the blue room

Jeff Haney wins 2009 Fl Shape Off

 

 

 

Old Guys Rule and Young Guys still rock:
Big thumbs up to Jeff Haney overall winner of the Florida Shape Off, scoring one for the Old School camp, and to the first runner up, Pete Daly, young shaper from Daytona

Actually a congrats to all the shapers: Glenn Klugel, Pat Madden, Chris Birch and Pierce Meyer. As both Ricky Carrol and Juan Rodgriquez said before they declared a winner, not only shaping the boards in the time and space allotted is extremely difficult, so is judging them. Even though both judges had eyed and felt the blanks already shaped throughout both days of the contest, and Ricky started measuring the short boards an hour before Pierce Meyer (last contestant) finished his long board, it still took them a good thirty minutes to award the winning board. What made it more challenging was the fact that even though all the shapers did a top-knotch job, they had two totally different styles of boards to judge. They picked a winning short board and a winning long board, and then chose the one that came the closest to replicating the parent board.

Ricky Carroll expressed great admiration for the job the “New School” shapers had done, as some of them had never shaped or even seen the style of longboard that they were asked to replicate. Heck, they were years from being a gleam in their parents’ eyes when that board came out! “They did a fantastic job. That’s why it’s so hard to pick the best out of all.” This is the reason the Florida Shape Off only has 1 winner and 1 runner up; to pick a 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th place would be nearly impossible. To answer an attendee’s question as to what happens with the losing board, there is no such thing. All the blanks shaped are being done so by the best in the industry; in our minds they are all winners, especially for donating their time and talent to the cause of highlighting the unknown heroes of surfing that make surfing possible: the shapers.

Still, this is a contest, and only one of these magnificent pieces of work can be chosen as the winner. Interestingly enough, both the winner and runner up ran into a little trouble when shaping their blanks; Jeff Haney actually had big trouble when he dropped his planer, bending the blades, which he didn’t notice until he made passes with it, looked down and saw the Grand Canyon streaking along the bottom of the board. (Read about Day 2 on the blog) He was more surprised than anyone that he had actually won. And Pete Daly had started shaping and noticed that the template provided “wasn’t right.” In all the commotion, it was left behind, so he proceeded without one, also shrugging his shoulders at the possibility of winning.

So Jeff Haney gets to keep the trophy until next year, when it will get passed on to the winner of the 2010 Florida Shape Off! Till then …catch you in the water!

Check out photos from the 2009 contest

Jeff Haney takes measurements

Pierce Meyer running along the edge

Pierce Meyer really studied the slot bottom.  He took all kinds of measurements; I liked his approach and procedure in shaping the blank.  By far, he measured the board more then the rest of the shapers.  As I put it up against the wall with the others waiting to be judged, all I could think was how I’d really like to ride this board.

Glenn Klugel

This contest has been so interesting to watch.  Glenn Klugel, one of our New School guys, shaped his board in a record 1 hour and 20 minutes. 

Pete Daly

Pete Daly was very particular so it took him the full time as he paid close attention to make sure his board was precise.

Patrick Madden

Madden, the first of the Old Schoolers, made an exact foam replica of a George Robinson balsa.

With what I’ve seen so far, I’d hate to be the judge and have to pick only one winning board.

For just $1 gives you a chance to win a replica of Robert Strickland/Skip Savage Con Rail Model shaped by Bill Eberwein at last year’s contest. This one-of-a-kind board will be on display at the surf expo and tickets for the raffle will be available Thursday and Friday during the shape off contest.  The raffle is to benefit the Surfrider Foundation

Seasoned and experienced or a young, sharp eye? The Florida Shape Off, sponsored by R&D Surf, is proud to bring the shaping contest back to the Orlando Surf Expo. This year’s theme is “Old School” (shapers 50+ years old) vs. “New School” (shapers 25 and younger). Old School contestants Patrick Madden, Chris Birch and Jeff Haney will be shaping a 7’7” fish. New School shapers Pete Daly, Glenn Klugel and Pierce Meyer will have the task of replicating a 1963 Greg Noll slot bottom.

Event Coordinator, Paul Eaton, recently released the line-up:
On Thursday, January 15th:

• Pete Daly – 10 am
• Glen Klugel – 12pm
• Pat Madden – 2 pm

On Friday, January 16th:

• Jeff Haney – 10 am
• Chris Birch – 12 pm
• Pierce Meyer – 2 pm

The winner is the shaper that comes the closest in replicating the sample board. Come by and support your favorite shaper as he scores one for the team: Old Guys Rule or Young Guys Rock

The 2nd Florida Shape Off contest this year will be “Old School vs. New School”: three guys over 50 years old will be shaping a 7′7″ fish and three young guns 25 and under will be shaping a 1963 Greg Noll slot bottom. Our shapers this year are Pete Daly, Glen Klugel, Pierce Meyer, Chris Birch, Micah Madden and Jeff Haney. 

Just like last year, the one that can duplicate the board the closest is the winner.  Last year winner, Juan Rodriguez will relinquish custody of the Florida Shape Off trophy to the winner

A big hang ten thanks to Ricky Carroll volunteering his shaping booth and for Sierra Brasher and Ice Nine for supplying the blanks.

Rick Piper has 12 new paintings that he premiered Saturday at the show that took place in his gallery/studio. (Thanks, Tom Neilson for sending me the link). It looks like 5 of them have already been sold; so very nice of Rick to have a page of them so we can enjoy!

12 new paintings by Rick Piper

Surfing Magazine.com is featuring the “Month of the Shaper” by posting one interview per day with contributing craftsmen.  Check out the interviews of our own local heroes: Rich Price and Ricky Carroll.

Cocoa Beach – Space Coast – Brevard County

Reducing Red Tide and other Harmful Algal blooms through Coastal Wastewater Reform

Peter J. Barile, PhD will be holding a talk on reducing Red Tide and other harmful algal blooms through Coastal Water Reform this Tuesday, November 18th starting at 6:00 pm at the Cocoa Beach Public Library.