In this episode, Luke Howarth from Howie shapes and I discuss the subtleties of a surfboard foil or profile. The distribution of foam in a surfboard is often overlooked but it can have a big impact on how your board performs.

We chat about the evolution of foil in a surfboard and how it relates to the different styles of boards. I ask Luke about what he thinks of 'swing weight' which is a term commonly used in discussing bigger boards and explain why I prefer to focus on 'momentum'.

You cannot talk about surfboard foils without discussing the various deck designs available such as s decks, single concave and double concave decks as well as the Greg Webber 'Crinkle cut' design that melted social media.

Ultimately, we end up discussing flex and who we see as the shapers pushing the boundaries. Flex is difficult to measure in a surfboard and how we want the board to flex for optimum performance changes for different waves. Luke shares his experiences with stringerless EPS boards, his research and development process and how he applies carbon on them.

Surfboard foil is not talked about enough but hopefully our chat will stimulate some further discussion.

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In this episode I chat with Scott James from SJS Custom.

Scott first appeared on my radar through social media. The boards he was creating and the way he was presenting them really stood out amongst the many.

It piqued my interest. I was keen to chat with Scott to hear more about his back story and it did not disappoint. Scott grew up in the town of Dunedin on the very south coast of New Zealand. He told me how he fell in love with the curves of a surfboard and sought out the local craftsman to learn.

Sourcing surfboard materials was difficult and the idea of making surfboards a career was more like a dream. Scott pursued a trade and ignored his love for making surfboards for more than two decades.

Then... Scott made some big life changes, including moving to the Gold Coast of Australia. The passion for making surfboards had become too much and he made it his career.

I really enjoyed my conversation with Scott as he is a one-man operation and works hard to refine his craft. His attention to detail and willingness to try different things or take risks is very familiar to me.

A sliding doors moment led Scott to find a solution to a design idea that had been formulating in his brain. The way in which he could apply vee and various combinations of concave was now clear to him... the 'Scoop' bottom was created.

In addition to making custom surfboards for customers Scott also hosts people who wish to make their own surfboard or refine their surfboard making skills.

Please note we did experience some minor internet difficulties, but I am sure you will still enjoy our chat.

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In this episode I catch up with Gary McNeill from Gary McNeill Concepts.

I first met Gary when I was working on the Gold Coast nearly 20 years ago. From the very first meeting I found him to be friendly, dedicated, talented and a real individual pursuing his own path.

Gary grew up surfing competitively, but a few changes in life would motivate him to move from Wollongong to the Gold Coast. He started working for Nev surfboards. Soon after starting work, he was promoted to production manager at a time when Nev was one of the biggest surfboard brands in Australia.

In the years that followed, Gary would be poached by DHD and JS before deciding to focus on his own surfboard brand. After a couple of decades surrounded by high performance surfboards, Gary wanted something different. His first step was joining the Formula Energy surfboard family until he decided he wanted 100% control of his surfboards.

It took two years of research and development with the highly talented Dave Rastovich to establish his surfboard range. It was during this time that Gary and Dave explored the Taurus channel, a design so good that Gary cannot believe more people are not doing them. Gary continues to design without constraints and is always producing something new like the 'Frankenfish'.

Gary provides a bit of information from behind the scenes of STAB's - Electric Acid Surfboard Test, his journey with flax cloth as well as a few tips and tricks on how to use it best.

I hope you enjoy my chat with Gary McNeill.

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Check out the stories on our Instagram home page for photos to accompany each episode.

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