Most people have never shaped a surfboard.
There's something about visiting a shaper’s bay that says you don't need to live on the coast or get in the water each day to appreciate the craft. Maybe it’s the modern world's way of letting us connect with the ancient Vikings; taking natural materials and working with your hands to contour them into a vessel that can slide along the sea. Either which way, we were pretty inspired after a visit to our friend Frankie's shaping bay. For surf inspiration and a couple good stories, we stopped by this Aussie’s shop for a few words.
Let’s pay our respects. Where and how did you first start shaping boards?
“I first started shaping on the Gold Coast in Australia about eight years ago in a mate’s garage. He was shaping and glassing himself a tuberider for a wave called South Straddie, so I figured I'd give it a go too! I was hooked. It wasn't till about four years ago I went full time shaping, though, and just yesterday I shaped my 1600th board.”
What motivated your move from Australia?
“I first came out to California for a work trip and ended up loving the place, the lifestyle and the ladies! And with the amount of stuff to do on a day-to-day basis, it's hard to get bored around here. I haven't even done a fraction of the things I want to do and see yet.”
What keeps you here in America?
“What keeps me here? I'd have to say the babes (laughs). No, my girlfriend Erica, who I met out here, is part of what keeps me here and she'd be pissed if I were to move back home right now. She's also a professional surfer and rides my boards, which gives me a lot of good feedback as she rips. And I'm gaining a lot of traction with the brand right now, so I wouldn't want to leave and ruin what I've worked so hard building.”
What do you listen to while shaping?
“I always have music on when I’m shaping. I have an iPod with the most random mix of music, rock, punk, hip hop, electro, house and all other types of music that I could fit on that thing. But after listening to it for over a year without adding to it or cleaning out the trash, I ended up listening to the radio. It's funny how the stations play the same song about 15 times in a day so I'm beginning to get over that (might be time to update the iPod).”
Aside from boards, what is your favorite thing you’ve crafted or fabricated?
“I was a carpenter for about six years before and during my shaping career. I've built all sorts of things, but my favorite would probably be my couch at home, or my dining table bench. They’re both pretty legendary.... Oh and maybe this epic tree house when I was a Grom, but one of my mates fell out of it and broke his arm so my dad made me tear it down.”
Favorite TAVIK pieces and why?
“It’s hard to pick one favorite piece of clothing, as Tavik has such good clothes. I could list all of them, but my favorite walk shorts are the Hixon hybrid shorts (in grey). My favorite boardies are the Bleu (Corey Wilson's collab piece) as they’re buttery smooth and stretchy to surf in. Corey's also one of my best mates and makes me laugh with his famous quotes he drops regularly. And I also love the Rico boardies for lounging. Favorite tee's are the crew and youth shirts.”
Is In-N-Out better than your local pie shop back home?
“In-N-Out and my local pie shop have a special place in my heart as they satisfy even the heaviest hungers and hit the spot like nothing else. But of the two, I'd have to say my local pie shop, maybe because I haven't had one in over a year now. But there is a great Aussie style pie shop called Pie Not on 17th in Costa Mesa that I eat at regularly to keep me familiar with a good old meat pie.”
What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen happen at work?
“I’ve seen some crazy things. When I was a carpenter I saw a guy fall off a roof, which was pretty heavy. He broke a few bones but was okay. Another guy shot through his hand with a nail gun and one of my mates had a port-a-potty pushed over while he was in it. It was full so it wasn't pretty.”
If you had to pick a sister city for Newport Beach in Australia, what would it be and why?
“The Gold Coast (my hometown) has so much to do. The nightlife is all-time and goes off every night of the week. The babes are tanned and hotter than your BBQ, the waves are always pumping with not many guys out (unless you’re surfing the points) and there's awesome places to go camping/fishing/surfing close by. You can drive 15 minutes out of the city and feel like you’re in the middle of nowhere with pristine beaches and firing waves with no one in sight.”
What’s your favorite holiday?
“Favorite holiday? This one’s the easiest one of all. It's Australia Day! The most fun day of the year and I look forward to it every single year. It's a wild party where anything goes. We've had some of the best parties at our local beach park that have gotten out of hand (but all in good, safe fun).”
Stay up to date with Frankie at tdsurfboards.com and shop his favorite pieces at tavik.com.