SHAPER DIRECTORY

Chapman Surf Designs

Interview with Dave Chapman

Whats your main motivation for shaping surf crafts at the moment?

Making people happy.

How have board designs changed in the last five years?

More refined, less rocker and wider.

How long have you been shaping?

14 years.

Approximately how many boards have you shaped in your lifetime?

10,000 boards approx.

What design innovations are you currently working on at the moment?

At present we are working on a 3d model making programme. The best way to explain this is to view our R/D section on our website at www.chapmansurfboards.com

What do you think the current surfboards designs could improve upon?

The shaper needs to start researching more on concaves, rail designs and rockers etc. And begin documenting information, hence taking out the guessworking, giving the customer exactly what they want.

What advice would you give the average punter when ordering a board for the first time?

Talk to the shaper. Make sure they're shaping a board for you and not for themselves.

Who is on your surf team? (Give me the dimensions of your best team riders short board)

I don't have many team riders. Darren Turner rides my boards and lives in Japan. He does the Japanese circuit. His boards are 6"2" x 18 3/8 x 2 3/8 S/D concave swallow tail.

What is your advice on fins considering the options available today?

There are some great ideas out there, the only problem is FCS have the best availability for service and advertising.

Apart from yourself, what other shapers do you think are leading the way at the moment?

As I was learning shaping I was worked with Tony Dempse. He taught me allot of the concept of shaping. The last 6 years I have read a lot about Rusty, Al Merrick, Rawson. These are the guys that I think are leading at the moment.

Anything else you would like to get off your chest?

Nope.