Local surfboard shapers-Who to go with?

Warner is shaping some custom boards on the East coast, saw a fellow kiter on the TNT model with extra glass etc. He was v happy with it.

Dont know who to recommend on the west coast, but I'm subscribing to your thread because I'm interested in a similar board...

Another shaper to add to the ones mentioned is Grubb down in Margs, all the shapers mentioned are well known shapers who shape great boards, I been riding Grubbs boards as of the start of last summer and been pretty stoked with them they seem to go pretty good for me. They stand up to the hammering from kiting and me (I always seem to knock boards around). Honestly mine have got a few heel dents but nothing major considering the abuse they get. The boards still have the surfboard feel due to similar construction, I think a more dense PU foam is used in the blank and the glass job seem to be very strong. Another plus if ya do damage them easy to fix yourself as its polyester resin instead of epoxy. I have a 6???0??? for the bigger days and 5???4??? for smaller mushy waves like down Augusta which I think this board would probably work well up around the Metro area.

An

I like your short list, Spark

I think it depends a lot on what type of waves your riding or want to ride, you say 1-3 m

Marty - Delta has the knowledge for Margies waves, he is a good guy and will work with you to custom design

Others Locally, either Col or Dave (not sure, Dave could be out of action for a while ??? injury) both know their boards - after all, you want a board that primarily works on the wave, forget all the gimmicks. These guys also know the mix of materials and glass that can be used for strength but at the same time the balance between weight and performance.

I personally ride Col's boards but I'm keen to have a crack on one of Dave's, as I think he's putting some more focus into kiting (himself too)

Im about 80kg and ride 6ft 18.5, 3 fins (not sold on quad) like the slide of the round sq tail (3 fin) but now really enjoying the flow and bite of the rd pin

All the best

Deltas go good too though...

I reckon its more about what, then who...

What sort of foam, resin, glass layup, fin system... Etc.
If you sort that out and base it off a performance shortboard which has a suitable shape to kiting, you should have a great board.

Any shaper worth anything should then be able to shape you a 'kite surfboard'.

Good job on going custom though, your already miles ahead of the people that walk into a kite should and leave with a heavy kite branded plank of lifeless foam.

Good luck.

My vote is with Mark Stone from Gero too.

I've had 3 paddle surfboards from him shaped up in the last 18months and all are going strong and are great shapes.
Just like Marty from delta, Mark has a strong construction knowedge from windsurfing, you cant go wrong.

Mark is often able to organise delivery from Gero to Perth through the bush telegraph too.

+1 for custom board. Would love to hear some feedback. I am also looking at something custom for summer. Been talking with dave at katana and he seems to know his s**t. Iv had nothing but bad luck with kite pop outs. I understand surfboards break and breaking a 700 custom is a hell of a lot better then snapping a $1200 popout kiteboard haha

Hey Bene313

Construction is epoxy with carbon fibre rails and bamboo deck. Size 5' 6" x 18.75" x 2"

This is Marty’s latest design for a Perth "metro" board. It is 5'-11" x 18-1/4" x 2-1/8" and features a single concave through the centre feeding into an accelerating V with double concaves out the tail giving it maximum rail to rail transition. Coupled with an optional fin set up of thruster or quad, it overs maximum versatility for trips up north and down south while being super loose as a thruster for metro conditions. The beauty of getting a custom is all the parameters of width, length, tail shape, strapped (neutral/angled) or strapless etc. are fully customisable.

It’s wider than my current Delta AMP, has increased tail area, a redesigned bottom and it’s a 5 fin so it can be ridden as quad when its a bit bigger or when some drive is required or as a thruster in smaller waves for tighter arcs.

All up it should turn on a dime and will suit the metro kiter as it will have more range up and down wave size and wind strength.

Now just waiting on Marty to send up the demo board.

if you want a custom kite surf board - see colin earle. no weird ****, just really good surfboards and kite surfboards. track down glen moora at brighton and have a chat. he rides them and rips surfing and kite surfing

A lot of these boards posted here look like strapped towed by kite sort of boards. if that's your style then fine, but reading your first post seems you want something more like a surfboard that rides like a surfboard and the kite drifts.

Me, i think Delta designs are more for down south waves, but could be adaptable. THe 5"11 pictured looks good, but an accelerating rear, interesting. My thoughts are generally with a kite you are going fast and dont want to go faster, more control and slow it down, be able to stomp the thing. That being said i am not pro and still learning about shape design.

Glass, well if you arent jumping like a crazy Will -de-beast (you know who he is) then id go standard poly glassing. then you really feel the board, not like those stiff terrible epoxies. COming from windsurfing yeh they get going better and are faster but feel dead. Just tried a super light blank the pro's use for surfing. feel is unbelievable, but dont recon it would last long for kiting. But if makes you realise the difference. Just gotta make the compromise.

Ill throw "VON" up in the list if you want a board for local and/or bigger waves. Ryan Von Dresselt has been shaping for a long time, learning from some champ shapers and shaping for some big names along with local rippers. Performance short boards are his thing and he is shaping like a champ at the mo, is right in the zen. I have one board from him, currently trying some of his new designs in prep for getting my next shaped.
My current board is sweet, i love it. 5"9 but a bit of width and nice fat tail, feels sweet for 14-20 knots, but too much volume for above that or bigger gruntier waves. Next board will be more for this, less volume, bit more radical.
He has enthusiasm, he has knowledge and he has character. 3 prerequisites for a good shaper.

THat being said i dont think you could go wrong with COlin, Katana or Marty but you asked for details.

do post your thoughts Spark.