Watch: Neal Purchase Jnr on the Art of Shaping

Stu Nettle picture
Stu Nettle (stunet)
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Right, here's another collaboration to keep you wondering: Porsche and Neal Purchase Jnr.

Type 7 - the daily magazine "powered by Porsche" - have improbably linked up with NPJ for a film that, I guess, wants us to draw parallels between Neal's art and craftsmanship, and that of a six-figure German car.

See if it works for you.

Comments

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Thursday, 29 Jul 2021 at 11:45am

Cool.

But I kinda thought he'd be unstrapping the twinnies from the roof of a classic 911.

zenagain's picture
zenagain's picture
zenagain Thursday, 29 Jul 2021 at 11:51am

Not mine. A friends labour of love.

Doesn't surf.

shraz's picture
shraz's picture
shraz Thursday, 29 Jul 2021 at 1:00pm

I had the pleasure of meeting the legendary La Jolla surfer Tom Tweed in the early 2000's (through alt.surfing the original surfing forum of the internet), he lent me a classic bonzer for a day to chase waves around San Diego, unfortunately it was virtually flat but I did manage to score a few waves on another borrowed board later on.
Tom's other great love was racing vintage Porsches and while checking them out in his garage I had to laugh at the stickers promoting the 'Windansea Surf Club - Motor Sports Division'. Great guy, I hope he's still surfing, racing and writing!

simba's picture
simba's picture
simba Thursday, 29 Jul 2021 at 1:09pm

scratching head

NDC's picture
NDC's picture
NDC Thursday, 29 Jul 2021 at 5:25pm

Hey simba

u might be too young - but my guess is the connection between the above riffs is a famous image of MR sitting on a porsche 911 in the eighties... pretty close to the time he was top of the world

or maybe I've misunderstood ur head scratching

I tried to google the image but it didn't come up for me

icandig's picture
icandig's picture
icandig Thursday, 29 Jul 2021 at 8:15pm

Type 7 is the daily magazine for those who are driven • Powered by Porsche (Type 7 films).

Can't figure out why they made a movie for NP jr. though

https://www.youtube.com/c/Type7/featured

icandig's picture
icandig's picture
icandig Thursday, 29 Jul 2021 at 9:18pm

Replying to myself.....I should read preamble before trying to make myself look clever. ***slaps palm to forehead.

wallpaper's picture
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wallpaper Thursday, 29 Jul 2021 at 1:16pm

nice work on the music too

Island Bay's picture
Island Bay's picture
Island Bay Thursday, 29 Jul 2021 at 1:33pm

Would my 8'6 DS fit on the roof of this?

Rubicon's picture
Rubicon's picture
Rubicon Thursday, 29 Jul 2021 at 1:52pm

Wow, those German cars move quick! I didn't even see it...

anthony.olsen's picture
anthony.olsen's picture
anthony.olsen Thursday, 29 Jul 2021 at 2:36pm

Always wondered about the fin placement on his boards. Imagine they would be really drivey and less skatey. Anyone ride one?

Walk around G's picture
Walk around G's picture
Walk around G Thursday, 29 Jul 2021 at 4:55pm

I ordered a custom NPJ Quartet a few years ago, he was easy to deal with via email on the original order but 12 weeks or so later a board turned up with a totally different resin tint to what I'd requested, I didn't accept it and needed to wait another 12 weeks or so for another one to be made. Eventually, I received a beautiful looking piece of art and was stoked until I started riding it, sure it was beautiful but it surfed like a dog and when I approached him via email absolutely no fucks were given, wasn't even courteous enough to respond.

That's the last time I ordered a local/homegrown shapers surfboard after a succession of locally made surfboards that didn't suit my surfing. Since then, nothing but Channel Islands, where I can narrow down what I actually need as they clearly detail each board attributes and exact board volume. Every board since then has been magic.

