board#151: funboard for Emma

Emma and her first board

Dimensions: 7'6 x 22 x 2 7/8
[completed in January 2017]
Model Vitamin Sea

The story: I met Laurent Chantegros at the Boardroom in 2015, 10 min before entering the glass shaping bay for the shaping demo. He took some amazing pictures of that session and he, since then, became The official Mere-Made Surfboard photographer ! Every shooting I am blown away by his creativity, always bringing something new and fresh (and making me look good at 45 year old !!!! That is magic right there !!!). This board is a gift to him and his family (his daughter Emma is picking up on surfing), for all the photos he let me use and the time he spends making sure Mere-Made Surfboards is never short in new photographic material. 

The shape: something simple, elegant but efficient at making sure that Emma enjoys her first surfing experience.

The artwork: in the same lines of simpleness, Emma asked for a polish on a white board. She picked that custom logo made by french artist Sebastien Arcouet. That board totally represents Emma who is a beautiful pure angel ! 

Fun time (and team work) putting the board on the car :)

As the shaper, I get to have a turn on the waves :)

board#071: egg for Eri

my favorite picture of Eri and her board
(and little Kasuki peeking out from behind)

Dimensions: 8'4 x 22 x 2 5/8
[completed in November 2014]
Model Vitamin Sea

The story: Eri and I met years ago surfing the same break. We quickly became friends. Years later, we are still surfing the same break and our kids are playing on the beach together. Eri is from Japan. She is a very talented artist-photographer. I really love her work (check her website here). This year she was the only photographer featured in a Nikon exhibit in Japan !!! I was so honored when she suggested a photoshoot in my shaping room (the pictures on the banners of this blog are hers), even more when she produced my first Mere-Made commercial last year (click here to see it). But I was the most honored when she ordered her own Mère-Made!

The shape: as long as I remember, I always saw Eri with the same epoxy funboard. She wanted something similar but … more manoeuverable. We took dimensions of her current board as it seems to be working well and narrowed it a bit.  I also made sure I keep some rocker because I have seen her charging on those big swells…

The artwork: Ahhhhh… the artwork…. I literally beg Eri to let me do a cherry blossom artwork on her board. I had this in mind forever and I just needed the right occasion. And here comes Eri who is …Japanese! She politely agreed with the idea without really picturing how it would look like. Then, when she saw the final product she fully adopted it ;) I painted everything by hand with a brush. It took me hours but, I don't regret it. My only regret might be that I had to let go of this board…

Glassing is done by the Global Glassing crew!

The testimonial: … is coming from other friends in the line-up who complained that Eri was catching too many waves… I guess that says it all.

That says "Eri" 

board#045: egg for Dawn

Dimensions: 7'4 x 21 1/4 x 2 3/4
[completed in April 2014]
Vitamin Sea model

The story: Last Christmas I was in charge of making a surprise gift from Sean to his lovely girlfriend Marcie: her first surfboard ever was a custom Mere-Made (click here for the full story)! This time, it was Christophe who ordered a birthday gift for his wife Dawn. Because she surfs already,  he couldn't make it a real surprise and she picked the shape and the artwork.

The shape: Dawn wanted an everyday board, meaning something she could ride in any conditions. She picked the Vitamin Sea model previously created for Tracy. I love shaping those boards with generous volumes. They feel like a lot fun in the shaping bay already!

The artwork: Dawn sent me a picture of a board with an artwork she liked. It had flames on it but she wanted different colors. I thought it would be a piece of cake but it was actually a nightmare to spray paint two touching colors on curvy motifs like flames. I spent hours on curvy masking on foam! This board is a perfect example of a "25-75er": 25% of my labor time was spent on the shaping for 75% on the painting! 

my daughter thought it was wise to put this fire out!

Board #016: egg for Tracy

Dimensions: 7'6 x 21 3/4 x 2 3/4
[Completed in November 2012]
Vitamin Sea model

I have known my friend Tracy for years. We cross path several times a year, usually surfing the same break. She is a really really good surfer. In fact, you know her too... She is the girl who inspired the silhouette on the surfer girl crossing sign (yellow sign). Cool, isn't it?

 Last time we met in the line-up she expressed her interest in having a board shaped by me. When we met for the "debriefing" she had a very precise idea about her dream board and that is why I invited her to visit me in the shaping room while the board was in progress. She mentioned a couple of things she wanted me to change, which I did, "live,  in front of her. It was the first time ever I let someone in the shaping room while shaping! (I get really shy and goofy when somebody is observing me :)) But it was pretty cool that she was able to witness the nose of her board getting rounder, as she was actually picturing it in her head. I also removed a bit of volume here and there.

We also worked together on the design. She actually sent me a sketch of what she would like (it is a first too!).  She insisted on a teal color for the background with large purple orchids. I loved the idea!!!

The board was glassed at Global Glassing with a semi-gloss finish. Special thanks to Marty, owner of Artic Foam for recommending The perfect blank with The perfect rocker! 

Again,  I wish I could keep this board but it is now Tracy's. My heart melted when I saw Tracy's huge smile when she came to pick it up today! I can't wait to hear some feed-back from her. She promised I could try it next time we go surfing together. See you soon Tracy!

board#016 with new owner, Tracy

love at first sight

Tracy and fiance, Bruno

When not surfed, board#16 makes a great house decoration :)

yep, that is Tracy on the sign! so cool...

12/10/12 update: here is the text I got from Tracy:
"I surfed until it was pitch dark! Didn't want to get out of the water. Even though the waves were small I was able to catch them easily. Can't wait for a decent day and test again. The board carries a little heavy, but could be from thickness or type of foam used? Super fun!"

12/12/12 update: new text from Tracy:
"Surfed again till dark! This time in P.B. Bit bigger, maybe 1-2', haha, but has nice speed,could not make it around all sections but I think its due to wave size. I had a little ripper kid see a wave I caught and he gave me a big hoot and a 10 score, so funny"