The Laboardatory Surf Co

After visiting the mother ship, Shaper Studios, in San Diego a couple years ago, I was inspired to take the Selfshape concept back home to the East Coast and do my part to share it with anyone that would listen. I'd been having so much fun shaping myself boards that I decided it was time to open it up to my local crew. So I named my shed The Laboardatory, got a few friends started on their first Selfshapes and created The Laboardatory Surf Co, a fraternal brotherhood of selfshape enthusiasts.


My amazing wife had this logo created for me by my surfer bruddah Andy.


Padawan number 1 was Brandon.
 
He's taking his time and really enjoying the process.

Padawan number 2 was Luke.
 
Together we co-shaped this crazy blunt nosed moon tail log. Next post will have more details on this big chunk of foam we are affectionately calling the "Bipolar log".

There’s something addictive and infectious about mowing foam and creating something with your own 2 hands. It fulfills some primordial or antediluvian instinct. Buck, after a couple mornings in the shed, getting his beard filled with foam, decided to setup his own bay and before you know it he had cranked out a couple sick sleds.
 
Our respect for the craftsmen that have come before us grows with every pass of the planer. Every board we learn something new and that’s what keeps it fun. While the shapes might not be perfect, the waves won't ever know the difference. 

We are all family men first and foremost so most of the time we end up shaping before work around 5:30am while the kids are still sleeping. We're taking it all one step at a time and enjoying the process. While you can do anything, you can't do everything and that's why for now we outsource the glassing to a local shop run by Jamie Tuttle of Maya Surfboards. 

Nothing comes close to the stoke of riding a board you’ve shaped with your own 2 hands. Come, join the Selfshape revolution!

-James