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Tribute to the Masters Shape-off planned
by George Mojo
15/08/2007:// Foam will be flying as surfboard shapers from across the United States compete for a winner-take-all cash prize in the "Tribute to the Masters Shape-off".
The unique craftsman competition takes place during both days of the Sacred Craft Consumer Surfboard Expo in October in California.
This years' shape-off honours the late great master shaper Michael Diffenderfer.
Diff, once referred to as the Michelangelo of shapers, produced over 25,000 shaped blanks and his early-to-mid-70s Hawaiian mini-guns are a prized possession among savvy board collectors.
The competing regional shapers will be given an hour and a half during the Expo to replicate a classic "Diff."
"Shapers are modern shamans. They take wave-riders to another dimension and uplift our spirits by transforming a blank piece of foam into a work of art," explained Jon Stillman, President of Ice Nine Foam Works.
"That's why we're fully behind the 'Tribute to the Masters Shape-off' and extend a heartfelt aloha to the late Mike Diffenderfer, and to all those who honour his spirit through practice of the shaping craft."
"Mike Diffenderfer is a legend and once shaped under the Hobie label," added Sean Haggar, director of surfboard manufacturing at Hobie surfboards.
"We are obviously super stoked to be a part of the "Tribute to the Masters Shape-off." Hobie surfboards has a long and storied surfboard building history and this surfboard expo and shaping competition makes perfect sense for Hobie surfboards."
The eventis the brain child of San Diego shaper Chris Christenson.
"This competition really puts the emphasis on the shaper and the craft of shaping a surfboard," explained Christenson. "We've got a unique 'Diff' for the shapers to go after. It will be pretty cool to see these regional shaping experts mow it down."
The action takes place at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, on October 13 and 14.
In the beginning it was all about the surfboard. The only thing that mattered.
The surfboard builder is the primary arbiter of surfing culture, from those early Hawaiian kahunas to the first wave of board manufacturers in the early 1960s.
Think back: Hobie, Hansen, Bing, Weber, Noll. These labels-the surfboards they produced and the way this product was marketed-shaped surf culture, both literally and figuratively. It was-and still is-- all about the ride. What you wear comes second.
Expo organisers say it is all about the board; has always been about the board.
Their goal is to put the surfboard-and the modern-day kahunas who craft them at the forefront of surf culture.
[Carissa Moore (in yellow) receiving the winner's prize]
[The number of high-rated Australian surf competitions are set to increase]
[Pablo Gutierrez winner of the Superbock Pro]
Hawaiian Carissa Moore won the Roxy Pro Junior surfing in her first ever contest in France
ASP International has announce the inception of their fourth regional branch, ASP Australasia
Twenty-six-year-old Pablo Guitierrez took top honours in the Superbock Pro in Portugal after defeating fellow Portugeuse surfer Eduardo Fernandes in the final
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