board#162: Switchfoot board !

Dimensions: 5'6 x 19 1/2 x 2 1/4
[completed in June 2017]
Model Voldemort

The story: I love my town. I try to give back to my community as much as I can. Last year, I donate a board for the Ecke Magdalena YMCA which basically raised my children (click here for the story). This time I picked to help my favorite band. Switchfoot is an Encinitas-based christian band who rock not only by their music but also from deeply caring for people in need. Every year they throw a huge free concert at Moonlight Beach to raise money for a cause, usually helping children from our community. During this event, they host a fundraiser party where they auction donations. I made a Switchfoot surfboard for this event. Few days before the auction, Vincent, my husband and I surprised the band during a soundcheck before a Del Mar fair concert. I was so shy that I sent Vincent to hand off the board while I was hiding in the crowd. But Switchfoot frontman, Jon Foreman, paused the soundcheck to thank me for the donation (see video below). Later this week, I hard that the board sold for $1,000 and the couple who bid on it decided to give the board as a present to the Switchfoot who are excellent surfers.  That was the last new about that very special board.

The shape:  I thought the board would need to stand out for an auction and I went for an unusual shape, the Voldemort model I created for my friend Clement. But I made sure the volume would be generous enough to allow the board to be surfed my a majority of potential bidders. 

The artwork: the artwork was a no brainer: Switchfoot logo ! I loved it so much I wanted to keep the board :) 

board#119: longboard for Rico Leroy (at Arakawa factory!!!!!!!)

COLLECTOR PICTURE!

Dimensions: undisclosed
[completed in December 2015]

The story: this story is a true fairy tale for shaper. It all started in 2014 when I got to have a tour of the Eric Arakawa Designs factory by Eric himself. This already sounded like a fairy tales just to meet one of my favorite shapers (if not my favorite) and I am so grateful to my friend Rico Leroy for making this happen (click here to see that story). At the end of the tour, Eric offered me come back to see him shape... And then I almost cried because I was leaving the next day... BUT I came back a year after, and sure enough I had not forgotten his offer! I didn't see him shape but he lend me his own shaping bay to shape a performance longboard for Rico. I got to use an original Arakawa template to trace the outline. I also used his tools. But the very best part was to have Eric commenting on my techniques and giving me precious tips. I was so honored to be there. I will never forget that experience.

The shape: Before I started the shape, Rico and I went in the showroom and deeply looked at a longboard he really liked. We studied it for 30 min and then Eric came with the corresponding US bank and template. I was totally immersed in Arakawa universe: I was like shaping under hypnosis. Of course, my shape was not "Arakawa-perfect. But Eric's advices while shaping it, made the board and the whole experience magical. 

The artwork: Rico had a print from his sponsor to put on the deck. However he insisted to have a spray of Buttons' famous triangle pattern on the tail (bottom) to remember his friend. We didn't have much time and not much tools (we were outside the factory in full sun) to make that artwork. But somehow we pulled it off. Not perfect but the laughs we got out of it is making up for the imperfections.

Testimonial: it is Rico's board of choice when he longboards on the North Shore !! That is all I need to say!

Collector picture with two legends, both named Eric

cute Hilo gets to ride it too !!

I met Eric Arakawa (Part 2)

board#119 is autographed by Eric Arakawa
(happy owner of the board, Rico on the right)

Last March, while vacationing in Haleiwa (Hawaii) I got to meet fo the first time Eric Arakawa (see post here). I visited his factory and had chat with him at the end of which he offered me to come back for an actual shaping session. Unfortunately, I had to pass on this incredible opportunity because I was leaving the next day... (Sigh).

This year, my family and I were planning to go back to the North Shore to spend Christmas with our friend's Rico & Elodie when I got a text from Rico saying:

"I want you to shape my new longboard when you come to Haleiwa"

"you will be shaping it at Eric Arakawa Designs factory..."

"... under Eric's supervision himself"

"Merry Christmas Val !!!!"

I dropped the cell phone. I think I fainted a bit. I definitely went speechless for a full minute. Then I went hysterical (like Tom Cruise in Risky Business ;)). I could not believe it. Until I was there, in Eric's shaping room, ready to shape the board I still could not believe it.

