board#161: egg for Tanya

Dimensions: 6'6 x 21 1/2 x 2 3/4
[Completed in April 2017]
Model Vader

The story: Small world. Tanya is a tandem surfer. I used to be a tandem surfer too but before many years before her. So we never overlapped in the line-up. But our path crossed through surfing anyway. Like it was meant to be. The tandem surfing community is a like a family. Even if we don't know each other we are like "cousins" as we share the same passion in our blood (once a tandem surfer, always a tandem surfer). She expressed her wish to have a board shaped by me. It was such a great pleasure to make her "solo surfing" board.

The shape: As any tandem surfer, Tanya is mainly in the water with her partner on a huge tandem board. It takes a lot of hours of practice and only little left to surf on her own (speaking by experience). Therefore she asked for board with plenty of volume to catch tons of waves when she gets the chance to go out on her own. This egg also allows her to execute cute some turns if needed.

The artwork: Tanya's favorite artist is Chloe Early. She is obsessed with her paintings and asked me to have piece that was particularly meaningful to her on her board. It was tricky for me to blend a rectangle on a surfboard without breaking the lines of the outline. I went for a modern vibe with asymmetrical diagonal painted under the painting (which was printed on rice paper by Boardlams).  By respect for the artist, I contacted her to show the board and she was stoked for Tanya. Tanya was stoked too. I was stoked for Tanya. Therefore everyone was super stoked !

board#159: egg for Jeff

Dimensions: 5'9 x 22 1/4 x 3 1/4
[completed in March 2017]

The story: Jeff has been surfing with my husbands for ages. He has seen many of different Mere-Made boards under his feet... until he finally asked me for one :) I am always stoked to see that my shapes are good enough to convince excellent surfers to get one for themselves !

The shape: Jeff is a big guy who loves charging stormy Swamis. He wanted an eggy shape to get into the heavy surf without compromising the maneuverability. We roamed some surf shops to look for the shape and he left an old board he really liked for me to get inspired. The requirements were round tails with a vee and plenty of volume on the nose. Definitely an usual shape which I really enjoyed making.

The artwork: I was free of creating something that would illustrate Jeff's charging skills. I went for a irradiating red stripes on a black/grey fading. Glassing was done by Tiger Glassing.

board#157: egg for Carolyn

My daughter wanted to keep the polka-dot board

Dimensions: 6'9 x 21 1/2 x 3
[completed in February 2017]
Model Vader

The story: my friend Carolyn likes to surf funboard shapes (including one of mine: board #021) but needed a shorter board to fit in a small board bag to travel to Nicaragua... with us ! Indeed the Nicaraguan domestic airline Sanza we had to take to reach our destination has very limited "cargo" space and even weights passagers (with their backpacks :)). Making that board for Carolyn was preparing for adventure!

The shape: the goal was to compact the volume that Carolyn is used to surf into a smaller board, keeping all the paddling ability. The other requirement was to keep some rocker for the late drops into steep nicaraguan waves.

The artwork: Since Carolyn is professional flamenco dancer, it was easy to go for the traditional polka-dot pattern that is seen on all the beautiful flamenco dresses. The pattern was printed on rice paper by Boardlams and laid in by my glasser, Tiger Glassing who added a classy pinline.

a bit anxious before the plane ride

The polkadot board being downloaded from the Sanza plane !

Carolyn and I 

Carolyn in action 

Oceana also likes the board 

Oceana stoked on the inside

Carolyn and her family <3

board#154: funboard for Albert

Albert, his son and his board

Dimensions: (coming soon)

[completed on December 2016]

The story: Albert is a LaCrosse coach who also happens to surf when the conditions are favorable. He is also the husband of my friend Fatima, who like me is a scientist in San Diego. 

The shape: Albert asked for a shape that would accommodate for his occasional surfing without compromising too much the ability of the board to perform in more challenging conditions if necessary. We decided for an egg shape with a bit of rocker.

The artwork: per Albert's request, the artwork is based on his Lacrosse team color and logo. I used gold metallic paint for the spray. Glassing was done at Global Glassing (I think).

board#146: egg for Chris

Chris and his pink board :)

Dimensions: 7'2 x 22 2 7/8
[completed on November 2016]
Model Vortex

The story: Chris is an old friend of mine who ordered his first Mere-Made in the very early days of my shaping adventure with the number 013 [board#013]. When he was ready for his second Mere-Made board, I had 133 more hand-shaped board in my CV!!!  Always a great pleasure to shape for my dear friends!