NDC's picture
NDC's picture
NDC Thursday, 29 Jul 2021 at 5:36pm

hey walk around G

sorry to hear u had a bad experience with NPJ

It's a bit of a tangent but I'm interested to hear about the experiences of other joe average surfers on the toss up between buying a 'model' from one of the big brands and trying to develop a relationship with a shaper - the accepted wisdom or prevailing narrative seems to be to do the latter... I'm just starting out on that kind of journey after several years buying 'models'

My first board from the shaper I've chosen to try and work with is going OK - I feel I have to persevere and cycle through a couple more boards to see if he and I can zero in on better solutions for me

But I also wonder - could I be investing a lot of time in trying to build a relationship - and find that the local shaper can't quite deliver to the standard of the global brand - for example, the first board had a little asymetry in the tail outline - almost unrecognisable (but it's there) ... big enough to affect my experience - not sure. But certainly not planned or discussed - just a feature of the 'hand shaped' product perhaps, or just this shapers hand shaped product - and a sign of lesser skill?

Does the narrative that finding a shaper and working closely with them over time still work for joe average - for a guy whom Jason Stevens or Darren Handley wont have time for, or say a Simon Anderson might not have time for, and so on

Just curious

Nice vid I though - would have liked it to run a bit longer and tell a bit more story

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Thursday, 29 Jul 2021 at 6:36pm

Getting an non ordered assym tail noticeable to the eye .....i would have walked...No Pay .

Surfalot67's picture
Surfalot67's picture
Surfalot67 Friday, 30 Jul 2021 at 7:36am

I bought a 6'0" single NPJ (Second hand) and I fucking love it. Its a work of art and the quality is faultless. Having said that, I always believe taking the time to build a relationship with your shaper will eventually reap rewards. So often I see guys on the latest Slater deigns or DHD fail to make sections and generally flounder on a board that's quite obviously not right for them. The pimply kid, or worse still, the I'm-so-cool-I-work-in-retail dicks in most big surf shops will have zero clue about how you surf, they'll just point you towards what's "in" this week. Your also dead right NDC the "names" wont have time for you, and lets face it most of their stock boards are ghost shaped anyway so why bother? Six years ago I hooked up with Alex Crews at ACSOD and have gotten a bunch of shooters off him over that time. Each is better than the last, he listens, knows what I like to surf and turns out exactly what I ask for. Add that to the faultless glassing at The Glass Lab and I'm a happy old fella. Moral of the story is seek out your local shaper and have a chat, be honest, and I'm sure you'll get what works!

stunet's picture
stunet's picture
stunet Friday, 30 Jul 2021 at 8:19am

The domestic shaper you're using works with pre-cuts or machine shapes, yeah?

Asymmetry in the outline shouldn't happen* with someone using a cutter, and if you're relying on a hand-shaper then you need a wholly different set of expectations, perhaps incorporating a Kidman-esque notion of 'the unexpected magic of a mistake' - how design errors can open new doors in your surfing.

People I know who rely on hand shapes expect there are going to be differences and enjoy them for that. On the other hand, if you want exacting dimensions, recorded digitally so you can make slight alterations in the future, then going to a hand shaper is the first mistake. You need to see someone working with machine shapes, of which there would be many down your way, and I expect a great most of them could deliver to a global standard.

One of the biggest misnomers going is that Oz labels can't deliver to int'l standards. 

*Don't diss on asymmetry.

indo-dreaming's picture
indo-dreaming's picture
indo-dreaming Saturday, 31 Jul 2021 at 9:59am

Hand shapping is such an art form something to be respected.

But IMHO the big advances/fine tuning in surf boards in the last 20 years has been due to computers and CAD type programs and shaping machines that have helped fine tune things and bring much better replication and adjustments from replication.

Spuddups's picture
Spuddups's picture
Spuddups Sunday, 1 Aug 2021 at 10:41am

I think the happy accident concept is actually a major advantage of hand shaping over machine shaping. It makes you unintentionally try things that would be highly unlikely to be contemplated with a machine shape.

I've been shaping and riding my own boards for twenty years now and many of the best ones had some aspect of the shape that I hadn't exactly planned for. In one of my most recent "mistakes" I foiled a polystyrene blank and then proceeded to cut template out back to front ie the nose was where the tail should have been. Fark knows how I managed that one but there it is. Effectively what I ended up with was a board with a lot more tail lift than I had intended amongst other things. I was going to consign the thing to the rubbish pile but after coming back to it I decided I could mess round with it and possibly make something that might go okay.

Anyway, the board I ended up with goes great. I can't figure out why it goes great, but it does.

In regards to subtle unintended asymmetry and such like: unless you're a pro surfer you're highly unlikely to notice something this minor in a board's performance. Most of this sort of thing is in your mind. Most of the subtleties of surfboard design are pretty much meaningless for the average surfer in my opinion. The broad strokes of length, volume, outline, thickness, rocker and fin placement are what really matter. Another 1mm of spiral V, or whatever they want to call it this week, not so much.

Blowin's picture
Blowin's picture
Blowin Friday, 30 Jul 2021 at 8:39am

NDC- I’ve often scoffed at the idea that punters should automatically get a better outcome through working with a shaper than buying what’s in front of them in a shop. I always thought it strange the concept that a shaper inevitably moves in a lineal fashion towards a satisfactory board for the regular customer. I’ve heard too many stories of pro surfers getting 60 boards a year off a shaper and then bailing after a few years cause it still isn’t happening.

But then….I had a perennial favourite board -which was a big brand model - come to the end of its lifespan and when I tried to replace it, the big brand couldn’t replicate it. So I went to a shaper with lot of experience in that style of board. He knew the model I wanted and went about recreating it. The board produced was basically similar but quite different. It turned out to be much, much better than my old faithful.

Moral of the story is…..fucked if I know. 90 percent of my favourite boards have been off the rack models but I’ve also had plenty which didn’t work for me. I’ve had about 10 customs and only liked a couple.

james.owen's picture
james.owen's picture
james.owen Saturday, 31 Jul 2021 at 7:24am

Hi Blowin
I found working with a shaper in my local area who both made boards for all the lads (who were ripping), and also ripped himself, worked well! No duds - however I allowed him to make me a board he thought would work for me, not my own idea. Funnily enough, it worked every time.

Surfalot67's picture
Surfalot67's picture
Surfalot67 Saturday, 31 Jul 2021 at 8:27am

Good point James. If your shaper also happens to shred the local area that will go a long way towards getting a great board too.

indo-dreaming's picture
indo-dreaming's picture
indo-dreaming Saturday, 31 Jul 2021 at 10:14am

I can see both sides of things.

As a grommet with my first board i had a older shaper take me surfing quite regularly and introduced me to new breaks etc, i had no clue to what i needed in a surf board and he shaped my first custom, he knew exactly what level my surfing was at and what i needed and re watching all the video footage from when i was a grommet, my surfing improved greatly from the board he shaped for me.

But at the same time, i think a lot of people kid themselves that getting one custom board is somehow going to be better than an off the rack board, in reality the board they got shaped was no different to one already on the rack, it just has their name on it.

To really get the most out of a custom boards, you really need to take one board and then make adjustments to that board, but even then its not that easy because you need to communicate accurately to the shaper, i think to get really benefits you need a couple of boards in a row fine tuning things, but thats expensive and takes time.

Also had magic boards and tried to get the shaper to replicate and they might look the same but they always go different.

Weird things boards.

NDC's picture
NDC's picture
NDC Saturday, 31 Jul 2021 at 5:20pm

Thanks everyone - this has been really helpful - and really happy to hear more opinions

Funnily enuf blowin - the trigger for giving the shaper-relationship thing a crack was also after a brand changed a ‘model’ and so I couldn’t get hold of a repeat of a ‘magic’ board

And stunet... I had t joined the dots between expectations matching to a hand shaped vs someone using machines

Great food for thought from everyone - thanks again

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Saturday, 31 Jul 2021 at 5:38pm

I find it hard to believe the amount of people [4 or 5 i know] order custom through a major brand JS or DHD for example and think that Jason or Darren is going to shape there board
They cant get the gist of a factory with 4 or 5 ghost shapers popping them out.

phnud's picture
phnud's picture
phnud Monday, 2 Aug 2021 at 7:22am

Walk around G and NDC,

I've had a couple of Maurice Cole's now and they are far superior to any off-the-rack board I've owned. Patience is required, though, cause MC prefers to spend his time in the shaping bay, rather than answering emails.

GuySmiley's picture
GuySmiley's picture
GuySmiley Thursday, 29 Jul 2021 at 5:41pm

also well known for his singles and 2+1s but not featured in that short clip

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Thursday, 29 Jul 2021 at 7:37pm
stevehamilton_'s picture
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stevehamilton_ Friday, 30 Jul 2021 at 2:36pm

thanks ;)

crg's picture
crg's picture
crg Friday, 30 Jul 2021 at 9:31am

On NPJ...I reckon I’ve seen that effortless take off to grab rail to backhand tube of his a thousand times...a timeless work of art.

On boards...I think there are so many variables at work when acquiring a “magic” board that it’s almost pure luck. In 40 yrs of surfing I’ve had 100’s of boards and maybe 6-8 magic ones. I worked with one shaper for over 20 years and the relationship (like all of them I guess) was almost love/hate at times. I’ve never tried one shaper for just one board, always given them a bit of a chance, they probably get three boards to get something that feels good, after that move on.
The best boards I’ve had are from: Murray Bourton, Jeff Bushman, Zappa, AB and currently Dylan longbottom.
Thanks Legends for the time, dedication and commitment to the craft!!

Beaver's picture
Beaver's picture
Beaver Friday, 30 Jul 2021 at 11:08am

Ive enjoyed riding Neal's boards for many years from short 2+1 to quad quartets and mid length singles,i think it helps to relate to Neals mindset of riding waves,speed ,flow and rail lines maybe not exactly like the more modern beach break smash bash.As ive grown older i really enjoy a bit more width and thickness to help me into waves and get up and run building speed hopefully for a good turn.Still one of my favourites is a board his dad Neal snr shaped for Neal jnrs eldest daughter, she wasn't frothing to surf it so i asked if i could buy it.Stoked,beautiful flow and rail transitions.My ex wife still has it and loves it.
Thanks NPJ and NPS.

markxxx's picture
markxxx's picture
markxxx Friday, 30 Jul 2021 at 1:09pm

I love NPJ’s boards. I’ve had a few & still have 3 at the moment. I find his boards generally have a big sweet spot but I also tend to ride them a tad further forward than I do a thruster. I’m tallish but have a narrow stance which seems to be Neal’s approach so they work great for me.

loofy's picture
loofy's picture
loofy Friday, 30 Jul 2021 at 1:32pm

Neals 2+1's go best in my opinion, the Quartet is real good when you got it dialled in but too unforgiving otherwise.

thermalben's picture
thermalben's picture
thermalben Friday, 30 Jul 2021 at 3:05pm

Yeah I have a 2+1 and it's unreal. Lotta volume in all the right places. 

back beach's picture
back beach's picture
back beach Friday, 30 Jul 2021 at 8:48pm

Gotta 6'4" duo. Such a good board and revitalised concept

back beach's picture
back beach's picture
back beach Friday, 30 Jul 2021 at 9:02pm

NPJ had also been picked by by Deus as well, and Rhythm. Sponno shaper/surfer outside of the box as his awesome shapes and style. Even seen him gig with Andrew Kidman!

drodders's picture
drodders's picture
drodders Saturday, 31 Jul 2021 at 8:00am

I’ve had a few NPJ, no customs just second hand and one off the rack, Duo and Quartets, I find them amazing.

For hand shaped boards the symmetry is hard to believe.

