travel
Well we have made it to San Diego. Thank you to all the family and friends along the way for making it such a great trip so far.
Stopped by Mitch’s North on the way down to Custom Surf Glass/G&S, where I’ll be spending my time shaping. It’s a great feeling, knowing all of the good folks who help make it all happen. I am grateful to them all…
Well, my next work trip is shaping up (pun intended) for May ’23. The new (to us) Vanagon is being massaged and readied. Orders are starting to pile up, and Karen and I are beginning to get excited.
If you are interested in a mast surfboards shape, please contact me at knsmast@gmail.com
Have a good one, and stay well. #mastsurfboards
Well it’s been a couple of crazy years, but my post-Covid shaping schedule is starting to come into focus. Last Fall, this Spring, and now this Fall. Settling into a trip at least every six months. I am working towards a set up with a workable three to four trips a year.
Debbie and Eric Gordon, along with the entire crew at Custom Surf Glass and G&S have allowed me to continue putting boards through their factory, alongside so many great labels (G&S of course, Frye, Mitsven, Miller, Pinder, etc). I feel very fortunate to have the continuing opportunity to have my shapes built in such an environment.
Thanks to all of my loyal friends who continue to order my shapes, with a special thanks to Bird’s Surf Shed, Greg Surf Company, and Mitch’s North for their continuing support.
Hit me up if you would like to secure a space for my next trip, tentatively lining up for the Spring.
Also, I am going to attempt to break down the design elements of my most popular model lines in future posts, to give a sense of where they came from and where they may be going. So please stop back and have a look occasionally.
first stock board in a while; 7’2″ hillbilly hull, us blanks green density. Holler at me or see it at birD’s when it’s built.
This past week I had the privilege of witnessing some of the best craftsmen in the surfboard industry practice their skills up on “the hill”. I feel very fortunate to get a glimpse into this world that is completely invisible to most. One of these craftsmen was Sam Cody. A veteran color guy, both resin and airbrush, Sam has worked for some of the greatest labels in surfing.
I completed a shape that a good client of mine requested and was very stoked that he decided to splurge for one of Sam’s “falsa” jobs. Not even remotely cheap, but you have to see one to believe it. Seriously, he recently did some falsa stringers in a board for Jim Phillips that even the veteran sander at Bing didn’t recognise for a good portion of the job, and this is a guys that knows! Here is the man at work and just a taste of the beginning of the project.
Sam not only makes it look like a traditional balsa glue up, but on this particular board, he decided on making it look like high quality, carefully chosen lumber. His skill and attention to detail is unsurpassed and often underappreciated.
I’m very sad today. I got a call from an old friend informing me that Larry Gordon had passed on New Years day. I had the great honor and privilege to surf with Larry on a regular basis over the years. When I was just learning to surf, Larry was there, usually with a smile and quiet word of tolerance, if not encouragement. When I was learning to shape, Larry was there, with a smile and a quiet word of tolerance, and encouragement. When I would show up at Tourmaline with a fresh board, still in plastic, to deliver, his sole piece of advice was “more color!”. I’ve heeded that advice, along with every other nugget of wisdom he was so generous to pass along. So the next time I show up with a board to deliver, I will probably hear the echo of “more color!” and head out to pumphouse and catch more waves than I deserve, because I used to sit next to Larry, and nobody new that place like he did, and I paid attention.
fresh from the extremely capable hands of the boys up on the hill (Bing and Jacobs), a new very light olive hillbilly hull.
7’3″x22″x2 3/4″
Somebody better claim it before I do. I’ve got one just like it back in Cincinnati for East Coast trips, but I sure miss it.
So stoked to be back at the factory after several weeks away. In the shaping room, I’ve got four different blanks, all favorites. Hmmmm, what is the flavor of the day. I love dilemas like this one.
#mastsurfboards #bingandjacobs
“There can be no more wild and exhilarating experience…it is a completely physical pleasure. One could yell with joy like a child.”
-Baron Max Von Aufess
In less than a week, I’ll be in San Diego again to do a bit of Avalon Tattoo, San Diego and finish up an order from Mitch’s North.
mast surfboards 