Smorgasboarder_11_May-2012

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We asked both Nigel and Walshy
what it has been like to work with
each other for so long. In unison
they replied, “He’s a dickhead.”
Nigel then seriousy adds, ”No
Walshy is a freak. He knows how
to shape so many boards because
he has shaped through all the eras.
He’s that old. Guys like him are few
and far between.
“Our industry is losing too many
talented shapers because there
just isn’t the work. And now we
have those shaping machines,
which don’t get me wrong are
good but you have to first be
a true handshaper to use that
machine. Too many guys operating
them don’t have that intimate
understanding of handshaping a
board and the finesse involved
in fine tuning a design to make it
work. A surfboard is more than
just a set of measurements. I mean
‘hello’, we now have machine
shaped boards copying machine
shaped boards - making clones of
the clones.”
Whilst walking through the factory
we noted a different approach to
glassing the boards that caught
our eye. We asked Nigel about this
approach.
“Yeah, we glass our boards
different. We still maintain it is
the best way. Nipper Williams and
myself developed the technique.
I don’t agree with freelap (where
the fiberglass cloth just hangs over
the edge and resin is then applied
to stick it down). It is fast but you
end up with an uneven line. The
glass wavers and this also makes it
harder to sand. That is why you see
sand-throughs on the rails.
“A surfboard
is more than
just a set of
measurements.”
“We actually wrap the cloth around
tight, trim it, so it blends in with
the rail line and then tape the cloth
down. That way you get a good
amount of resin into the cloth and
work it up to the tapeline. You have
an eye-beam top and bottom.”
Just hearing simply processes like
this confirm Nigel’s obsession with
the finer details of surfboard design
and construction. Del Surfboards
are the epitome of perfection.
The Taranaki region is well known
for its versatile and formidable
surfing coastline. If you are
planning on heading there, make
sure you call into Del Surfboards
and see for yourself what quality
craftsmanship is all about.
74 may/jun 2012