I met Matt Kinoshita (board#155)

Dimensions: 6'2 x 18.7" x 2.4"

[shaped in December 2016]

Model Velociraptor (from the flash flood warning, blocking the moutain road on my way to Matt's shaping room... I thought I'd see a T-rex crossing the road in my headlights)

The story: Matt Kinoshita is the master shaper and owner of Kazuma Surfboards, one of the most prestigious surfboard brands worldwide, based in Maui. Matt is not only known for his amazing shaper skills but also for openly sharing his shaping secrets on social media. In addition to a Youtube channel, Matt regularly posts on his instagram account to his loyal 31K followers. He honestly tackles some controversial topics of the surfboard industry and teaches his shaping techniques without holding anything back. He also takes the time to answer most of the questions from his followers. Instagram is where I got my golden ticket for Matt's shaping bay... He offered me to come visit him in Maui and I didn't sleep on his offer. I immediatly booked my ticket.  

Few weeks later, I landed in Maui with my respirator in my small luggage. I left my family in CA as I knew it would be an intensive training with Matt for most of the day. I had booked a small room through Air B&B in the mountains. My night table had some local delicacies and ear plugs for the loud roosters singing all night long. My host was a japanese single mom, Tomo. She became my friend as we were sipping local beers and dining together, after a long dusty day. Matt might be a cyborg from the future: he doesn't sleep! The first day, I got a late start, meaning meeting him at 6am. One day he texted me at 4.30am saying he was done with his work for the day and I could come over for training! I remember texting back that I needed to wait for the Starbucks to open (at 5am) to drink my coffee before I could fonction properly :) The 5 days went fast. I was expecting to be watching him running his factory but Matt had planned to make time for me during which he was 100% dedicated to my training. He took on his own time to teach me his legendary techniques while sharing his point of view on the surf industry. My head was hurting every single evening from the huge amount of priceless information I had to digest. I actually took a lot of notes from which I made a powerpoint presentation at the end of the training. Yes, Matt is a living legend of shaping but I has been also lucky to get to know the man behind the mask: not everyone knows it but Matt is also an active firefighter, a highly graded jujitsu master, a family man and of course an incredible surfer. Despite his very complex schedule he managed to make me feel a special guest. I'll be eternally grateful for his welcome.

The shape: of course I got to shape during my training. This board I had to make was a kind of end-of training test. I had to shape Matt himself, his favorite board. Yep. BIG DEAL. He gave me a sheet of paper on which was printed a CNC machine file 3D view of the board with full dimensions. When I shaped that board I was so stressed that I made few mistakes that I spent much time trying to correct. I was bit disappointed with my performance and I could have done much better, at home with my own tools. The board still came out great and I took all the feedback in (more learning !). Matt glassed it to surf it. He said it was a good board. Such a unique opportunity. An honor to have shaped a board on which Matt put his logo next to mine.

The artwork: Just plain white. Because the goal was shaping, not spray painting. Actually our two logos looked so good that no artwork was needed.

with his son, operating the CNC machine

Matt gave me some home work !!! :)

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.

I met Tim Bessell

Tim Bessell in his studio/art gallery

Since I have been shaping I happened to meet legend shapers, Donald Takayama, Carl Ekstrom, Eric Arakama, Robert August (click on the names to see the related posts)...Today I am very stoked to document my meeting with another iconic shaper, Tim Bessell. Not only he personally gave me a tour of his famous studio/gallery in La Jolla but I had the immense honor to watch the Master hand shaping one of his model from A to Z. As I was standing there, I listened religiously to all the techniques/tricks he was describing to me. I was blown away by the experience-driven precision behind each of his move. No parasite movement. Everything is technically optimized for efficiency and accuracy. I have to deeply thank Tim for turning my casual visit into a private shaping tutorial. 

This experience in the shaping room with Tim Bessell will definitely change my approach of shaping. Technically and spiritually.

visit his website: http://www.bessellsurf.com

May his shaping Force be with me ;)

I met Eric Arakawa

I can’t believe what just happened during my Hawaiian vacation.

I was staying at my very good friend and international waterman/athlete Rico Leroy when one afternoon he took me to visit his friend… Eric Arakawa!

The factory was 5 min away from the house. Too short of a drive to realize that I was about to meet a worldwide acclaimed master shaper.  In front of him, my brain just froze. As a consequence I felt stupid when he was the one asking me questions… He picked up the Mère-Made board I bought to show him and started inspecting it with his ultra-expert eyes. I was paralyzed. Fortunately we stayed long enough so that I could relax and start being less shy. 

Also, despite his iconic status he was very accessible and willing to spend some time talking to me. I was blew away by his modesty.

I left with a goodbye instead of a farewell as I am determined to come back next year with more time for some shaping action!

I will never forget the day I met Eric Arakawa.

looking at the padawan mistakes