SHAPER DIRECTORY

Misfit

Dave Howell

I began shaping 8 years ago in Brookvale, Sydney under the watchful eye of West Oz's master craftsman Col Ladhams. I was taught the fundamentals of hand-shaping by Col and to date I myself have hand shaped over 1000 boards. Col also taught me the fundamentals of board design through his expertise in shaping for elite surfers for over 30 years, and as soon as I started my own label (Misfit Shapes) in 2002, I quickly established it as a progressive surfboard label for progressive surfers.

Growing up and surfing on Sydney's Northern Beaches has also enabled me to refine my product and shape for some of the best surfers around including Northy legends Kye and Joel Fitzgerald. I have also shaped for the likes of 2001 ASP World Champion CJ Hobgood and his brother Damien, as well as an array of other elite WQS and pro junior surfers. I've also shaped under other international labels such as HIC, Webber, Lost, Element and JC, working with some of the world's best shapers such as Eric Arakawa, Greg Webber, Matt Biolos, Brian Bulkley and Jeff Johnson.

From here my plans are to continue pushing the boundaries of surfboard design, applying more technical research and development, design ingenuity and continuing my solid integrity for creative excellence. I have now started using the APS3000 shaping machine for perfect accuracy and consistency in my boards. I've spent a lot of time learning and understanding the software and I've taken all my best rockers and outlines from my hand-shaped models to deliver an even better surfboard than before. I still design every board individually so as to keep the personalized service that I have been known to give each surfer, and I still finish shape every single board myself as well.

To me being a shaper is all about progression; working closely with surfers to better my boards, always thinking about future designs and not ever being content with perfecting mediocrity. I've learnt the fundamentals of the art and I'm committed to separating my boards from the pack, like a true misfit...