Shaper Studios, San Diego’s first do-it-yourself surf shop, debuted Nov. 8 with live music, promotions and surfboard shaping at its new headquarters at 4225 30th St. in North Park.

By Dave Schwab | SDUN Reporter

The local surfboard shaping workshop, which instructs patrons on the art of hand-shaping and riding custom surf boards, has been entirely made over from its previous location near Qualcomm Stadium in Mission Valley.

Innovative enhancements at Shaper’s new Uptown headquarters include three bays for simultaneous shaping lessons, in-house glassing, surf accessories and expanded merchandise from local brands Matuse, MOVMT, Raen Optics, Keep-A-Breast, Seea, Burkhart, Kid Creature and more.

One of Shaper’s principals, Aaron Nester, said you don’t have to be a craftsman—or even experienced at all—to make your own surfboards. Shaper provides all the materials and expertise necessary for people to create their own custom boards and have fun doing it.

“We’re building our own brand, what we’re doing is pretty unique,” Nester said, noting the company is re-launching in North Park because it’s “a better community for collaboration and retail in which to expand.”

Co-owner and CEO Chris Clark agreed with Nester’s take on the location change.

“We want surfers of all ability levels to feel welcome and inspired to create,” Clark said. “Shaper Studios is all about experiencing surfing in a hands-on way. We are thrilled to be in North Park where community and creativity is a such a large part of the culture.”

At Shaper’s grand opening, Nester gave a Surfboard Shaping 101 lesson.

“Whether you’ve never surfed, or are a professional surfer, we teach how to make the surfboard, and you do your own design and logo and whatever you like, and then you’re out the door with it,” Nester said.

After the initial how-to boardshaping lesson, Shaper sells memberships for $20 a month, allowing patrons access to their headquarters facility workshop to repeat the process as frequently as they like.

“Once you’ve learned how to make a surfboard, you have access to our facilities, our tools, and the rest of your life your making surfboards at half the price,” Nester said, adding that make-your-own surfboard shaping is a trend that’s cresting.

“We do one-on-one classes with buddies, father-sons, 70- and 80-year-olds,” he said. “We’ve gotten families in here. It’s a real cool bonding experience.”

Nester noted Shaper offers group lessons as well as corporate event hosting. Walking into a work bay not unlike those used in auto refinishing, Nester approaches a shaping rack in the middle of the enclosed space.

“The board starts out as foam and is shaped here on these racks,” he explains Once the board is cut and shaped, it’s is then taken upstairs and finished with a watertight plastic coating that also adds durability, a process that takes a couple of weeks.

The core of a surfboard is Styrofoam, which is cut to shape using a jigsaw, then the raw board is meticulously shaped using a variety of sanding tools.

“[At Shaper] we use environmentally safe foam and boxing materials which makes it safe to be in [the bays] and safe to be upstairs when you’re actually boxing the board,” Nester said.

Nester says anyone can learn how to make their own surfboards.

“We have people who come in who’ve never surfed before and this is their first lesson,” Nester said. “As long as you have an interest to learn, we can walk you through the entire process.”

Exiting the work bay, Nester walks over to a rack of surf accessories.

“We sell all the accessories that go along with your board,” he said. “You need fins. You need a leash. We sell those kind of things at a discount to our members.”

Nester noted Shaper carries mostly local brands of surf accessories not carried in traditional surf shops.

“That’s what we excel in,” he said.

Spending the time and money to learn how to make your own surfboards is worth the effort, claimed Nester.

“You’re investing in the experience, the education behind it,” he said. “And once you’ve done the lesson and you have the knowhow, you’re just paying the membership and renting the facility and making your boards for a fraction of the cost.”

The first public surfboard workshop and custom design center, Shaper Studios gives surfers a home on dry land. With a professional staff of friendly surfboard builders and a contagious passion for sharing the art of custom surfboard design, Shapers puts the art of surfboard creation in the hands of those that cherish it most: the surfers.

For more information, visit shaperstudios.com or find them on Facebook.