The Origin of Shaping: From 40-Kilo Boards to Hollywood
- Ayelet Fuentes Guerra
- 17 hours ago
- 3 min read
When we think about surfing, we usually imagine giant waves, maneuvers, and athletes challenging the ocean. But behind many of the most iconic surfboards in history, there is a key figure within surf culture: the shaper.
And although shaping is now considered a true art form, there was once a time when surfboards were massive solid wood blocks that could easily weigh more than 40 kilos.
The Beginning of Modern Shaping
For decades, the first surfboards used in Hawaii were extremely heavy and difficult to maneuver. Surfing required strength, endurance, and a great deal of control. However, everything began to change in the 1920s thanks to Tom Blake, considered one of the greatest revolutionaries in shaping history.
Blake began experimenting with traditional Hawaiian surfboards in search of lighter and more functional designs. His goal was to improve the experience in the water and make boards easier to maneuver on waves, ultimately changing surfing history forever.
One of his most important inventions was the “hollow board,” a hollow surfboard inspired by nautical structures that significantly reduced weight. The difference was enormous for the time, offering more speed, maneuverability, and a much more dynamic experience in the ocean.
In addition, Blake was also one of the first to incorporate a fixed fin into surfboards, an innovation that completely revolutionized the way boards behaved on waves.
As surfing evolved, so did surfboard designs, and shapers began developing boards specifically made for different styles and wave conditions:
● Longboards: long, classic boards associated with smooth and traditional surfing
● Shortboards: smaller, more maneuverable boards designed for more radical surfing
● Fish: wider and faster designs ideal for certain wave conditions
● Guns: boards specially created for surfing giant waves
● Bodyboards: designed specifically for maneuvers closer to the wave and extreme conditions
True Legends
Behind many of the most iconic waves in history, there has always been someone designing the perfect board. Legendary names include Al Merrick, founder of Channel Islands Surfboards and creator of some of the most influential surfboards in modern surfing.
His designs played a fundamental role in Kelly Slater’s career and helped define high-performance surfing.
The same can be said for Donald Takayama, considered an absolute longboard legend and one of the most respected figures in classic surf culture, or Matt Biolos, recognized for pushing modern designs and high-performance progressive surfboards.
From Shaper to Hollywood
One of the most interesting modern examples is Taz Skylar, known worldwide for portraying Sanji in the live-action adaptation of One Piece.
Long before arriving in Hollywood, Skylar learned shaping by watching YouTube videos and eventually worked with Pukas Surf, one of Europe’s most recognized surfboard factories. There, he deepened his knowledge of surfboard design, construction, and surf culture, developing a strong connection with the ocean and the craftsmanship behind every board.
During that period, he even had the opportunity to work and learn alongside important shaping figures such as Matt Biolos and Timmy Paterson. His surfboards were also used by professional surfers like Jonathan González and Natxo González, as well as world tour riders such as CJ Hobgood and Aritz Aranburu.
Shaping Transcends
Behind every classic longboard, every gun built for giant waves, or every high-performance board, there is still the craftsmanship of a shaper responsible for designing boards according to wave type, surfer level, ocean conditions, and surfing style.
Board size, thickness, rocker, shape, and materials are all critically important. That is why, within surf culture, many shapers are considered true artisans and, although they often remain behind the scenes, their work continues to be a fundamental part of the sport’s evolution.
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