 1) a geiko holding a Belgium and a California flag 2) a side of French fries including somewhere a Belgium flag. Although I acknowledged all those ideas coming at me, I told him I would “think about it”. If you hear that from me, that is a bad sign… That is usually my way of saying “I don’t like it at all” (Remember that if we happen to discuss artwork together ;)). However I deeply thought about what Loick wanted to convey on his board: he is a Belgium guy who loves to surf in California. I suggested a California flag with a reference to Belgium in the star (I have to admit that I wanted to do the California bear design for a long time). He was nice enough to accept my idea without further discussion. Conclusion: at Mere-Made surfboard you get “custom artwork upon artist acceptance”.

Testimonial: no testimonial recorded or documented because I was sitting in the line-up next to Loick when he got to try his board for the first time…According to the number of waves he got that day and the big smile on his face, I am pretty sure he likes his board!

"MINE!"

First time in the water with shaper = spoiled customer!!!

Stoked

like a pro surfer, Loick has fans

board#026: egg for Keith

"Speed, I am speed..." (Cars movie)

Dimensions: 6'6 x 21 5/8 x 2 5/8
[completed in September 2013]

The story: shaping is a hobby. For a living I am a scientist in the R&D department of biotech called Illumina. Part of my duties is to make sure the lab I am working in is in compliance with the company safety rules. If I don't enforce the rules, I know someone, from the Environmental Health and Safety Department, who will be very mad: Keith. Not that there was an incident in my lab but we happened to talk about surfing, then shaping, then shaping Keith's next board. 

The shape: one Saturday Keith came to my house with his lovely family (wife, baby and mom!). Keith "inspected" my shaping room and made sure I was wearing my PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) at all time! :)  We then visited several surf shops including Surf Surfy which had a couple of Astro eggs shaped by Gary Hanel. Keith really liked this model and we decided to start from here. Back in the shaping room, I was facing a new challenge: shaping some channels for the first time... It took me two rounds to make them right!

The artwork:   Keith gets all the credit for this very fun race car design. Although we met to "discuss" the artwork, I sat very very quiet mainly because I was enthusiastic by all the great ideas he was throwing in. Orange board with race car stripes? I am in! The day after I received a very precise sketch of what he wanted. The number 17 means something special to him and the board is dedicated to his son Ashton, born this year. The actual paint job took me a whole week: each color needs a re-masking of the full board! Plus it is always challenging to keep those lines straight. All the hard work paid off (I think)! The outstanding polish glass was made at Bing Surfboards. 

Based on the number of new customers that Keith brought me (two new orders from Illumina since this board), I have the feeling that Keith is a happy and proud new Mère-Made Surfboard owner!

detailled instructions sketched
by the board owner

my first channels