Everything went so fast, like in a dream.

I landed on Oahu with my shaping mask in my luggage. The very next day I was heading to Eric Arakawa Designs factory with Rico. The whole team there was very busy but Eric found some time to set me up in his shaping room. He showed me his tools (I got to use his own planer !!!!) and the templates I could use for the 9'0 longboard I was about to shape. Rico stayed in the shaping room for the tracing/cutting of the outline. Eric showed me some tricks about the outline. Then, the shaping room went silent. Rico and Eric left me alone with the blank.  It was show time. I knew Eric would come back to check on the shape. I knew I had to give all I had in me. I could not allow myself to disappoint neither Eric or Rico. Huge pressure.

Halfway done, Eric inspected the board from all angles (and even some more angles I didn't know!). He pointed at some parts that could be worked on (but only an expert eye could see so he said not to bother). The next time he looked at it, I had corrected the details he mentioned earlier. He was surprised I had taken action on those and said that most people (shapers) don't even see what he is talking about ... I was soooooo proud about his compliment. It meant the world to me. 

Once the board finished and reviewed by Eric he signed it with me... This was the cherry on the cake. "Viewed and admired by Eric Arakawa"... It can't get any better than this, right? 

Thank you Eric for your warm welcome and availability despite the craziness of  Christmas time. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity. 

Thank you Rico for making this happen. Best Christmas gift ever. Truly.

board#059: longboard for Rico Leroy

(Photo: Christophe Brachet)

Dimensions: 9'0 x 22 x 2 7/8
[completed in July 2014]

The story: Pro surfer Rico Leroy is the “French Laird Hamilton”.  From SUP, OC, longboard, canoe surfing, big wave riding, Rico is a complete ocean athlete. His record of achievement is multi-disciplinary and the list I so long I would just refer you to his webpage: here.  Amongt that list, I would mention his recent title of Tandem Surfing World Champion he won last year with his partner Sarah Burel. Tandem surfing is actually how we crossed path many years ago when I used to compete with Fred Branger.  Rico and Sarah were always eager to share their aloha and lift tricks with other tandem couples. Although rivals in the line-up we rapidly became friends. Even if I stopped competing (as my partner moved away from US), tandem surfing is still deeply anchored in my heart and I would not miss an opportunity to go out for an occasional session, specially with The world champion!!! (Scroll down and you will see some pictures of Rico and I tandem surfing)

The shape:  The idea of shaping a longboard for such a professional water man was mind blowing. It was a huge deal for me. I had a couple of sleepless nights with cold sweat.  His instructions about the dimensions were very minimal and I just had to go with my guts on an improvised shape.  I was at SWOP Surfboards factory and I stole David Charbonnel’s favorite longboard template to create the outline. The rest of the shape was intuitive and supervised by Master SWOP himself.

The artwork: “black/red/grey” was the only requirement from Rico.  I fetched the masking tape and start playing with lines it to create a modern and masculine design. As usual, I used the blank as a color (white) which turned out an ideal spot for Rico’s sponsors’ stickers.

The glassing was done at Eclipse Surfboards in Cap-Ferret (France). 

Special thanks to David Charbonnel for the board pictures.

 

shaping board #059 in Canejan
(SWOP shaping room)

Photo: Corey Walter. Swamis 2013.

San Onofre (2014)

Switchfoot surfboard follow-up

Hubby with his board posing with Chad Butler (drums) and Tim Foreman (bass)
at the Switchfoot Bro-am 

Two month ago my husband received a very special board which I shaped for Father's day: it is autographed by all the members of the Encinitas-based rock band Switchfoot, his favorite band. Yesterday they were throwing their annual Bro-am, a charity event featuring a surf contest and a free concert at Moonlight Beach. We went there hoping we could get a cool picture for my blog... Well, we got much more than that: Jon Foreman, the lead singer, asked me to tell the story of the making-off of the board in front of a camera crew for their up-coming movie. Crazy. I don't have any pictures of the interview because my husband was so speechless that he totally forgot to document that moment... But I did take some pictures of him with the Switchfoot (blogger reflex :)) which was just right on time for Father's day. 

looks like Jon Foreman struggled understanding
a strong french accent 

Hurrah! The board got Jon's attention :)