board#147: funboard for Martina

bride and grom-to-be

Dimensions: 7'2 x 21 x 2 3/4
[completed on November 2016]
Model Vida

The story: The science world is small.  My best friend Carine who is a scientist like me, advertised Mere-Made Surfboards in her lab at the Salk Institute. Then, a colleague of her (Robert) contacted me to make a custom board for his scientist future wife (Martina). The board is an engagement gift for her. They are both Irish and going back to Ireland for the wedding. Congrats to Martina and Robert !!!

The shape: we talked about something that would be an easy to paddle into the wave with enough rocker to drop into steeper waves if needed. 

The artwork: Martina decided on a simple yet very feminine artwork (despite the non-usage of girly colors :))

The glass was done by Tiger G glassing.

going for the maiden voyage at my own spot 

<3

board#143: funboard for Alyson

Alyson and her mermaid on her Mere-Made

Dimensions: 7'8 x 22 1/2 x 2 7/8
[completed in September 2016]
model Vida

The story: Alyson is a very dynamic make-up artist whose side job is to organize girls-only surfing trips to Nicaragua. She came from Atlanta to order her special board that will be part of her adventures in Nicaragua. She had a very special plan for the artwork...

The shape: Alyson needed something similar she was surfing on, with a bit more rocker to leave room for improvement, when time comes she would drop on stepper, more powerful, nicaraguan waves. 

The artwork: like me Alyson is obsessed with mermaids, and I think that is why she reached out to me. Because I would understand her artwork plan and fully embrace it. I totally loved the idea. She was going to get her leg tattooed with a beautiful original artwork from a tattoo artist. She simply wanted the same mermaid on her board. I got in touch with the artist and got s high definition file of his work which was printed on fiberglass by Boardlams. The mermaid was glassed in !

instagram post showing the parallel work between the tattoo artist and I

Board#030: funboard for Sean('s girlfriend)

Dimensions: 7'8 x 22 1/2 x 2 7/8
[completed in October 2013]
Model Vida

The story: Sean works at Illumina. He heard about my shaping business through Keith (see board#026 link here) who is always willing to advertise for "his personal shaper":)  Sean and I had coffee one morning and that is when I heard the cutest story: he wanted to order a special board for a very special person in his heart: his girlfriend. He wants to surprise her for Christmas with her first surfboard (she does not even surf yet… How cool is that to get a custom board as a your first board ever ???!!!).

The shape: Although Sean knew exactly the artwork she would like, he was not very sure about what shape. I suggested one of my "best-seller" shape which I have done a couple of times: funboard for fun rides. I used board#021 template and kept a generous volume on the rails for a maximum paddling ability. The glass/pinline was done at Global Glassing.

The artwork: most of the discussions/email exchanges with Sean was around the artwork. Sean had a very precise idea of the vibe she would like: tropical/tiki/palm tree/beach. We went back and force with some ideas  for a couple of days without taking a decision… until Sean sent me a zipped file with some designs that his neighbor and friend, Rex Anthony, kindly put together for him. Rex owns a marketing company called "Regarding X". It was not difficult to give two thumbs up on one of the suggested artwork! Still brought a bit of my own touch (sorry, I can't help it!).  I worked hard on the painting, till dark, to make sure to finish it on time for Xmas. Marcy, I don't know who you are but I know one thing: you will get a pretty damn good looking first board for Xmas. Isn't this gift saying more than a diamond on a ring??? Just saying…. :)

Sean ordered board#030

Shaper/ future owner/designer 

Global Glassing did a great job on the pinline

The PG-13 picture :)

board#021: funboard for Carolyn

shorebird on surfboard

Dimensions: 7’6 x 22 1/2 x 3

[Completed on May 2013]
model Vida

The shape: When my friend and surf fellow Carolyn asked me a custom board she knew exactly what she wanted: a replicate of her actual board which was starting to show signs of aging after a decade of regular use. It was an Hawaiian shape which worked very well for her. I copied the template and decided to remove a bit of volume of the rails as I knew, by surfing with Carolyn sometimes, that she no longer needed that extra foam. Except for that, I tried to make that board as similar as her beloved board. Funboards are actually a lot of fun to shape: not as tiring as working on a full length longboard and not as technical as a performance shortboard.

The artwork: The artwork actually took me more time that the shape itself! Carolyn came to discuss what she would like: “something that would represent her” was of course the priority. She is a marine biologist with a special passion for shorebirds. She brought me some of her books and we search the web together. She decided for a particular shore bird, -sorry I don't remember the actual name of it-, her favorite. While browsing through some of my previous boards, she really likes Michelle’s Mo (the seahorse funboard) so I adapted the shorebird to that design. The neutral color were my pick to match the sand/ocean theme. I also suggested a polish finish as it keeps the colors sharper. Here is my first surfboard for ornithologist! I am sure Carolyn will fly on this :)

Carolyn with her daughter Oceana and her new "baby"

Did I mention that Carolyn is also a professional flamenco dancer?

Carolyn visiting my shaping room with her adorable kids

first wave!

happy surfer!

Sweet welcoming from Carolyn's son