Duo likes to pivot out of the top, like NPJ surfs, feet close together, like a fast drag free quad, needed a decent wave, not big but good shape.

Quartet is a surprisingly complicated design, V with deep concave in the V out the tail, low tail rocker but turned really well, could hold a carve for ages, also an incredible barrel board.

Interesting enough I borrowed a mates McCoy October 2020 and haven’t ridden anything else since, Except Webster in big surf, but even then a 6’3 nuggets seems to work in some very solid surf.

I’ve tried a couple of dozen designs over the last 10 years, NPJ was it for me, still have the 6’2 Quartet, but with the McCoy I just surf, I don’t seem to have to think about the board.

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Saturday, 31 Jul 2021 at 8:38am
simba's picture
simba's picture
simba Saturday, 31 Jul 2021 at 9:58am

is it just me but all the gals and hipsters love waving their arms around...like im so cool ...sorry to offend some but its ugly as fuk...just sayin

markxxx's picture
markxxx's picture
markxxx Saturday, 31 Jul 2021 at 6:05pm

No it’s not just you. That highline “pose” irritated the f**k out of me.

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Saturday, 31 Jul 2021 at 6:21pm

I think the Surfing Aust HPC actually teach Groms that move when snapping off the top on a HPSB ?

freeride76's picture
freeride76's picture
freeride76 Saturday, 31 Jul 2021 at 10:36am

yeah, that whole posing/voguing thing seems cringe as hell to me.

Funnily enough, NPJ doesn't have an ounce of that in his game.

see him surfing a lot, usually at off-broadway spots and hours.

can tell it's him from a mile away due to the amount of water he displaces.
Big guy who knows how to turn.

I had a set of his twin fins (captain fin co) which my wife bought for my birthday last year.
Knocked one out on the rocks.

I couldn't replace a fin, had to buy a new set.

I saw NPJ in the street and he kindly gave me a set on tick for a good price and said pay him when I can.

Which I thought was a very nice gesture.

Surfalot67's picture
Surfalot67's picture
Surfalot67 Saturday, 31 Jul 2021 at 11:32am

Got a mate who does it all the time. We tell him it looks like he's hanging out the washing.

gcuts's picture
gcuts's picture
gcuts Monday, 2 Aug 2021 at 10:29am
stevehamilton_'s picture
stevehamilton_'s picture
stevehamilton_ Tuesday, 3 Aug 2021 at 2:46pm

just a clean cut

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Monday, 2 Aug 2021 at 11:10am

Planer Skill ....although 800 handshapes a year is pretty hard going..?

theolderIgetthebetterIwas's picture
theolderIgetthebetterIwas's picture
theolderIgetthe... Monday, 2 Aug 2021 at 9:25pm

I've narrowed my boards down to 6'2ish with a round tail and quad or twin plus trailer set up..
I've tried a McCoy droddsy.. but it would skip out if I pushed too hard - maybe it was the eps construction??
I still have fond memories of yore when riding a 6'6 or a 6'8 wasn't riding a mid length and your turns would smooth out and you had drive on tap..
anyway - round or rounded pintail- that's the sum of my 34 years research

theolderIgetthebetterIwas's picture
theolderIgetthebetterIwas's picture
theolderIgetthe... Monday, 2 Aug 2021 at 9:24pm

also - arms up whilst fanging down the line... no problem
better than eating CCs on the couch

Clive Rodell's picture
Clive Rodell's picture
Clive Rodell Tuesday, 3 Aug 2021 at 9:16am

Great to see Neal Jnr carrying on with the family tradition. Neal Snr was one of the greatest shapers on the planet in his day. Great also to see Neal Jnr still ripping, as he always did! Just remember Neal, Mars bars aren't good for you! (in joke). One day we'll catch up again.

udo's picture
udo's picture
udo Tuesday, 3 Aug 2021 at 9:24am

Best of health to you Clive
New Zipper opening was unexpected ? Genes ?