Surfboard Design

Information About Custom Surfboard Gold Coast Shapers

Now when you come to get to a certain point in your surfing you may want to go to the next level and get a surfboard made for you. This is called a custom surfboard. A board that is made to your specifications, your requirements, your design and dimensions.

This is great, especially when you start working with a shaper (the person who shapes and designs the surfboard). A good shaper will ask you questions about your surfing. What you like to do on a wave, how you approach a wave and what you want to get out of a new surfboard.

This really becomes a powerful way to improve, as when you want a new board you can return to the shaper, and make changes and modifications that will help you become a better surfer.

There are a lot of ways that the shaper can make the custom surfboard perform differently on a wave, this is where the science of shaping good boards is essential. Not all shapers are equal here, so you want to make sure you spend time researching.

Go out and speak with different shapers, ask them how long they have been shaping for, how many boards they make, and a good question to ask them would be, how many of the surfboards they make are for repeat customers. What kind of guarantee or trade back do the give?

The reason that is important is that if a shaper has most of their clients coming back to buy from them then you will get a good idea that they are good at shaping.

Another good thing to do is, if possible, ask to have go on a demo surfboard. These are called test boards and a good shaper will certainly let you have a ride on some of their popular shapes. This will also perhaps help guide you to maybe try a different style of board that you previously may not have considered.

The other thing you may want to consider is price. When it comes to prices, there are extreme differences in what shapers charge. From the lower end of the market which can start around $450 through to $1100 at the upper end of the scale for the latest in Surfboard Design and construction.

Now just remember the saying "you will get what you pay for", some shapers may use lower quality materials which can make the surfboard weaker and not last as long where others will use the best quality materials and charge more, but you will get more life out them. Good local gold coast shapers guarantee that.

If you are after a great custom surfboard gold coast shaper then as mentioned it will be worthwhile speaking with a local shaper, that way you get their expertise and you can start to build a relationship with them to help take your surfing to the next level.

Jim Rohades has published 5 articles. Article submitted on Friday 15th April 2011. Word count: 533