board#096: shortboard for Aiden

Dimensions: 5'2 x 18 x 2 3/16
[completed in May 2015]

The story: I had shaped Aiden's first board  8 months before [click here for board#065] and he had a good feeling on it. But Aidan had grew fast since then and he needed another one.

The shape: We discussed the evolution from his previous board and I worked from there. I added more foam toward the nose (rounder) and less on the rail (more falling). As a shaper it is easier to shape board#2 for a rider as he knows what to keep and what to change. Even at a young age like Aiden.

The  artwork: Aiden asked for a white board which gives more space for the sponsors' stickers ;)

board#084: shortboard for Addy

Addy "AJ" with her board

dimensions: 5'5 x 18 3/4 x 2 1/4
[completed in February 2015]

The story: Mom has a Mère-Made board (board#074), Big Brother has a Mère-made (board#065)... Naturally, Addy wanted her own too !!! Addy is this adorable girl who  loves to hang out in the waves. Wait... I made a board for a little mermaid!!

The shape: Addy was very very clear about her board: she wanted to DUCK DIVE it. and to have a POINTY NOSE. after discussing shapes for more than an hour with her and her family, she won: she will have a pointy shortboard which she could duck dived. I mixed template to give her the overall shape she wanted without losing too much paddling power and volume.

The artwork: Addy came up with green/pink colored striped. I came up with the idea of half stripes stopping at the stringer.

The testimonial ... is seeing her (and her mom!!) riding this board at my local surf spot!

the nail polish is matching the board ;)

cutest family

the shaping bug is contagious

It is mathematical:  Children like crafts + Shaping is a craft + Kids imitate their parents = My son asked to shape.

my son's first contact with shaping:
by playing with the left over foam

so fun to play with a saw
(mommy is closely supervising the activity)

board #001: shortboard for Valentin

dimensions: 5'5 x 19 x 2 1/8
[completed in april 2011]

I shaped this board for my 8 year old son. He was a beginner who needed a kid-size board (easy to carry down the trail under his arm) but floaty and stable. I imagined this kid shortboard for him. It is a very special piece as it was my very first time shaping a surfboard ever. The shape is far for being clean and I would definitely change many things if I had to do it again, now that I gained a bit more experience... but my son is very proud to have his very own board (signed by Rob Machado, by the way ;)) The fin system is FCS plugs with Soft-Tech fins (safer for kiddos' heads!). The glass was done by Moonlight Glassing Co.

The bright green color illustrates a leaf on which the shadow of a tree frog contrasts.  

For more details, check out this link from my "eat, surf, love" blog:

http://surfmama101.blogspot.com/2011/03/mommy-shaped-my-board.html

Daddy gave the board a test-ride: