Julian Wilson, Ace Buchan, Jeremy Flores, Joel Parkinson, Mikey Wright and Hiroto Ohara will all be sporting the Traktor logo when they lineup in the tub. With all quivers boxed off we checked in with JS to see how different it is shaping boards for an artificial wave and the effects that the new technology will have on our surfboards in the future.
Tracks: How was it making the quivers for the Surf Ranch?
JS: It wasn’t vastly different as it is such new tech and some of the guys hadn’t surfed it, while others have only had one or two sessions. So there’s wasn’t a whole lot of feedback to work off. I’m sure there’s one surfer who’s surfed it more than anyone. So he’s probably got a better idea of how it’s changing his boards with his shapers. You might need to talk to him.
What feedback have you received from the team?
It’s varied from them liking their normal boards on the right to riding HYFI on the left. Some have wanted an inch shorter and more rocker on the right, some have said their normal boards go really good while Parko wants to ride a twin fin. So it’s pretty varied depending on the individual. We’ll have a much better idea after the event.
What’s been the biggest differences compared to a normal quiver?
There hasn’t been a great deal. They are all have PU and HYFI in there quivers and all have a step-down in both techs, so it will be interesting to see what they actually ride on the day. Depending whether it’s the right or the left they will need to decide which tech or length to use. They’ll need to work on it as it happens.
As a shaper what possibilities do you see in the wave pool technology?
This is a good question because as we know the are new pools popping up and this is where a shaper will get to a chance to change a lot in terms of designs and materials. Different pools with different wave shapes will mean surfers with different styles will go to each wave they want to surf. As a shaper being able to make and test a variety of boards and materials at each venue due to the consistency of that breaking wave will be an opportunity we don’t have now. So I see lots of possibilities in the future of this tech at the elite end.
How will your teams’ performance in the pool eventually feed back to the boards you make for the average punter?
I've had three different answers so far to this question because it’s actually a hard one. I’ve been making boards for 20 years with some of the best surfers in the world. And heaps of my mates and everyone who’s ever ridden a JS and has given me feedback in every type of wave condition all over the world. So it’s hard to say what I’m exactly going to get from a wave pool that’s had a handful of surfers catch a few waves in one style of wave. Could that have any relevance versus a lifetime of feedback from the above mentioned? That’s the question that will be answered I suppose.
