CivicCouch

Shapers Bay - Wayne Okamoto

Give us the about yourself. What inspired you to get into shaping?:
I was introduced to the surfboard manufacturing process by Bing Copeland in the early 70’s. I was a pre teenager and was obsessed with making miniature surfboards from scrap materials sourced from the dumpsters of local builders. A couple friends and I would cruise from factory to factory on our bikes picking the choice remnants to craft our miniatures. One day we were at the Bing factory dumpster diving for choice pieces of foam, Bing caught us and wondered what we were doing in his dumpster, we showed him our mini boards and he seemed amused and said, “I have some better pieces back in the shop.” He then proceeded to take us into his factory, for a pre adolescent kid it was sensory and tactile overload, seeing all the boards lined up and laminated and in different stages, the smell of the fresh lamination and the foam dust really had an impact on me. What really did it for me was when we proceeded to the shaping stalls, seeing a finished shape on the racks under the side lights really was the tipping point for me. At that moment I got it. I knew what I was driven to do.

With so many people shaping, what makes your boards stand out?
I think it’s the people that ride my boards that stand out. I really try and work closely with everyone that orders a custom shape. I think that people in the know or anyone that has spent any time here at my shop understand the lengths I go to maintain the quality and integrity of their boards. I spend an average of more than 6 hours plus into each custom (digitizing process after the board is done) than the “normal” shaper. After I shape a custom I digitize the custom shape for the individual this is another 2 day process. Most of my customers don’t realize I do this. Everyone that orders a custom has their own “Model”. I do this to maintain the DNA accurately for each individual, so when and if the customer wants to make a modification I have the 3D file on hand to modify the next generation. The accuracy is unbelievable, impossible to do and repeat by the old school method. To have empirical data to analyze has been an invaluable tool. Most shapers don’t have the ability to do this. To recreate the magic shape has always been the Holy Grail in surfboard shaping process. It is impossible to do by hand to the accuracy and repeatability of the CNC process.
Please, don’t confuse this as some type of rendering process, I don’t draw or render shapes through any type of surfboard shaping programs. All my shapes begin with a custom hand shaped surfboard that is digitized in true 3D. Not a CAD designed process. The hand shaped board is then digitized in 3D, I then have a true 3D “snap-shot”. This process is a proprietary process as there is no one that does this technique, there are other popular methods but they use slices in 2d and the surfaces are created by the program. .

Each spot in the South Bay breaks differently and the surfing styles change almost as much. You need to design for constantly changing environments (surf conditions) and individual customers - how do you balance making a great looking board with one that actually functions with all these variables?
It’s imperative to “listen” and be able to visualize what a customer maybe wanting in a shape. I like to take the time to see and measure what the person is already riding and get their feedback then make the necessary changes. I have been fortunate to have surfed most all the breaks around and have shaped customs for a wide variety of surfers and other top shapers over the years. Also, maintaining detailed records is one of most helpful things and having it to reference back to. For myself, I think shaping is more of a craft. What I design has to ultimately function for the individual. I guess, staying true to the old adage “function before form” still applies for me.

What is the most unique board that you have shaped?
In recent times I had an opportunity to shape a custom for a guy named Ben Morris RIP. Ben wanted something very unique and very special, it’s rare I get to get an opportunity to shape something way out of the box, but what Ben wanted was something unique. He mentioned that he was enjoying a mini-simms shape and gave me free reign to shape it how I like and “do my thing.” As he was describing what he was looking for in a design and where he wanted to go with his surfing I sensed he was on a mission to enlighten his surf experience and some how I was chosen as someone to assist him on his journey.
Ben appeared to be extremely healthy and very fit and in good spirits during the short time spent with him designing boards. Not once did he mention he was sick or was not feeling well. Always the wry guy with a straight faced humor, I later found out that he was fighting later stages of skin cancer. At the time I met Ben he was already 3 years into the fight. During our time spent designing and shaping he was only a few months away from succumbing to the disease. I had no idea of his condition, as he was always in good spirits. Ben’s spirit will always be an inspiration to me.
The shape was a futuristic twin keel shape with center trailer I spent a lot of time massaging some special tweaks to the shape, with double step, double apex rails, whale tailed, six channel. I called it the “Cosmic Glyder” Ben’s older brother John now rides the board and hes been riding it. Last email I got from him he couldn’t believe how much speed and enjoyment hes gotten out of the board. John claims it’s one of the best boards he’s ridden.

Where do you see surfboards going in the next 5 years?
II think more detailed work into composites, but I don’t think most are ready for it. At this time it’s hard to beat the proven poly system, epoxy has it’s merits but it still has it’s issues. I am seeing the trend to more surfers going back to the custom shaper instead of buying retail off the rack. I think most are becoming educated as where most of the boards off the rack boards are being made. Why spend all that hard earned money on a shape that isn’t correct for you when you can have a complete custom shape made to your spec with your name on it with the highest quality materials available locally and have it in your hands in a couple weeks.

More Info:
For More Information visit: http://oakfoils.blogspot.com/m