SHAPER DIRECTORY
COD Surfing Company Australia
Interview with Paul Uscinski
Whats your main motivation for shaping surf crafts at the moment?
Positive feedback from satisfied clients and surfing quality waves at Straddie with the COD team, makes shaping rewarding and great for fine tuning the boards.
Is there anything you are doing differently now as opposed to 12 months ago?
As most of my boards are customs, they are all shaped to the individual requirements. But generally I have been repositioning the concave entry with less nose lift and more tail rocker with sharp boxy rails in tail and soft entry rail up nose.
How have board designs changed in the last five years?
Fine tuning a balance of plan shape, rockers and thickness distribution to enhance speed and drive but still enabling tight arcs in the pockets with smooth concaves and forgiving rails.
How long have you been shaping?
20 years.
Approximately how many boards have you shaped in your lifetime?
1300 Hand shaped boards.
What design innovations are you currently working on at the moment?
I have been concentrating on quality material and workmanship, with customer requirements in mind. I've been doing a lot of reproductions of old retro's and single fins and also my 5 fin designs.
What do you think the current surfboards designs could improve upon?
Strength, less weight and easier materials to work with. Better production techniques.
What advice would you give the average punter when ordering a board for the first time?
Work with a shaper who is prepared to take the time to listen to your requirements. Buy a quality hand shaped board, rather than a cheap pop out board. Your surfing will improve!
Who is on your surf team? (Give me the dimensions of your best team riders short board)
Larry Woodwald (78kg 5'11) - 6'3" x 18¾
Paul Antonieff (78kg 5'7) -5'11" x 18¾ x 2 3/8
Stacey Holt (58kg 5 '6") -5 '10" x 18 3/16" x 2 1/8
David Hammim (77kg 5 '10") 6 '3" x 19¼ x 2 3/8"
Darren Vanegdon (78kg 5 '8") 6 '4" x 18¾ x 2 5/16"
Greg Reynolds (62kg 5 '8") 6 '4" x 18 1/8" x 2¼"
Daniel Binkim (95kg 6 '2") 6 '6" x 18 7/8 x 2 11/16"
What is your advice on fins considering the options available today?
I prefer glassed in hexal fins for their stiffness and drive, but I find FCS fins more convenient for traveling and trying a variety of fins out for developing a board to it's full potential.
Apart from yourself, what other shapers do you think are leading the way at the moment?
I think a quality hand shaped board to suit the customer's requirements is the way to go, rather than the mass produced boards currently being pushed by most manufacturers. I like all Byrnes shapes.
Anything else you would like to get off your chest?
Customer satisfaction is the most important aspect of COD surfboards. I offer 100% satisfaction to all my clients for their hand shaped boards and quality ding repairs.
