Personally I never cared to read blogs, didn't know what one was for the longest time, didn't really care. Now that I have one, I still might not read blogs, still don't really get it, still don't really care. However that might change, if it does I'll blog it. blog blog blog.. frog.
Anyway, I set this up to to spread the word about Switchblade Surfboards. Cue back story.
I have this theory that Canada is like a coffee table with two short legs on the west coast and we're all marbles. Being from the Kootneys in BC I didn't have far to roll to end up here. Once I got here, I started surfing. 100 days+ snowboarding a year gone. Surfing it is. Surfed my first time in 2003 with a soft top rental from Live to Surf in Tofino, got thrashed in choppy blown out slop on Longbeach and was hooked.
My next surf trip was 3 months in Central America from Guatemala to Panama. Surfing just fit as the perfect excuse to travel. It was 2 years ago in Argentina when I met Elias Guerisoli. Elias was hand shaping, glassing and sanding beautiful boards in his grandfathers back yard out of a tin shack in a 10 x 20 space. Santeria surfboards was his brand. I couldn't believe that with such minimal tools and space it could be done. I spent some time with Elias surfing and learning about the process of shaping and glassing boards. I left Argentina totally inspired.
My next trip to Tofino when I got back I shopped around for a 6'4" quad fish. Found the one I wanted, then found out it cost $950 bucks! Only 50 dollars of which the shop would see since the cost to import and the price of the board itself was so high. Total bullshit.
After inquiring around Tofino for a local shaper I was directed to Stefan Aftanas' place, home of The Board Medic. Stefan sells DIY board kits complete with glass fins and a blank. Stoked on the chance to shape my own board, I recruited some friends, went in on some shop space and started whats now become a long journey into Switchblade Surfboards.
Ryan has been my number one partner in crime. Together we've spent a shit load more money the cost of that 6'4" fish, but the sticky, dusty, dirty, toxic work has been more than worth it. We've become totally dedicated and push each other each time to get better and develop the craft. Shaping, glassing, hotcoating, sanding, airbrushing, every aspect we both do totally involved in the process.
Now were on our 2nd shop, 2nd year up and running, and we're doing an average of four boards a month. Loving every second of it. Stefan Aftanas was and continues to be, an excellent mentor in telling us about technique, materials, and industry dos and don'ts helping us to progress.
We've come to believe that you don't need to ride a pop out throw away board made in a developing county where all the profits go to California. Support your local shaper, look us up and give us a shout we'd love the opportunity.
So now we're putting the word out, getting legit.
We'll keep you posted on future boards, artwork and news.
Cheers Bloggers
From left to right: Board, Chris, Ryan, Board
Shop # 1 - The beginnings
9'0" Longboard with Polynesian Art
6'6" Swallow tail thruster, palm tree airbrush design
7'0" Minimal, Purple fade with gloss coat
One happy customer
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