Which U.S. shaper builds the "AUS fins fwd" style

johnxyz · Post by **johnxyz** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 10:06 am

Paging Beeline / Red / Geeno / et. al. to the white courtesy phone

Hi - Newbie here but after reading through lots of posts I am leaning toward the more modern, progressive (so they say) Australian fins forward style of kneeboard rather then the 20-30 yr old fins back San Diego fish designs.

I see that the Blast Hawaii site is down and Dean Cleary seems to have retired from shaping. So that leaves John Mel, Ron Romanosky and Eric Schoelkopk. Which is well versed, if at all in the Australian designs?

I see that Toby Pavel is old school, fins back (and too long of a wait + lots of $$$).

Anyone else?

Can you recommend any of these stand-up shapers that have been referenced as a master of the Aus. Fins Fwd style:

Shawn Ambrose
Tim Bessel
Steve Seebold
Steve Boysen

I'm on the East Coast so the board would have to be shipped from CA. I would'nt even bother with an East Coast shaper....

Thanks alot.

kneemor · Post by **kneemor** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 10:20 am

Just order from the Aussies

El Coyote · Post by **El Coyote** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 10:27 am

I have a friend that recently started shaping those kind of boards out of EPS. He is due back in the SoCal sometime in March. I have one and love the thing. Although I'm not all that crazy about EPS. It seems a little too light for me.

PM me for details and pics.

johnxyz · Post by **johnxyz** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 10:35 am

kneemor wrote:Just order from the Aussies

That's probably the best advice - but how much does the shipping and customs/duties add to the price? Any distrubutors in the US? Best to just order direct from OZ?

I kinda wanted to keep it somewhat reasonable dollar wise.

Oh yeah - what swim fins do you guys use?

Thanks again

albert · Post by **albert** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 10:40 am

johnxyz wrote:
kneemor wrote:Just order from the Aussies
That's probably the best advice - but how much does the shipping and customs/duties add to the price? Any distrubutors in the US? Best to just order direct from OZ?

I kinda wanted to keep it somewhat reasonable dollar wise.
Thanks again

Contact Don if you want to know more about getting aussie boards in the states and shipping. From experience, I know that Parkes has sent boards to your part of the world and he would know first hand how much shipping would cost.

Chances are that the price difference will not be that much, and if you want to have a quality board, I believe its the best way to go. I spent a fair amount of time tinkering around with East Coast standup shapers and kneeboard shapers in California, once I got on a real Aussie board I never looked back.

ScottMac · Post by **ScottMac** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:20 am

surfhorn · Post by **surfhorn** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 12:29 pm

I started experimenting with fins forward at Freeline in the mid-1980's.
I'm very happy with John's shapes/fin placement, whether I'm riding my 6'0" x 23 1/2 5 fin pin or a 5'8" x 22 3/4" double wing swallow (front fins at 21").

Plus John always has quite a few KBs you can demo.

johnxyz · Post by **johnxyz** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 12:39 pm

surfhorn wrote:I started experimenting with fins forward at Freeline in the mid-1980's.
I'm very happy with John's shapes/fin placement, whether I'm riding my 6'0" x 23 1/2 5 fin pin or a 5'8" x 22 3/4" double wing swallow (front fins at 21").

Plus John always has quite a few KBs you can demo.

Thanks everyone - looks like Jon Mel or buck-up for a board from Parkes, Flashpoint or Island and swallow the extra freight and duties expense.

Seems like all the other US shapers do not specialize in this design. Thanks again.

kneemor · Post by **kneemor** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 1:54 pm

Not sure if the Aussie guys use a shaping machine but have them send a CAD file to one of the their affiliates in the US to shape in machine and then to hand finish.

I have had all the Aussie boards but I am partial to Flashpoint.

surfhorn · Post by **surfhorn** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 2:00 pm

Parkes did some shaping out of the Freeline factory but not sure if any boards are left. Contact Big Don.

MIK911 · Post by **MIK911** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 6:40 pm

johnxyz wrote:Dean Cleary seems to have retired from shaping. .

Really, when?

W.G. Facenda · Post by **W.G. Facenda** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 7:33 pm

Just order from the Aussies.

johnxyz · Post by **johnxyz** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 8:45 pm

MIK911 wrote:
johnxyz wrote:Dean Cleary seems to have retired from shaping. .
Really, when?

I read on his website a bit back that he is ramping down his shaping and only occasionally will shape a board for a friend or past customer. Did anyone hear otherwise?

I gather that Cleary and Romo do not shape the new Australian designs, anyway.

johnxyz · Post by **johnxyz** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 8:49 pm

kneemor wrote:Not sure if the Aussie guys use a shaping machine but have them send a CAD file to one of the their affiliates in the US to shape in machine and then to hand finish.

I have had all the Aussie boards but I am partial to Flashpoint.

Thats a great idea! I wonder who would be a US contact to receive the file, bring it to KKL or other CAD/CAM shop - then on to a shaper for handfinishing and finally glassing. Whew - but it might be the way to go.

Then I can spec Lokbox instead of FCS or Futures....

Need some help/direction to make this happen.

Beeline2.0 · Post by **Beeline2.0** » Fri Feb 08, 2008 8:55 pm

I dont know who would do that.
Especially since finish shaping can muck the whole thing up.
Rail foil in kneeboards(fins forward) is appreciably different than stand up boards.
Set a standup shaper to finish shape the board without a model reference
and it may be a dissapointment depending upon how well defined the machine leaves it.....
I'm wondering what Red thinks.
Red's got one of his models posted as a CNC file over at Swaylocks already.
He's got quite a few of these under his belt.

Whats your height and weight JohnnyXYZ?

Kneeboard Surfing USA Community Forum

Which U.S. shaper builds the "AUS fins fwd" style

Which U.S. shaper builds the "AUS fins fwd" style

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