The shape: Chris wanted one of those popular pintail shapes we see a lot around in SoCal. I based my shape on one of Mandala board (Avocet) and was not shy to ask him, the shaper of Mandala himself, for shaping tips in the line-up (since Manuel and I share the same home-spot).

The artwork: a burgundy resin tint over a tiki mask was the goal. The tiki was spot on, the color of the resin tit turned out more pink than red... I offered Chris to sell the board in store and remake another one since the color was not matching his vision. But Chris is an amazing human being and he said it was just happy with what he got. 

(Glass by Tiger G glassing)

[selected by Boardporn]

board#127: egg for Gauthier

Dimensions: 5'2 x 21 x 2 3/8
[completed in April 2016]
Model Viloute

The story: Gauthier is also a French expat who lives with his american family in San Francisco. He first contacted me to shape his wife a noserider (see Kendra's board here). But while we were arranging for that order, he decided to order himself an egg. Since they were coming from SF to pick-up a board, why not picking up two :)

The shape: If you know the Bean Bag from Lost, then you have an idea of which shape I used as a reference. Gauthier really liked that kind of shape and sent me a video explaining the characteristics of this board.  From there we worked together (through SKYPE sessions) to make sure we get the volumes/dimensions right for him. It took me two tries to make it as the first board was a bit too thin. I never hesitate to go back to the blank store and start from zero if I don't meet expectations. 

The artwork: Gauthier is a mastermind of design and he sent me a file showing exactly what he wanted. Mainly a 3 color fading design ! Unfortunately, I am not an paint expert so I did my best (like for the shape, I went back a second round) to make sure I go as close as possible to Gauthier's expectations... The result was slightly different than the original idea (colors were darker) but still surfs very well ... since I witnessed him taking his first waves on it :)

artwork sent by Gauthier

Gauthier's first wave at my home spot :)

board#126: egg for Mila

Dimensions: 5'2 x 21 x 2 1/2
[completed in June 2016]
Model Viloute

The story: when my husband learnt he would become the godfather of his best-friend to-be-born daughter, Mila, he immediately thought about giving her her first surfboard.  

The shape: for a special occasion, special shape: very round, no edges: baby-proof !!! :) This shape was inspired by the Bean Bag model from Lost to which I added aesthetic channels. So fun to shape except it almost didn't fit on the stand (too short!).

The artwork: also very straight forwards as I ordered a baby pink resin tint from my glasser, Dewi (Tiger Glass) who got the color perfectly. The decorative channels were meant to be filled with more tinted resin and therefore would appear darker. The white logo makes the board even more intended for a baby girl.

[selected by Boardporn]

Happy Godfather with happy father...
(France, July 2016)

board#125: egg for Maylane

Isn't she a beauty? I am talking about Maylane!!!

Dimensions: 6'6 x 21 5/8 x 2 5/8
[completed in September 2016] 
Vintage 17 model

The story: like her twin sister Laurane [see board#102], Maylane fully embraces her new californian lifestyle since her family moved to California two years ago. Therefore she really wants to give surfing a try. This board is her first non-foamy surfboard ! And I was so happy she picked me to shape her first real surfboard!

The shape: since Maylane has to get familiar to her new water activity, I decided to make her an easy to-paddle-in-the-wave board on which she can improve on for some time and also easy to carry under the arm. 

The artwork: It is Maylane's grand-father himself who created the digital artwork for especially for her. It features edelweiss' flowers which symbolize Switzerland (Maylane's country) intermingled with hibiscus found in SoCal. It was printed out on fiberglass by Boardlams to create that wrap-around-rail effect.

With her sister Laurane who got a board too :)

board#121: egg for Arlin

Arlin with board#121

Dimensions:  7'8 x 21 1/2 x 2 7/8

[completed in January 2016]

The story: I met Arlin on Facebook when she ordered her first Mere-Made surfboard in 2015 (board#083). Arlin is a mermaid who lives with her son in Texas where she makes sure to fully live their salted dreams. Arlin drove 2 full days (from Austin) to pick-up her board im California...She is a one of a kind! A very inspiring woman.  I was so excited to make her another stoke vehicle!

The shape: after the noserider, Arlin was ready for a shorter, more manoeuvrable board. I recommended the Vim model which I tested personally.   I kept some volume for floatability. For  speed I added a single which ends-up with a slight Vee and a couple of channels.

The artwork: Arlin was very determined on the colors and design. I just followed her wishes!

we love you Arlin!