SHAPER DIRECTORY

Sel Shapes

Interview with Selwyn Van Wyk

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

My main motivation is trying to make my boards as easy to surf as possible while still maintaining speed, manoevrability and control. Seeing guy's, especially team riders surf insane on them motivates me to keep digging deeper to try progress further.

Is there anything you are doing differently now as opposed to 12 months ago?

Yes, because Im working on Salomon s-cores and polyurethane boards I find myself having a different approach to either process. With the Salomon boards I have found myself spending more time focussing on fin placements, splay, tow in accordance with the different flex options and how it all relates to the original shape (master copy). With polyurethane boards I consider every part of the design process and how it relates to the traditional process.

How have board designs changed in the last five years?

I think board design is leveling out and it is becoming more and more consistent. I always used to think that the answer to a fantastic board would be a complicated design. What I realise now is that the simple things work best. I think this is something you could apply to most things in life.

How long have you been shaping?

15 years.

Approximately how many boards have you shaped in your lifetime?

Between 7000 - 8000 boards.

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

Well on the S-core because of there light weight I've been working on shorter, thicker boards with wider tail outlines that are really fun to ride and still trying to keep them performance orientated. On polyurethane boards, just trying to keep up with all the other shapers doing single into double concave boards and just trying to keep things as simple as possible.

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

I think board design will keep evolving. But just remember that as the materials we use to build boards evolve, so will our design take slight changes to compensate for material property changes.

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

The average punter should just get as much advice from the shaper as possible before he makes his decision about what kind of board he wants.

Who is on your surf team?

Nick Wallace, Tom Innes, Hylton Van Wyk and Chris Ross

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

The fin options/systems today have definitely opened up a lot of options for us. All I can say is if you can afford it, try as many different fin templets in accordance with whatever fin system you have on your boards because you will get a lot more out of your board. Especially guys who only have one board.

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

There are so many top shapers, but the guy's that have inspired me and still inspire me the most are Greg Webber, Rodney Dahlberg, Eric Arakawa and Spider Murphy.

Anything else you would like to get off your chest?

Yeah, I really enjoy sanding boards. Im not sure if this is because Im crazy or am just a work-o-hollic. Besides that Im always stoked to part of the surf industry wherever I am and through the tuff times try not to take it for granted.