When we get in touch with Simon Anderson it’s halfway through a rainy, public holiday. “Ah, I was just about to go and do some shaping,” he explains. Whether it’s with his foot on the tail or his hand on the rail, the 68-year-old, shaping and surfing icon has remained close to the cutting edge of design and performance for half a century. It seems this particular member of surfing royalty can think of no better way to spend the Queen’s memorial day than giving form to a few blanks.
However, while Simon remains passionate about creating his own, high-performance surfcraft, he’s also looking forward to his new role as an ambassador for Akewatu, the largest digital platform for surfboard sales in the world. Anderson suggests he’s always been willing to share his knowledge about surfboards. When he launched the thruster in 1981 and blitzed his way to victory at Bells, Narrabeen and Pipeline, one could imagine Simon protecting the details of his three-finned weapon, however, he suggests that was never really his style. “I was fairly generous. Because as a boardmaker it was kind of in my nature to want people to experience what I was experiencing.”
Anderson acknowledges that the sheer scale of Akewatu’s offering means that there is a good chance board-buyers will find something on the platform that suits their needs. However, he emphasises the importance of investing time in researching what it is you want and need out of a surfboard. “Look at guys like Tom Carroll and Kelly Slater, they all took an interest in their equipment over the years. And I think that’s good advice for any surfer; take an interest in your equipment, don’t leave it up to others. Get an understanding of what you need. And when I say do your own research, I guess that’s checking out websites and getting reviews; reading reviews of boards, plus feedback from your mates and people from your local beach.”
Quizzed about specifics, Simon insists that knowing your volume range is crucial and also points out a couple of other variables that are worth keeping in mind when you are combing through a site like Akewatu, trying to find the right board. “There’s the thing about your technique, whether you’re a front foot surfer or back foot surfer. That has a bearing on the rocker requirement that you need for the board. That’s a fundamental… If you’re a back foot surfer, generally you need more rocker in the nose and less in the tail. And the opposite if you’re a front foot surfer… You would think it’d be the opposite, but it’s not… If you’re catching a rail in turns then your rocker is probably a little flat. If you’re going a bit slow across the wave face, then you’ve probably got too much rocker.”
Considering the characteristics of the wave you will be riding a board in is also crucial when it comes to making a purchase. It seems like common sense but sometimes we watch the CT elite surfing in steep, hollow waves, with no pressure from a crowd, and forget that the conditions we are regularly paddling out in are dramatically different. “There are boards that will work well in waves like Duranbah and Snapper and others that are better at waves like Bells, which has a flatter face,” explains Simon in a matter of-fact tone.
Simon also points out that what you need from a board is in a constant state of flux, so you have to be honest and aware about where you are at with your surfing. “I find people’s requirements are continually changing… Like they’re either getting older, slower, they’re coming back from injury or they’re young and they’re developing. Or they’re surfing and improving and getting stronger.”
Like any surfer, Simon is well aware that we are all chasing that magic board that elevates our performance levels and increases the level of pleasure we derive from surfing. However, while he concedes there are great all-rounders on the market, he suggests a well-balanced quiver is still likely to deliver the best results. “I think every surfer needs more than one board, they need a bit of a quiver if you can possibly have it, it’s going to be beneficial because boards are fairly sensitive these days, at least the high performance boards are and they’ll work really well in a narrower field.”
With over 25,000 boards listed on the Akewatu site for Australia and Europe, Simon admits it’s a great place to start building a more sophisticated quiver, once you’ve done your research. “I think that’s what Akewatu is about. It’s trying to be big and the bigger you are the more choice there is, and the more chance you’ve got of finding something in stock that you’re after.”
